Speaker Profile

Dr. Kiyoshi Kurokawa

Science Advisor to the Cabinet of Japan

After completing his medical degree at the University of Tokyo, Professor Kurokawa spent 15 years in theUnited States, first at theUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and later at UCLA, where he was Professor of Medicine (1979 - 84).  He is licensed to practice medicine in California as well as in Japan; he is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine (nephrology) and Master, American College of Physicians (MACP).

On his return to Japan, Professor Kurokawa joined the University of Tokyo Faculty ( = "School") of Medicine, serving as Professor and Chair (1989 - 96).  He was then Dean of Medicine at Tokai University (1996 - 2002) and returned to the University of Tokyo in 2004 to serve as Professor at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST).

His broader perspectives in science policy are reflected by his tenure as President of the Science Council of Japan (2003 - 07), as well as his participation in many advisory positions for various Japanese government ministries and the Japan Society for the Promotion of
Science (JSPS).  Prof. Kurokawa is Commissioner, World Health Organization (WHO) Commission for Social Determinants of Health since 2005.  He is Director, Health Policy Institute, Tokyo since 2004, and Professor at the (Japanese) National Graduate University of Policy
Science since 2006.  Dr. Kurokawa received the Order of Purple for Excellence in Academic Achievements from the Government of Japan in 1999.

Dr. Kurokawa has been Science Advisor to the Cabinet of Japan since 2006.  During this time he has spearheaded major new programs aimed at improving the innovation system of that country, e.g. "Innovation 25" <http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/innovation/index_e.html>;
he serves as Chairman of the Innovation 25 Strategy Council.

___________________________________________________________