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Management Team
Dai Takehara joined PRISM in 2011 as CFO and succeeded CEO from a founder in 2016. Before joining PRISM BioLab, he was a management member of healthcare related startup companies, ZIOsoft and Advantage Risk Management. He started his career at Recruit Co., Ltd. He received an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, and BS from Kyoto University.
Dai Takehara joined PRISM in 2011 as CFO and succeeded CEO from a founder in 2016. Before joining PRISM BioLab, he was a management member of healthcare related startup companies, ZIOsoft and Advantage Risk Management. He started his career at Recruit Co., Ltd. He received an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, and BS from Kyoto University.
Michihiro Maeda joined PRISM BioLab as CFO / Corporate Director. After obtaining an Economics degree at Austin College, TX, he took on various Finance responsibilities including M&A / IR / operational turnaround at USEN, CFO at Abbott Japan and Finance lead at Aillis Inc., as well as IPO / Fund raising lead at Promethera Biosciences Japan branch. He also comes with profound general management experiences as general manager and business expansion lead at both large corporations and small startup settings.
Michihiro Maeda joined PRISM BioLab as CFO / Corporate Director. After obtaining an Economics degree at Austin College, TX, he took on various Finance responsibilities including M&A / IR / operational turnaround at USEN, CFO at Abbott Japan and Finance lead at Aillis Inc., as well as IPO / Fund raising lead at Promethera Biosciences Japan branch. He also comes with profound general management experiences as general manager and business expansion lead at both large corporations and small startup settings.
Dr. Hyi-Man Park oversees the research and development initiatives for PRISM BioLab as Head of the Research and Development Department. Prior to joining PRISM BioLab, he was the Head of Biology at RaQualia Pharma Inc., which is a spin-off from the Pfizer Research Center Japan. Before RaQualia, he was at the Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research (NIBR), located in Cambridge, where he worked on initiating/leading novel drug projects in the cardiovascular and oncology area. He led projects from the target identification to preclinical stage. He serves as an Industry Advisor of the SPARK Translational Medicine program of Stanford University, and was a Designated Professor of Nagoya University. He received his undergraduate and PhD degrees from Naogya University and completed his Post-doc at University of Minnesota. His Ph.D. research elucidated transcriptional regulation by steroid hormones.
Dr. Hyi-Man Park oversees the research and development initiatives for PRISM BioLab as Head of the Research and Development Department. Prior to joining PRISM BioLab, he was the Head of Biology at RaQualia Pharma Inc., which is a spin-off from the Pfizer Research Center Japan. Before RaQualia, he was at the Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research (NIBR), located in Cambridge, where he worked on initiating/leading novel drug projects in the cardiovascular and oncology area. He led projects from the target identification to preclinical stage. He serves as an Industry Advisor of the SPARK Translational Medicine program of Stanford University, and was a Designated Professor of Nagoya University. He received his undergraduate and PhD degrees from Naogya University and completed his Post-doc at University of Minnesota. His Ph.D. research elucidated transcriptional regulation by steroid hormones.
Yuji Ishiguro is a Full-Time Audit & Supervisory Board Member at PRISM BioLab. After working at House Foods Industrial Co., Ltd. (now House Foods Corporation), he joined Sapporo Beer Co., Ltd. (now Sapporo Holdings Limited). He subsequently held positions as Director and Auditor at subsidiary companies, including Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage Ltd. and Sapporo Real Estate Asset Management Co., Ltd. He then transitioned to a different industry, taking on a leadership role at a logistics company. With extensive experience in overall management supervision and internal control practices, he joined PRISM BioLab as a full-time (outside) auditor. At PRISM BioLab, he is involved in audit duties and provides advice and oversight on corporate governance and internal control systems in preparation for an IPO. He graduated from Doshisha University with a degree in Commerce.
