RIKEN

　As a special feature of the Drug Discovery and Medical Technology Platforms, we have a strategic team specializing in leading on research and development. From the upstream activities of research and development, including identification of drug discovery targets, to build bridges toward clinical studies, there is a demand for experts in every setting to implement drug discovery and medical technology.

　We have therefore focused on structuring the management team at the Drug Discovery and Medical Technology Platforms by implementing a system for steadily advancing research and development. Specifically, the team picks the theme leader for promoting individual themes and projects relating to drug discovery and medical technology with the portfolio manager advising and supporting the theme leader. The theme leaders are researchers, but the portfolio manager is a mid-level researcher with experience of research and development in the pharmaceutical industry. This two-headed system for formulating research plans facilitates optimum planning and implementation.

　Forming interdisciplinary team, staff from every pharmaceutical platform cooperates under a theme leader. By means of this matrix structure, it is possible to access the wide range of basic technologies necessary for drug discovery and medical technology. In addition, clinical development managers specializing in pharmacological testing or pharmacokinetics, and managers of regulatory science, who are well versed in the regulations for clinical studies and clinical trials, participate in planning for the stage of handing over for clinical testing.

Management Team Configuration

　The management team for the Drug Discovery and Medical Technology Platforms is lead by Dr. Toshio Goto, Program Director, who played a leading role in the discovery and development of the immunosuppressant “Tacrolimus, Shinichi Nishikawa, Deputy Program Director, who is in charge of planning and evaluating research and development from the medical-needs and bioscientific viewpoints, portfolio managers with experience of research and development at pharmaceutical companies, and managers in charge of clinical development and regulatory science. The team promotes and supports research and development with strong leadership based on the mission of realizing drug discovery and medical technologies.

Developing Matrix Management

　The implementation of drug discovery and medical technology can not be concluded with a single research organization but must be tackled by RIKEN as a whole.　By enhancing the life science research platforms nurtured in the past, we have created a platform for drug discovery and medical technologies where we are promoting efficient and effective research and development.

　In order to achieve this, the Executive Director in charge of general coordination administration chairs a Steering Committee for Drug Discovery and Medical Technology Platforms where top-down decisions are taken on what drug discovery and medical technology themes and projects should be promoted for a system that encourages institute-wide engagement. Drug Discovery and Medical Technology Platforms that promotes research and development have been established in the RIKEN BASE (Bioinformatics And Systems Engineering) Division which studies the life science and elsewhere within RIKEN Yokohama Institute whereas drug discovery and medical technology platforms not found at RIKEN have been positioned as external platforms, mainly at universities and in the private sector, for a platform that encompasses research and development of drug discovery and medical technology. Together with the portfolio managers, the team leaders who guide and promote drug discovery and medical technologies are able to organize staff for the platforms and to configure strategic teams.

　The management teams for the Drug Discovery and Medical Technology Platforms verify and advice on research plans put forward by team leaders, undertake related surveys (prior art or patents) support research costs and confirm the stages. By developing such a matrix management, we have a system that is fully committed to promoting drug discovery and medical technology themes and projects.