～MAPI to provide end-to-end collection, storage, processing, and provision of medical data, with a focus on radiological images and surgical and endoscopic video data～
Medical AI Promotion Institute (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Directors: Yuki Shimahara and Sho Kawabe; hereinafter “MAPI”) has obtained certification as a certified producer of anonymized medical data and a certified producer of pseudonymized medical data (collectively, a “Certified Producer”) under Japan’s Next Generation Medical Infrastructure Act.
MAPI is the fourth entity in Japan to receive certification as a Certified Producer under the Act and the first to be certified as a standalone entity.
Following this certification, MAPI will launch a business to organize clinical information accumulated at medical institutions, including medical video data, into datasets that can be utilized for research and development, and provide these datasets to medical AI developers, research institutions, and other organizations.
【Background to the Certification】
Existing databases such as the NDB (National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan) have primarily consisted of claims data, while the use of clinical information such as test results and treatment outcomes stored in electronic medical records, CT and MRI images, and surgical and endoscopic video data has remained limited.
Against this backdrop, the Next Generation Medical Infrastructure Act came into effect in 2018 to establish a framework for appropriately managing and processing medical information and enabling its safe use in research and development. Subsequent amendments to the Act have enabled anonymized medical data to be linked with public databases such as the NDB, facilitating more advanced and cross-sectional use of medical data.
＜Framework for the Use of Medical Data under the Next Generation Medical Infrastructure Act＞
Meanwhile, the use of medical AI is expanding from assistance in interpreting radiological images to supporting diagnosis and treatment planning, as well as surgical and endoscopic procedures. Medical data, including video data generated in clinical practice, is also expected to play an important role in research and development of “Physical AI,” which controls systems such as surgical-assistance robots and operates in the physical world.
As the legal framework has evolved and opportunities for the use of medical data have expanded, MAPI obtained this certification to serve as an intermediary between medical institutions and medical AI developers, research institutions, and other organizations, providing an integrated framework spanning data collection, storage, processing, and provision.
【Future Initiatives】
To effectively utilize medical data for medical AI development and research, video data generated in clinical practice must be linked with information such as diagnoses and treatment outcomes according to the intended use and organized into formats suitable for analysis and machine learning. At the same time, collecting such data directly from medical institutions and preparing it while appropriately protecting personal information requires extensive coordination and specialized expertise on the part of developers.
MAPI will expand its partnerships with medical institutions that provide data, broaden the types and volume of data available, and respond to the medical data needs of medical AI developers, research institutions, and other organizations, thereby contributing to accelerating medical AI research and development and its implementation in clinical practice. In particular, MAPI will focus on developing datasets that combine CT and MRI images and surgical and endoscopic video data with clinical information, including diagnostic information, test results, and treatment progress.
＜About the Next Generation Medical Infrastructure Act＞
The Next Generation Medical Infrastructure Act is a Japanese law designed to enable the safe use of medical information for research and development in the health and medical fields by anonymizing or pseudonymizing such information while appropriately protecting patient privacy.
Certified Producers that meet the Japanese government’s rigorous standards centrally manage and process medical information and provide necessary data to pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and other organizations, thereby establishing a foundation for the development of innovative new drugs and advanced treatments. As Japan faces a rapidly aging society, the Act aims to promote the effective use of medical information to support disease prevention and healthcare tailored to individual needs, contributing to the creation of a society in which people can live longer, healthier lives.
Reference: Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, “Next Generation Medical Infrastructure Act”(External site)
＜Company Profile＞
Company Name: Medical AI Promotion Institute
Representative Directors: Yuki Shimahara and Sho Kawabe
Head Office: 4F, Nihonbashi Life Science Building 9, 12-9 Nihonbashi-Odemmacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business: Development and operation of the “Next-Generation Medical Database,” which processes and provides medical data
Contact: pr@mapi-jp.org