Yuji Ishiguro is a Full-Time Audit & Supervisory Board Member at PRISM BioLab. After working at House Foods Industrial Co., Ltd. (now House Foods Corporation), he joined Sapporo Beer Co., Ltd. (now Sapporo Holdings Limited). He subsequently held positions as Director and Auditor at subsidiary companies, including Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage Ltd. and Sapporo Real Estate Asset Management Co., Ltd. He then transitioned to a different industry, taking on a leadership role at a logistics company. With extensive experience in overall management supervision and internal control practices, he joined PRISM BioLab as a full-time (outside) auditor. At PRISM BioLab, he is involved in audit duties and provides advice and oversight on corporate governance and internal control systems in preparation for an IPO. He graduated from Doshisha University with a degree in Commerce.
Team Members
Mayumi Endo is responsible for computational science. She has over 20 years of deep knowledge and experience in computational chemistry for novel drug discovery, and is one of developers of “Computational Quantum Chemistry” Program, Gaussian. Mayumi joined to PRISM BioLab in 2023, and before joining to PRISM BioLab, she worked for Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. She received her Ph.D. from Kyoto University.
Mayumi Endo is responsible for computational science. She has over 20 years of deep knowledge and experience in computational chemistry for novel drug discovery, and is one of developers of “Computational Quantum Chemistry” Program, Gaussian. Mayumi joined to PRISM BioLab in 2023, and before joining to PRISM BioLab, she worked for Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. She received her Ph.D. from Kyoto University.
Akiyoshi Fujiuchi is responsible for efficacy pharmacology and preclinical research in PRISM BioLab. He has about 30 years of deep knowledge and experience in drug discovery, especially in vivo animal experiments, at RaQualia Pharma as well as Pfizer. He nominated development candidates from internal and external collaborative projects as a lead. He received his BS and MS from Kanazawa University.
Akiyoshi Fujiuchi is responsible for efficacy pharmacology and preclinical research in PRISM BioLab. He has about 30 years of deep knowledge and experience in drug discovery, especially in vivo animal experiments, at RaQualia Pharma as well as Pfizer. He nominated development candidates from internal and external collaborative projects as a lead. He received his BS and MS from Kanazawa University.
Nobuyuki Hori is responsible for medicinal chemistry. His specialities are organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry. Prior to joining PRISM BioLab, he worked for domestic and global pharmaceuticals in Japan, and engaged in process chemistry and novel drug discovery in infection or metabolic disease area targeting transporters, GPCR, and transcriptional factors. He has led several projects from hit finding to candidate identification. He received Ph.D. from Saitama University.
Nobuyuki Hori is responsible for medicinal chemistry. His specialities are organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry. Prior to joining PRISM BioLab, he worked for domestic and global pharmaceuticals in Japan, and engaged in process chemistry and novel drug discovery in infection or metabolic disease area targeting transporters, GPCR, and transcriptional factors. He has led several projects from hit finding to candidate identification. He received Ph.D. from Saitama University.
Wataru Kawahata is responsible for medicinal chemistry. He has more than 20 years experience in drug discovery research. Prior to joining to PRISM BioLab, he was at Asahi Kasei Pharma for GPCR projects, at Carna Bioscience for kinase projects. He has led the project from the hit finding stage to preclinical stage and identified two novel kinase inhibitors, which are in clinical trials, one for an immuno disease, and the other for a hematologic cancer.He received his MS from Kyushu University, and Ph.D. from Osaka Prefecture University.
Wataru Kawahata is responsible for medicinal chemistry. He has more than 20 years experience in drug discovery research. Prior to joining to PRISM BioLab, he was at Asahi Kasei Pharma for GPCR projects, at Carna Bioscience for kinase projects. He has led the project from the hit finding stage to preclinical stage and identified two novel kinase inhibitors, which are in clinical trials, one for an immuno disease, and the other for a hematologic cancer.He received his MS from Kyushu University, and Ph.D. from Osaka Prefecture University.
Yohei Matsuda is responsible for medicinal chemistry and technology platform development. Before joining PRISM BioLab, he worked as a medicinal chemist at Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and engaged in drug discovery research in various disease areas and drug discovery technology development. He was involved in many projects as a chemistry leader and contributed to the identification of clinical candidates. He has a wide range of experience from the early to the non-clinical drug discovery stage, bulk synthesis, and API manufacturing method development. He received his Ph.D. degree from Chiba University.
