Chief Executive Officer
 

Mitsuo KAWATO

I received a B.S. degree in physics from Tokyo University in 1976, with M.E. and Ph.D. degrees in biophysical engineering from Osaka University in 1978 and 1981, respectively. In 1988, I moved to Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR), and in 2010, I was appointed Director of the ATR Brain Information Communication Research Laboratory Group. I have received various commendations for scientific and technological research from the Ministry of State for Science and Technology.

• 10th Tsukahara Naka-akira Memorial Award
• Tokizane Toshihiko Memorial Award
• The Asahi Prize
• INNS Gabor Award
• APNNA Outstanding Achievement Award
• The OKAWA Prize
• Second Tateisi Prize Grand Award
• C&C Prize
• Japan's Purple Ribbon Medal
• Member of Science Council of Japan

I have been involved in research and development of neuroscience applications for diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders in national scienctic projects for over ten years.

• 2008 to 2013, a Field leader oF Brain Machine Interface Development, Field A
• 2013 to 2018, a Research Leader of BMI Technology/Field 3, SRPBS (MEXT)
• 2018, an R&D Principal Investigator of Brain/MINDS Beyond 3-1

I founded XNef in 2017 with the intention of bringing the results to patients.

Director, Vice President
Chief Medical Officer

Yuki SAKAI

In 2006, I graduated from the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine and obtained a medical license. During my two years of initial training, I became interested in psychiatry and became a psychiatrist, receiving my Ph.D. in 2013. From 2013 to 2015, I served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry in the Graduate School of Medical Science at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine.
In order to investigate mechanisms of mental illness, I became a researcher at ATR in 2015. I participated in establishing XNef in 2017 with the intention of bringing the results to patients.

Director, Chief Public fund Management Officer

Mieko NAMBA

I worked for a consortium that promotes interdisciplinary research exchange in Tsukuba Science City, where I was mainly involved in planning exchange events and managing research meetings in the life sciences.
After that, I moved to the Kansai region, where I was employed by Dr. Kawato, who was looking for an assistant editor for a scientific journal. Then, with changes in the organization, I changed my role from editorial secretary to laboratory secretary, to assistant to the Director, to head of the Planning Department, and now I serve as the head of the Research Planning Division of the ATR Brain Information Communication Research Laboratory Group.
I have been consistently involved in basic research. I helped to establish XNef in 2017, impressed by the desire of its members to develop their research results to benfit society.

Chief Financial Officer
Certified Public Accountant

Shinichiro KURAHASHI

I worked at PwC Japan, engaging in accounting audits and various advisory services such as J-SOX and IPO for domestic and international manufacturers and financial institutions. Subsequently, I focused on supporting IPO preparations, business & finance restructuring, DX, etc. at various companies and my own office. I resonate with the mission of XNef Inc. and joined the company in April 2025.

Head of Business Development
 

Chiaki WAKI

After graduating from a university in the United States, I built a 20-year career in the medical device industry, specializing in marketing, medical science, and business development. I held leadership roles at Becton Dickinson Japan, Boston Scientific Japan, and Abbott Medical Japan, where I managed cross-functional teams and led strategic marketing initiatives.
Driven by a strong desire to bring innovative medical technologies from Japan to the global market, I pursued an MBA in Entrepreneurship at Waseda Business School. In 2021, I took on the role of CEO at a medical device startup, where I oversaw all aspects of the business and led the company through its early growth phase.
In 2025, I joined XNef Inc. as Head of Business Development, where I continue to leverage my experience to create new value in the field of medical technology.

Manager, System Development Department

Toshinori YOSHIOKA

In April 1988, I joined a major information systems company.
Afterward, I worked at the Japan Science and Technology Agency, the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, and the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International. At ATR, I was involved in research and development of multi-color applications (1), the TVINS robot manipulandum experimental system (2) (3) (4), and a real-time neurofeedback system using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). I participated in establishing XNef in 2017 and have acted in my current capacity since January 2020.

