Abstract

Japan Biodesign Fellowship Program was launched in October 2015, as a hands-on training program to develop talents who will lead medical device innovations in Japan. This 10-month, full-time program consists of a university-based program hosted by three partner universities, Osaka University, The University of Tokyo, and Tohoku University, and a tri-university joint program supported by Stanford University. This year, a total of 10 fellows with diverse background (medicine, engineering and business) joined the program to learn the Biodesign process, which covers need identification in clinical immersion (on-site observation), concept invention, and business planning for implementation. In this presentation, I will report the programs' current progress, including the clinical immersion with university-specific focus, the mentorship provided by Stanford University, and the lectures by real-world experts in specific areas (IP, regulation, reimbursement, and business planning). I will also discuss the remaining curricula such as specialist consultation for concept selection and business development.