Yohei Matsuda is responsible for medicinal chemistry and technology platform development. Before joining PRISM BioLab, he worked as a medicinal chemist at Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and engaged in drug discovery research in various disease areas and drug discovery technology development. He was involved in many projects as a chemistry leader and contributed to the identification of clinical candidates. He has a wide range of experience from the early to the non-clinical drug discovery stage, bulk synthesis, and API manufacturing method development. He received his Ph.D. degree from Chiba University.
Takeshi Matsushita is responsible for medicinal chemistry at PRISM BioLab. He started his career as a medicinal chemist at ONO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., where he experienced a wide range of drug discovery programs including GPCRs and kinases, and contributed to the discovery of several clinical candidates with disease areas including CNS. Prior to joining to PRISM in 2023, he had worked at RaQualia, and mainly targeted ion channels. He received his M.S. degree from Kyoto University.
Takeshi Matsushita is responsible for medicinal chemistry at PRISM BioLab. He started his career as a medicinal chemist at ONO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., where he experienced a wide range of drug discovery programs including GPCRs and kinases, and contributed to the discovery of several clinical candidates with disease areas including CNS. Prior to joining to PRISM in 2023, he had worked at RaQualia, and mainly targeted ion channels. He received his M.S. degree from Kyoto University.
Dr. Ivan Plavec serves as a Senior Advisor to PRISM BioLab responsible for alliance management and business development. He has over thirty years of experience in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry and held positions of Chief Business Officer at ImaginAb, Inc., Vice President of Business Development at BioSeek, Inc. and Asterand plc, Vice President of Technology and Alliances at Bioseek, Inc., and Director of Research at Novartis. He was founder and President of Ascellna Life Science Group, a boutique consulting firm advising life science companies with innovative technologies and products on matters of business and technology development. Ivan has personally negotiated complex drug discovery deals, technology-based collaborations, and product and technology licensing deals. He is author on over thirty peer-reviewed publications, has filed numerous patents and has a strong track record of scientific accomplishments and scientific experience in oncology, immuno-oncology, immunology, inflammation, clinical imaging and radiopharmaceuticals, human stem cells, drug discovery, protein-protein interactions, gene therapy and hematological disorders. Ivan holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Zürich, Switzerland.
Dr. Ivan Plavec serves as a Senior Advisor to PRISM BioLab responsible for alliance management and business development. He has over thirty years of experience in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry and held positions of Chief Business Officer at ImaginAb, Inc., Vice President of Business Development at BioSeek, Inc. and Asterand plc, Vice President of Technology and Alliances at Bioseek, Inc., and Director of Research at Novartis. He was founder and President of Ascellna Life Science Group, a boutique consulting firm advising life science companies with innovative technologies and products on matters of business and technology development. Ivan has personally negotiated complex drug discovery deals, technology-based collaborations, and product and technology licensing deals. He is author on over thirty peer-reviewed publications, has filed numerous patents and has a strong track record of scientific accomplishments and scientific experience in oncology, immuno-oncology, immunology, inflammation, clinical imaging and radiopharmaceuticals, human stem cells, drug discovery, protein-protein interactions, gene therapy and hematological disorders. Ivan holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Zürich, Switzerland.
Dr. Hajime Takashima is responsible for all aspects of chemistry and medicinal chemistry in PRISM BioLab. In addition to managing and promoting pipeline projects and collaboration projects with our partners, he oversees in silico drug design, compound management, and intellectual property management. His specialties are medicinal chemistry, organic chemistry, and computational chemistry. Before joinning in PRISM BioLab, he worked on Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. as a project leader and manager from early drug discovery to compound optimization and preclinical stages. He also has extensive experience in joint research with Japanese and oversea pharmaceutical companies. He received his BS and MS from Kyoyo University, and Ph.D. from Kanazawa University.
Dr. Hajime Takashima is responsible for all aspects of chemistry and medicinal chemistry in PRISM BioLab. In addition to managing and promoting pipeline projects and collaboration projects with our partners, he oversees in silico drug design, compound management, and intellectual property management. His specialties are medicinal chemistry, organic chemistry, and computational chemistry. Before joinning in PRISM BioLab, he worked on Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. as a project leader and manager from early drug discovery to compound optimization and preclinical stages. He also has extensive experience in joint research with Japanese and oversea pharmaceutical companies. He received his BS and MS from Kyoyo University, and Ph.D. from Kanazawa University.
