Kento Yamagishi, Lecturer at EEIS, has received the Innovators Under 35 Japan 2024 award.
Name of award and short explanation about the award
The Innovators Under 35 award, organized by MIT Technology Review, is a prestigious global award aimed at recognizing and supporting young, talented innovators. Established in 1999, the award annually selects outstanding innovators who address global challenges through technological innovation and creative applications of technology. Innovators Under 35 Japan is the local version of this award, focusing on identifying and showcasing individuals who use technology to tackle issues specific to Japan, such as the aging population and the deterioration of infrastructure.
On Wednesday, November 20th, the "Innovators Under 35 Japan Summit 2024 in Nihonbashi" will be held at Nihonbashi Hall in Tokyo, where award recipients, including Professor Yamagishi, will be introduced and will take the stage. The event will also be streamed online.
For more details, please visit the Innovators Under 35 Japan website: https://events.technologyreview.jp/iu35/
About awarded research(activity)
Our research team aims to contribute to the advancement of sports science and the medical field through the development of ultra-thin, flexible electronic devices. Notably, we successfully developed the world’s first “electronic nano-bandage” capable of measuring the electromyography (EMG) signals from a baseball player's palm during a pitch. This technology features an ultra-thin, flexible electrode, only a few hundred nanometers thick (1 nanometer is one-billionth of a meter), which can be directly attached to the skin without hindering the wearer’s movement, enabling the acquisition of precise data. Moreover, through collaboration with industry, this technology is being applied in society, expanding its use in athletic motion analysis and healthcare. Looking ahead, we expect to expand this technology into fields that require precise movements, such as for musicians and surgeons.
In addition, our research team has developed a bioadhesive wireless light-emitting device for photodynamic therapy (PDT). This device can adhere to tumor tissues like a sticker and targets cancer treatment using photosensitive agents. As the world’s first implantable PDT system, it has demonstrated effectiveness in cancer model mice, marking a significant step toward clinical applications. This breakthrough is anticipated to greatly enhance the accuracy of optical technology in cancer treatment.
Your impression & future plan
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my fellow researchers who have dedicated themselves to our research efforts, as well as to my family and friends who have supported me throughout my academic journey. Having devoted myself to sports like baseball, track and field, and judo since childhood, I am truly honored that my research has been recognized for its contribution to the advancement of sports science. While my dream of becoming an athlete did not come true, I am thrilled to contribute to the development of Japan’s sports culture as a researcher. Moving forward, I am committed to advancing my research with the goal of implementing new bio-monitoring technologies based on the “electronic nano-bandage” in society. I also aspire to develop innovative technologies that enhance athletes' performance, and I dream of one day contributing to my beloved Chunichi Dragons winning the Japanese championship.
Additionally, in my research on cancer treatment, I am fully committed to expediting the practical application of a unique, Japan-born cancer treatment method that combines ultra-thin films and optical technology, so that it can reach patients as soon as possible.
https://techreviewjp.com/iu35/2024/nominate
