As Japan’s population continues to age rapidly, extending healthy life expectancy and building a sustainable healthcare system have become urgent priorities. To address these challenges, it is essential to accelerate the development and real-world implementation of groundbreaking medical technologies, thereby fostering medical innovation. By applying these advancements in clinical settings, we can enhance the quality of healthcare while improving efficiency in medical service delivery. To achieve this, we must develop cutting-edge solutions in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and regenerative medicine while also establishing specialized hubs to facilitate their clinical adoption and integration.
With this vision in mind, our center was founded in April 2011 within Kyoto University Hospital as a core hub for the development and innovation of medical devices, supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Advanced Innovation Base Establishment Program. Designed as an open innovation space, our rental laboratories facilitate close collaboration between academia and industry to work together in bringing innovative medical technologies to clinical settings more quickly. In April 2020, the establishment of the Institute for Advancement of Clinical and Translational Science (iACT) further strengthened our clinical research infrastructure, paving the way for more streamlined medical device development and commercialization.
Over the years, our center has played a key role in advancing numerous medical devices, including diagnostic equipment utilizing cutting-edge visualization technology. Now in our 15th year, we are witnessing rapid advancements in digital health, AI, and data science, which are transforming the environment of medical research and development at an unprecedented pace. To keep up with this transformation, we actively support medical innovation by promoting the effective utilization of medical data, fostering the development of specialized healthcare professionals, and advancing our center’s research grant initiatives, aiming to deploy and integrate promising new technologies into clinical practice as quickly as possible.
Guided by our core policy is centered on being “a hub for industry-government-academia collaboration that accelerates the process from clinical research to regulatory approval for innovative medical devices, ranging from diagnostic to therapeutic applications.” we continue to leverage the strengths of Kyoto University and Kyoto University Hospital. Beyond traditional medical device development, we are committed to pioneering next-generation solutions in fields such as advanced medical data utilization, regenerative medicine, and digital health. We are confident that the technologies and expertise cultivated here will play a vital role in shaping the future of high-quality healthcare.
Our center was built with funding from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and a generous donation from Canon Inc. It continues to grow with the support of Kyoto City, numerous companies, and partner organizations. We are deeply grateful for this ongoing collaboration and support and sincerely appreciate your continued cooperation in advancing medical innovation.
April 1, 2025
Hiroshi Seno, M.D., Ph.D.
Director,
Clinical Research Center for Medical Equipment Development (CRCMeD),
Institute for Advancement of Clinical and Translational Science（iACT),
Kyoto University Hospital
Hiroshi Seno, M.D., Ph.D.
Director
Clinical Research Center for Medical Equipment Development (CRCMeD),
Institute for Advancement of Clinical and Translational Science（iACT),
Kyoto University Hospital