Dr. Tatsuya Toma is responsible for synthesis and scaffold development as well as medicinal chemistry in PRISM BioLab. Before joining in PRISM BioLab, he had an academic career as an assistant professor at Nagoya University. His research involves total synthesis of complex natural products as well as chemical biology. He received his undergraduate and PhD degrees from the University of Tokyo and completed Post-doc research at Stanford University.
Dr. Tatsuya Toma is responsible for synthesis and scaffold development as well as medicinal chemistry in PRISM BioLab. Before joining in PRISM BioLab, he had an academic career as an assistant professor at Nagoya University. His research involves total synthesis of complex natural products as well as chemical biology. He received his undergraduate and PhD degrees from the University of Tokyo and completed Post-doc research at Stanford University.
Masataka Umitsu is responsible for protein science and biophysics. He has experienced broad type of research programs in Japan and Toronto/Canada, and drug discovery projects in Japanese biotech, and joined to PRISM BioLab in 2024. He received his bachelor’s degree from International Christian University (ICU), master’s degree from OSAKA UNIVERSITY, and Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo.
Masataka Umitsu is responsible for protein science and biophysics. He has experienced broad type of research programs in Japan and Toronto/Canada, and drug discovery projects in Japanese biotech, and joined to PRISM BioLab in 2024. He received his bachelor’s degree from International Christian University (ICU), master’s degree from OSAKA UNIVERSITY, and Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo.
Dr. Tomohiro Yoshida is responsible for medicinal chemistry as well as preclinical strategy in PRISM BioLab. He has more than 30 years experience in R&D, including translational research as a project leader/manager at Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp. In 2013, he earned the Breakthrough Award, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, PSJ for the discovery of an antidiabetic drug, Teneligriptin.
He received his BS and MS from Kyoyo Institute of Technology, and Ph.D. from Meiji Pharmaceutical University.
Dr. Tomohiro Yoshida is responsible for medicinal chemistry as well as preclinical strategy in PRISM BioLab. He has more than 30 years experience in R&D, including translational research as a project leader/manager at Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp. In 2013, he earned the Breakthrough Award, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, PSJ for the discovery of an antidiabetic drug, Teneligriptin.
He received his BS and MS from Kyoyo Institute of Technology, and Ph.D. from Meiji Pharmaceutical University.
Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Shi Yin Foo brings 20 years of experience as a practicing physician and a catalyst in advancing innovative new programs through the various stages of drug development. She has expertise in a breadth of disease areas, including cardiorenal, immunology/inflammation and rare diseases, as well as an interest in novel and adaptive clinical trial designs.
Dr. Foo has been in executive roles at Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cydan Therapeutics, Imara Therapeutics and Tiburio Therapeutics, where she was also and Observer on the Board. She was previously a translational medicine expert at the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, where she was responsible for the establishment and development of multiple novel programs in heart failure and the cardiorenal space, including rare disease indications. She is the founder of Orchard Biomedical Consulting, which serves a variety of biotech and pharma partners in broad disease indications. Dr Foo is the scientific founder and CEO of Arvada Therapeutics, a company working on novel therapeutics in rare arrhythmic diseases.
Dr. Foo received her MD and PhD in Immunology from Stanford University, and a MMSc in Clinical Science from the Clinical Investigator Training Program at Harvard Medical School. She was clinical faculty at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and a dual Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and in Cardiology.
Dr. Shi Yin Foo brings 20 years of experience as a practicing physician and a catalyst in advancing innovative new programs through the various stages of drug development. She has expertise in a breadth of disease areas, including cardiorenal, immunology/inflammation and rare diseases, as well as an interest in novel and adaptive clinical trial designs.
Dr. Foo has been in executive roles at Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cydan Therapeutics, Imara Therapeutics and Tiburio Therapeutics, where she was also and Observer on the Board. She was previously a translational medicine expert at the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, where she was responsible for the establishment and development of multiple novel programs in heart failure and the cardiorenal space, including rare disease indications. She is the founder of Orchard Biomedical Consulting, which serves a variety of biotech and pharma partners in broad disease indications. Dr Foo is the scientific founder and CEO of Arvada Therapeutics, a company working on novel therapeutics in rare arrhythmic diseases.
