There is no healthcare without research. Period.
Every medical breakthrough—from the penicillin in your cabinet to the GLP-1 (Ozempic) in the headlines—started with a researcher chasing a "useless" truth in a lab.
But as public debate over research funding heats up, we have to ask:
What should actually drive science?
Is it the government? Private equity?
Or the patients themselves?
We’re skipping the "hot takes" to bring you a deep-dive conversation with researchers who have navigated both the unglamorous hours in the lab and the high-stakes world of commercialization. We’ll explore the messy, non-linear path from "cool discovery" to global impact.
🎯What we’ll dig into:
Finding Product-Market Fit: How to bridge the gap between what science delivers and what the world actually needs.
The "Why" Behind the Research: Do you start with a disease, a mechanism, or a roundworm? (Yes, seriously.)
Academia vs. Commercialization: How to keep the lights on without losing the soul of the science.
🗓️ Date & Time: Thursday, February 17th 18:30-21:00
📍 Venue: Google for Startups Campus Tokyo 5F
🗣️ Language: English
⏰️Event Schedule
18:00: Doors open
18:30: Panel Discussion
19:30: Q&A
20:00: Networking & Light Refreshments
21:00: Event ends
📢Speaker
Marlene
Marlene is the co-founder of Acsiryo, a health-tech company developing a decentralized clinical testing and digital healthcare platform. Acsiryo combines point-of-care testing with a software platform that enables clinical review, follow-up, and continuity of care beyond traditional clinical settings. The solution is designed for deployment in accessible public and satellite locations, bringing healthcare closer to where people live and work. Marlene has a background in biomedical engineering, with a PhD in the field of surgical robotics from Imperial College London, and experience in clinical research and medical device development. Prior to Acsiryo, she worked with multiple startups across the UK and Europe.
Bell
Bell is a Principal Scientist at HIROTSU Bio Science, where she is developing a C. elegans–based cancer screening test, leading clinical studies, and supporting the global expansion of N-NOSE. She is currently focused on building practical solutions to improve patient outcomes, and is open to collaborations in biomedical innovation and digital health.Astrid
Astrid is a PhD Researcher in Psychology from King’s College London, and has worked across institutions in both Europe and Japan. Her research has focused on metacognition, which is the subjective beliefs people hold about their abilities and experiences. She has explored metacognition in relation to mental health, older age, and how it shapes engagement with healthcare.Risa (moderator)
Risa does product at Eucalyptus, an Australian healthtech unicorn that brings modern solutions for people to live healthier for longer.
She is passionate about health, people, and tech, and also leads Japan’s only bilingual healthcare community every 2 weeks in Shibuya.Iris (Co - moderator)
Iris works at the intersection of science, technology, and impact, helping move ideas out of the lab and into the hands of users. She has done this across universities, research institutes, startup environments, and now at the Stellar Science Foundation, which is working to cultivate greater creativity and real-world impact across Japan’s research ecosystem. Along the way, she's learned that unexpected delights show up when you're curious enough to ask slightly awkward questions.
About Google for Startups Campus
Google for Startups Campus (map) is one of six global hubs designed to support startups. The Google for Startups Japan team established a campus in Shibuya in 2019, beginning its mission to support startups across Japan.Selected startups receive technical training and mentoring, along with business support from Google. They also benefit from a diverse community of entrepreneurs and startups. Campus Tokyo, located in the central Shibuya district, serves as a hub for innovation throughout Japan.
Campus Tokyo also hosts public events with various startup ecosystem builders. For the latest updates on these events, upcoming Google programs, and startup news, we encourage you to subscribe to our newsletter.