Launched in 2024 as part of the TMC | Japan Biobridge partnership with Mitsui Fudosan and the National Cancer Center Japan, JACT was created to help Japanese oncology innovators and early-stage companies navigate the U.S. healthcare market. Through mentorship, clinical and regulatory expertise, commercialization support, and connections with industry leaders, the program provides innovators with the resources they need to bring new cancer therapies and technologies closer to patients. As JACT continues to grow, it’s the people behind the program and the participants who have shaped its foundation and growth. From experienced entrepreneurs and investors to researchers taking their first steps toward company formation, each person brings a vision that helps shape the program.
Supriya Sinha, Andy Bader, Joon Paek, Vic Stone
Supriya Sinha, former Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) at TMC Innovation, brings a unique perspective shaped by experience in scientific research, venture capital, and startup strategy. She has spent her career guiding early-stage life science companies through commercialization, fundraising, clinical strategy, and company formation.
As a mentor for the JACT cohorts, Supriya has been there from the beginning, helping evaluate participating startups, hosting ongoing office hours, and supporting founders as they navigate the U.S. biotech ecosystem. She believes JACT’s greatest strength is its access to industry leaders, providing Japanese innovators with the knowledge and network they need to translate science into successful global ventures.
Alongside mentors like Supriya, Roy Kimura brings his own experience to JACT. Roy’s path to becoming an entrepreneur coach for participants is shaped by years of learning in both the lab and the startup world. After earning a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, he built a career in computational chemistry and drug discovery, collaborating with pharmaceutical 
companies in both the U.S. and Japan before co-founding his own biotech startup. He experienced the highs of innovation and the hard lessons that come with building a company, from managing teams to making mistakes that could only be learned through experience. Those experiences now shape the way he mentors founders, helping them see beyond the science and prepare for the realities of entrepreneurship.
Introduced to JACT through colleagues and the TMC Innovation team, Roy was immediately drawn to the program’s hands-on approach and deep connection to the Texas Medical Center. He believes JACT stands apart because of how closely coaches work alongside participants to strengthen their business strategies and build confidence. One moment that continues to stand out is watching founders arrive at advisory sessions visibly nervous, only to leave more confident. For Roy, those transformations are what entrepreneurship is all about: helping scientists develop the mindset to share their vision, embrace feedback, and take the next step toward creating companies that can change lives.
For participants, that entrepreneurial mindset quickly becomes real as they begin applying it to their own journey.
Noriko Miyamoto joined the first-ever cohort of the JACT program intending to turn years of scientific research into a company that could bring new medical technologies to patients. As a researcher at the Aichi Institute of Technology specializing in nanotechnology and nucleic acid medicine, she had spent years developing innovative drug delivery devices but wanted to better understand how to translate those discoveries into impact. Through JACT, she is exposed to experienced entrepreneurs, mentors, and industry leaders who shared firsthand knowledge of building companies and commercializing technologies.
Noriko Miyamoto, Dr. Tsuchikama, Dr. Anami, Dr. Honda, Dr. Ishizaki
One of the biggest lessons Noriko plans to take away from JACT is the difference between innovative cultures in Japan and the U.S. While her research background emphasizes developing medical technology, the program continues to show the importance of speed, teamwork, and understanding market needs. With guidance from mentors and the JACT community, she has developed a more entrepreneurial mindset that continues to shape her work and future goals.
For every participant, JACT serves a different purpose. For some, it’s the beginning of an entrepreneurial journey, and for others, it’s the next chapter in one that’s already well underway.
As a surgeon, researcher, and former startup CEO, Dr. Hidenobu Ishizaki joined JACT to better understand the U.S. life sciences ecosystem and explore opportunities to bring Japanese innovation to America. Although he had successfully built and led a biotechnology company in Japan, he recognized that expanding globally requires a different perspective.
During his time in JACT, Dr. Ishizaki has connected with industry professionals who have broadened his understanding of company formation, fundraising, and clinical development in the U.S. He especially values Houston’s collaborative innovation community, where healthcare organizations and startups work closely to accelerate medical innovation. Those experiences have reinforced his belief in the importance of global collaboration and have given him greater confidence in pursuing opportunities beyond Japan. Looking ahead, Dr. Ishizaki hopes to establish a company in Houston, continue building partnerships across both countries, and help bring innovative therapies to patients around the world.
While participants bring their own goals and experiences to JACT, the program itself is shaped by leaders who are dedicated to strengthening the bridge between Japan and the U.S.
Director of the Center for Promotion of Translational Research at the National Cancer Center Japan (NCC), Dr. Katsuya Tsuchihara, has dedicated his career to translating advances in cancer genomics, molecular diagnostics, and drug development into treatments. Through the
NCC Seed Acceleration Program (SAP), he helps prepare Japanese researchers and entrepreneurs for global commercialization by strengthening their clinical development and business models. He believes the most successful founders are driven by solving unmet medical needs, combining scientific excellence and curiosity to build solutions for patients worldwide.
Dr. Tsuchihara sees JACT as more than a startup program. He sees it as an opportunity to build a lasting connection between Japan’s growing life sciences ecosystem and Houston’s healthcare and life sciences ecosystem. He hopes the partnership will speed the development of new therapies and create stronger international collaboration for years to come. As he puts it, “The National Cancer Center strives to conquer cancer and make the patient smile.”
Looking Forward
Every milestone accomplished during JACT is made possible by the people behind it. Mentors share their expertise and encouragement to help innovators navigate the challenges, while founders take the leap to transform promising cancer technologies into real-world solutions. Together, these relationships form the foundation of the program. As JACT continues to grow, so will the community behind it, welcoming new innovators and building the partnership between Japan and the U.S.