Dr. Foo received her MD and PhD in Immunology from Stanford University, and a MMSc in Clinical Science from the Clinical Investigator Training Program at Harvard Medical School. She was clinical faculty at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and a dual Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and in Cardiology.
Dr. Doriano Fabbro is a Senior VP of Cellestia Biotech. He obtained his PhD from the University of Basel and has been a successful leader and drug discoverer with over 30 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Fabbro was the Head of Oncology Drug Discovery and the Kinase Platform at Novartis, and has overseen a significant part of the Novartis global oncology drug discovery portfolio from target discovery to clinical development. Dr. Fabbro was involved in the BCR-ABL project, the first molecular targeted therapy which brought a paradigm-shift in pharmaceuticals with Imatinib, and also initiated/supported the development of Nilotinb, Asciminib, Afinitor, Midostaurin and many other FDA approved anticancer drugs targeting signal transduction inhibitors.
Dr. Doriano Fabbro is a Senior VP of Cellestia Biotech. He obtained his PhD from the University of Basel and has been a successful leader and drug discoverer with over 30 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Fabbro was the Head of Oncology Drug Discovery and the Kinase Platform at Novartis, and has overseen a significant part of the Novartis global oncology drug discovery portfolio from target discovery to clinical development. Dr. Fabbro was involved in the BCR-ABL project, the first molecular targeted therapy which brought a paradigm-shift in pharmaceuticals with Imatinib, and also initiated/supported the development of Nilotinb, Asciminib, Afinitor, Midostaurin and many other FDA approved anticancer drugs targeting signal transduction inhibitors.
Dr. Dean Rigel is a senior drug discovery scientist, in vivo pharmacologist/physiologist, and bioengineer with over 30 years of pharmaceutical and instrumentation/device experience. He obtained a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, joined Novartis and made significant contributions to enable 11 compounds to enter human clinical trials; some, including LCZ696/Entresto® and LCI699/Isturisa®, reached market.
Dr. Dean Rigel is a senior drug discovery scientist, in vivo pharmacologist/physiologist, and bioengineer with over 30 years of pharmaceutical and instrumentation/device experience. He obtained a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, joined Novartis and made significant contributions to enable 11 compounds to enter human clinical trials; some, including LCZ696/Entresto® and LCI699/Isturisa®, reached market.
Dr. Hiroshi Nagabukuro is the Co-Founder and CEO of both ARTham Therapeutics and JURO SCIENCES. ARTham was recently acquired by Kaken Pharmaceutical for $100M, and JURO was founded as a spin-out of ARTham. He has extensive drug discovery experience for over 25 years across multiple therapeutic areas. Before ARTham, Dr. Nagabukuro was a senior director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Takeda, where he was heading the Entrepreneurship Venture Program and contributed launches of 9 different pharma startups out of the program. Before that, he was Research Fellow at Merck Research Laboratories, where he led multiple target identification/validation and optimization programs and significantly contributed to the adrenergic b3 program, which resulted in the approval of vibegron for overactive bladder indication. Dr. Nagabukuro also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Oita University Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and a visiting fellow at Yokohama City University, School of Medicine. He received his PhD from the University of Tokyo.
Dr. Hiroshi Nagabukuro is the Co-Founder and CEO of both ARTham Therapeutics and JURO SCIENCES. ARTham was recently acquired by Kaken Pharmaceutical for $100M, and JURO was founded as a spin-out of ARTham. He has extensive drug discovery experience for over 25 years across multiple therapeutic areas. Before ARTham, Dr. Nagabukuro was a senior director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Takeda, where he was heading the Entrepreneurship Venture Program and contributed launches of 9 different pharma startups out of the program. Before that, he was Research Fellow at Merck Research Laboratories, where he led multiple target identification/validation and optimization programs and significantly contributed to the adrenergic b3 program, which resulted in the approval of vibegron for overactive bladder indication. Dr. Nagabukuro also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Oita University Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and a visiting fellow at Yokohama City University, School of Medicine. He received his PhD from the University of Tokyo.