VISION

Our company was established in 2018 to translate the groundbreaking corneal endothelial cell research of Professor Noriko Koizumi and Professor Naoki Okumura from Doshisha University into practical therapeutic solutions.

Currently, approximately 2,200 patients in Japan and an estimated 13 million people worldwide are waiting for corneal transplants, facing a severe shortage of donor corneas. About half of all corneal transplant needs stem from corneal endothelial disorders, yet effective treatment options for these conditions remain extremely limited.

We are dedicated to developing innovative therapeutics for corneal endothelial disorders, including Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy, based on cutting-edge research from Doshisha University. Our development pipeline leverages diverse pharmaceutical modalities, from small molecule drugs to regenerative medicine cellular products, with multiple projects already advancing to clinical trial stages. Our mission is to deliver these therapies to clinical settings as quickly as possible, improving the quality of life for patients suffering from vision impairment.

Biography

1982	Director of Protein Pharmaceuticals Research Laboratory, Therapeutic Area Leader of Product Strategy Department, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
2004	Qualified as Patent Attorney (Biotechnology)
2012	General Manager, Pharmaceutical Business Division, FUJIFILM Corporation
2017	Director of Business Planning, Perseus Proteomics Inc.
2018	Director of Business Development, RegCell Inc.
2019	Director of Development, ActualEyes Inc.
2019	Director of Business Development, iBody Inc. (concurrent position)
2022	Founded Bioinnovation Partner (current)
2023	Director and Head of R&D, PhotoQ3 Inc. (current)
2025	Appointed as Chief Executive Officer, ActualEyes Inc.

After graduating from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in 2001, I began my career as an ophthalmologist. Since 2006, I have been working with Professor Noriko Koizumi of Doshisha University to elucidate the pathogenesis of corneal endothelial diseases and to develop drug therapies and regenerative medicine. Convinced that we can solve unmet medical needs through research, I am working with many students in my laboratory at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Doshisha University.

Universities sometimes produce research results that have the potential to change the world. However, refining the results of this research into products is not the forte of universities. ActualEyes, Inc. was formed to develop the therapeutic drugs for corneal endothelial regenerative medicine and Fuchs corneal endothelial dystrophy discovered at Doshisha University. The corporation’s goal is to ensure the industrialization of seed discoveries made at universities in collaboration with the founding members and core company members who have long been active in pharmaceutical and other companies. We have taken on this challenge because we believe that turning seed ophthalmology treatments discovered at universities into products through the power of a university-launched bio-venture is the best strategy for helping patients suffering from visual impairments.

Biography

2001	Graduated from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
2001-2003	Resident in Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
2003-2006	Clinical fellow, Machida Hospital, Kochi, Japan
2006-2010	Postgraduate Studies, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
2010-2011	Assistant professor, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
2011-2014	Assistant professor, Doshisha University
2011-present	Visiting associate professor, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
2015-2020	Associate professor, Doshisha University
2020-present	Visiting professor, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
2020-present	Professor, Doshisha University

I am a clinician-scientist in the field of ophthalmology and have been working on the development of new treatment methods for corneal endothelial diseases at the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, a newly established program at Doshisha University in 2008. The world's first corneal endothelial regenerative medicine based on human corneal endothelial cell culture and cell injection transplantation technology was established at Doshisha University. It has since been confirmed as effective and safe through clinical research initiated at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in 2013. We are also working on the development of an eye drop treatment for Fuchs' corneal endothelial dystrophy, the most common corneal endothelial disease worldwide. To date, we have discovered several candidate compounds by elucidating the pathophysiology of Fuchs' corneal endothelial dystrophy and screening drugs using disease model cells established at Doshisha University. The rapid and reliable delivery of the innovative medical treatments based on these research findings to society requires the help of many experts involved in drug development. We hope to bring new treatments for corneal diseases to patients around the world through ActualEyes, Inc., a corporation established by a team of experts who agree with our dream.

Biography

1994	MD - Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
2000	PhD - Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Postgraduate course
2000	Research Fellow in Ophthalmology, Cologne University
2002	Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Fellow, Cologne University
2003	Associate Professor, Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Doshisha University
2008	Associate Professor, Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University
2010	Professor, Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University
2010	Visiting Professor, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
2015	Visiting Clinical Professor, Kyoto University

Professional Memberships

American Academy of Ophthalmology
Association for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology (2018-2022 Editorial Board member)
Japanese Cornea Society (Board member)
Japanese Association for Ocular Infection (Board member) Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine (Board member)
Japanese Society of Ophthalmology
Japanese Ophthalmology Association