Manager, Quality Management Department

Seiichi KATO

I worked at domestic machinery manufacturer as a design engineer and quality assurance in 1985. In 1993, I worked at the domestic factory of the foreign medical device company as a R&D and quality assurance. Thus, I could have more than over 20 years experience of the quality assurance for the medical device field.
I joined XNef in January 2021 and now manage for quality assurance, safety control, and the license of MAH (Marketing Authorization Holder) at Quality Management dept.

Manager, Clinical Development Department

Hiroshi GYOBU

Engaged in sales, marketing, and clinical development worked at domestic and overseas medical device companies for more than 20 years. In addition, I was involved in the start-up business of a company aiming to enter the medical device field.
Joined XNef Inc. in August 2021.

Manager, Medical Device Development Department

Tatsuru IMANISHI

At a domestic medical device manufacturer, I had been involved in the design and development of diagnostic imaging devices for over 20 years. During that period, I was involved in responding to regulatory requirements for medical devices as well as developing related international standards.
After moving into a foreign notified body, I worked as an auditor of quality management systems such as ISO 13485.
I joined XNef in October 2021, I am now engaged in the development of medical devices and responsible for the maintenance and establishment of quality management system.

Section Manager,
Clinical Development Department

Maki SHIBAKAWA

After working in a hospital ward as a nurse, I became interested in drug development and became a clinical research coordinator in a site management organization. When I gave birth, I retired from that organization because of the extensive traveling it required, and I became an in-hospital clinical research coordinator. I have partcipated in various investigator-initiated clinical trials and clinical research projects with a focus on regenerative medicine. Subsequently, I worked as a project manager at several medical institutions and other organizations, mainly involved in setting up investigator-initiated clinical trials.
I joined XNef in August 2019 and am now responsible for clinical development.

Researcher,
Clinical Development Department

Tomosumi HAITANI

I completed a master's course at the Graduate School of Human Sciences at Waseda University and obtained a license of clinical psychologist during the doctoral course. Since 2017, I had been engaged in clinical psychological research on people with stuttering (speech dysfluency disorder), as a research fellow at the National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. In 2019, I obtained a Ph.D. in Human Sciences and a license of certified public psychologist.
With my experience in obtaining MRI imaging data and statistical analysis, I have been interested in the clinical applications of neuroscience and data science. Since 2022, I had engaged in resting-state fMRI analysis as a researcher at the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International.
I joined XNef Inc. in February 2025.

Radiological Technologist,
Clinical Development Department
 

Atsuko KUWABAWA

Majored in Course of Radiological Science at the School of Health Sciences, Kumamoto University, I obtained a license as a radiological technologist.
I have gained knowledge in various imaging and image processing techniques, such as CT, MRI, and other general radiography, from the experience of working as a radiologist at several hospital facilities, including acute care hospitals, recovery rehabilitation hospitals, and also at facilities for medical checkups.
In October 2021, with my clinical knowledge and technique of MRI imaging, I joined XNef, wanted to cooperate in the research field.

office administrator

Sayoko UCHIDA

Acquired various skills through jobs such as a proofreader for a newspaper, sales manager for a English school, sales coordinator for an interpretation/translation company, administrative clerk at several universities, I also worked as a lab secretary at BICR, led by Dr. Kawato.
Knowing the difficulty of living with someone with Depression, I joined XNef in June 2021, wishing to help many people suffering from mental illnesses.

Advisor

Jun UTSUMI

I obtained a Ph.D. in science at Hokkaido University in1988, an MBA from National Otaru University of Commerce Business School, Hokkaido, in 2010 and also obtained technical licenses of Professional Engineer (Biotechnology), PMRJ Certified Regulatory Science Expert (Clinical Development). I invented and developed a novel drug at Toray Industries Inc., where I received the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan Award for Drug Research and Development and the Okochi Memorial Grand Technology Prize. After moving to Hokkaido University and Kyoto University, where I was involved in a medical industry-academic collaboration. I also have consulting experiences on regulatory affairs at the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and on intellectual property strategy at the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). In 2018, I founded a consulting firm and became XNef’s Business Development Advisor. I have a strong interest in the digital transformation of the healthcare sector, and I am certified by the Japan Medical AI Society.

 

Taro UENO

in preparation.