ICMHI 2024

Keynote Speakers

 

 

 

Hitoshi Nakagama

President, National Cancer Center (NCC), Tokyo, Japan

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Name: Hitoshi Nakagama, M.D., D.M.Sc.
Position: President, National Cancer Center (NCC), Tokyo, Japan
Education:
1982 University of Tokyo, Faculty of Medicine, M.D.,
1992 University of Tokyo, Faculty of Medicine, D. M.Sc.,

Positions and Employment:
1984 Clinical Staff, The 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, University of
Tokyo, Faculty of Medicine
1988 Research Associate, University of Tokyo, Faculty of Medicine
1991 Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Cancer Research, MIT, U.S.A.
1995 Section Head, Carcinogenesis Division, National Cancer Center Research
Institute (NCCRI)
1997 Chief, Biochemistry Division, NCCRI
2007 Deputy Director, NCCRI
2011 Director, NCCRI
2012 Executive Director, National Cancer Center (NCC)
2016 President, NCC

Expertise: Molecular oncology, Cancer genomics, Environmental carcinogenesis

Biography---Hitoshi Nakagama has served as President of National Cancer Center (NCC) since 2016. He graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1982 and received Ph.D. in 1991. He then joined MIT, Center for Cancer Research, and worked with Prof. D.E. Housman on functional analysis of a tumor suppressor gene, WT1. After returning back to Japan in 1995, he took up a position at NCC Research Institute (NCCRI), and became Chief, Biochemistry Division (1997), Deputy Director (2007), and Director of NCCRI in 2011. He has been working at NCCRI on animal models of colon carcinogenesis induced by various environmental carcinogens and on DNA adductome to elucidate genetic/epigenetic alterations that play pivotal roles in driving cancer development. He also identified several tumor suppressive microRNAs regulating cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis after exposure to environmental insults. Currently, he puts more efforts on establishment of the nation-wide system for Precision Cancer Medicine and Prevention.

Speech title "Future Perspectives for healthcare delivery in Japan with whole genome analysis and construction of integrated medical database"

Abstract-Cancer genomic medicine in Japan has been implemented under the national health insurance system since June 2019, immediately after the approval of the comprehensive genetic profiling (CGP) test in December 2018. From the beginning of clinical implementation of the test, the government has sought to deposit the genetic results of the CGP test along with clinical information into the Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapeutics (C-CAT) repository database established at the National Cancer Center, Japan. To date, genomic data and clinical information obtained with documented consent from more than 70,000 patients are accrued in C-CAT. Since 2021 the data has been widely utilized by academia and industry. Only 10 -15 % of cancer patients who received the CGP test have been successfully subjected to treatment consistent with genetic alterations observed in their own tumors. To further expand the opportunity for cancer patients to receive desirable treatment based on individual genetic alternations, the Japanese government had decided to launch the whole genome sequence (WGS) project. In the preliminary phase, the project analyzed around 20,000 biobank cases of various cancers or intractable diseases by 2020. The project was further extended and accelerated by strategically collecting WGS data and clinical information under “Action Plan for Whole Genome Analysis 2022”. The project aims to analyze and collect 100,000 genomes and multi-omics data with high quality clinical information. The project also plans to integrate various other healthcare-related data, such as digitalized lifestyle data, pathological and imaging data, drug development data, disease registries, information on various clinical trials and drug development research, and so forth in the not-too-distant future. A comprehensive healthcare database will be eventually be utilized in realizing precision healthcare of individuals not only in Japan, but also other Asian countries that share similar lifestyle and genetic backgrounds. Future perspectives for precision medicine by construction of integrated medical databases will be presented and discussed in this lecture.

 

 

 

Kevin C. Tseng

National Taipei University of Technology, China

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Biography---Kevin Tseng is an accomplished academic with a PhD in product design and development from De Montfort University in the UK. He holds several positions, including president of the Medical Design Association, CEO of the IPDD Alliance for Health Industry, and professor of industrial design at the National Taipei University of Technology. Prof. Tseng has received many academic research awards, including the Dr. Ta-You Wu Memorial Award (Outstanding Research Award) from the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2014. He was also twice selected as the CGU Outstanding Research Award in 2012 and 2014 and received the Chang Gung Medical Research Award from 2013 to 2017. Additionally, he has been granted Excellent Young Scholars research funding from 2014 to 2021 and has been awarded the MOST distinguished research awards from 2012-2017 and 2020 onwards. He has published over 100 research articles in well-respected journals and conferences and has successfully obtained research projects worth approximately $9.7 million US dollars through government grants and industry sources. Additionally, Prof. Tseng has won four first prizes in domestic and international design competitions and holds 17 patents. 

Upon returning to Taiwan, Prof. Tseng established the interdisciplinary research laboratory for product design and development (PDD Lab) with a focus on "healthcare and promotion," "foresight design," and "product design and development." The PDD Lab has an outstanding national and international reputation and strong connections with various industries. Prof. Tseng is a committed researcher who not only focuses on academic research but also actively assists manufacturers in industry-university cooperative research. One of his successful projects included the design of the "Noveltek Advanced Powered Pallet Truck," which received the Ministry of Economic Affairs Design Excellent Award. He currently works as a consultant for multiple companies and has created five products with the goal of facilitating industrial technology transfer, three of which have already been successfully commercialized.

Prof. Tseng has been invited as a keynote speaker at several academic and industrial events and served on programme and organising committees for numerous international conferences and workshops. He is currently on the editorial board of several international journals and design jury services in Taiwan, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and China.

Speech title "Medical Design: Smart Products and Services for Patients with Stroke"

Abstract-Stroke is a prevalent cause of disability worldwide, necessitating innovative approaches to enhance the rehabilitation and everyday lives of those affected. This study concentrates on medical design and smart products and services that cater to the complex needs of stroke patients. It takes an interdisciplinary approach to explore the challenges and opportunities in developing effective and user-friendly rehabilitation systems and devices, with a particular emphasis on rehabilitation robots. These robots are crucial for providing ongoing guidance and monitoring for stroke survivors who face an increased risk of recurrent episodes. In this research, a framework for an interactive upper-limb rehabilitation system that includes brain-computer interfaces is introduced. This system encompasses an interactive rehabilitation training platform, a rehabilitation database system, and an EEG and EMG acquisition system. The platform offers a virtual rehabilitation game system and an interactive upper-limb rehabilitation device, enabling both proactive and reactive rehabilitation exercises. In the future, this study stresses the importance of patient-centred innovation and collaboration across designers, engineers, healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers to advance medical design for stroke patients. The study concludes with a call for continued research and development in this field, aiming to improve existing technologies and create new solutions that respect the dignity and autonomy of stroke survivors. To sum up, "Medical Design: Smart Products and Services for Patients with Stroke" provides a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape, challenges, and future prospects of intelligent technologies in stroke care and rehabilitation. It emphasises the significant impact these innovations can have on patients’ lives and advocates for collaborative efforts to fully realise this potential.