Arthur D. Little Japan Appoints Principal Hiroaki Kanda and Consultant Mai Takagi as Business Advisors to Healthy Parent and Child Support Association

Arthur D. Little Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Japan Representative: Kensuke Sobue; hereinafter "ADL") has announced that Hiroaki Kanda, Principal in the Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice, and Mai Takagi, Consultant, will assume roles as business advisors for the Healthy Parent and Child Support Association (Location: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Aki Kawamura; hereinafter "Association").

The Association provides support for the early diagnosis of pediatric rare and intractable diseases. Because there is a large number of rare diseases but a small number of cases for each, it often takes significant time to reach a definitive diagnosis. Addressing this structural issue of "diagnosis delay" that isolates patients and their families, the Association is developing an online consultation system where non-specialist physicians can consult with specialists.

As part of these efforts, the "1st Early Diagnosis Support Alliance Study Group" will be held on Friday, May 29, 2026, at the Hotel New Otani Kioi Forum. The event will focus on discussions geared toward social implementation, such as supporting pre-diagnosis patients using consultation data and digital technology, correcting regional disparities, and promoting medical DX. On the day of the event, various stakeholders including medical professionals, patient advocacy groups, politicians, government agencies, and private companies will take the stage to deepen discussions on analyzing consultation data, the potential of AI and wearable technologies, and the future of patient support. A panel discussion themed "What Doctors, Patient Groups, and Companies Can Do Together to Eliminate Diagnosis Delays" is also scheduled.

ADL agrees with the Association's initiatives and will support its activities, as well as those of the Early Diagnosis Support Alliance Study Group, by facilitating collaboration among stakeholders and providing ADL's deep expertise in the healthcare and life sciences sectors.

[ADL Consultant Profiles] Hiroaki Kanda (Principal, Arthur D. Little Japan) Completed his master's degree at Kyoto University's Graduate School of Biostudies. Served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, working on WTO negotiations. Joined Arthur D. Little Japan in 2020. Supports management and business strategies in life sciences domains such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and bio-manufacturing. Particularly focused on R&D management and commercialization strategies for new modalities like cell and gene therapies. Also serves as a visiting researcher at Waseda Institute for Sport Sciences.

Mai Takagi (Consultant, Arthur D. Little Japan) Completed her master's degree at Kyoto University's Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences. After working at Daiichi Sankyo, she joined Arthur D. Little Japan in 2024. Engaged in consulting for management and business strategies primarily in pharmaceuticals and biotech. Has extensive experience providing support based on technical and business insights in R&D, CMC, and biopharmaceuticals including new modalities such as regenerative medicine and gene therapy.

<<About Healthy Parent and Child Support Association>> The Association conducts multifaceted activities to resolve social issues surrounding pediatric rare diseases, including providing information, operating the testing facility search site "Angel Smile Program," supporting families, producing materials for childcare, and creating documentaries. It aims to realize a society where children with intractable diseases and their families can live with peace of mind in collaboration with medical, nursing, and welfare experts.

<<About Arthur D. Little Japan>> Established in 1886 by Dr. Arthur Dehon Little at MIT, ADL is the world's first strategy consulting firm. ADL Japan provides open consulting with creativity and effectiveness across various industries including automotive, finance, and healthcare/life sciences, leveraging a global network.