#Japan #Tokyo #Digital Twin #health data #NTT Group

France-Japan Bilateral Seminar on Health Data: A Venue for Medical Innovation

On June 19-20, 2025, the France-Japan Bilateral Seminar on Health Data was held at Keio University’s Kitasato Auditorium. This international seminar focused on the critical topics of acquisition, governance, and applications of health data, gathering researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals from both nations to discuss the latest insights and future prospects in the field of healthcare.

Among the key participants were three experts from NTT Group, including two from the NTT Precision Medicine Group, who delivered presentations on the current state of health data utilization and the potential of next-generation medicine through digital twin technology.

NTT Group's Contributions

Session 5.1: Japan Precision Medicine Platform - Utilization of Medical Data

In this session, NTT Precision Medicine introduced the Japan Precision Medicine Platform (JPP), aimed at overcoming the challenges of utilizing real-world data (RWD) in Japan. Over 95% of medical data accumulated in hospitals remains unutilized, primarily due to data silo issues, heavy data loads, and compliance with privacy laws, which complicate collaborations with external research institutions and pharmaceutical companies.

To tackle these issues head-on, NTT Group has partnered with BC Platforms to create JPP, which serves as a secure and practical foundation for sharing medical data. JPP consists of two main components:
1. Federated Analysis - Facilitates decentralized data use across multiple hospitals.
2. Trusted Research Environment (TRE) - Ensures controlled data handling for research purposes.

These innovations aim to eliminate drug loss and expedite clinical development by providing a framework for safe cross-analysis of pharmaceutical data across the nation.

Dr. Masashi Okada from the Real World Data Research Organization joined the discussion, elaborating on the practical challenges faced in RWD research. He highlighted the limitations of anonymous databases in incorporating detailed patient information that is crucial for in-depth disease understanding and drug discovery. He introduced TRE, designed under the 'Five Safes' framework, which enables detailed analysis without housing data outside hospitals.

Additionally, Itaru Imahori from BC Platforms presented successful global case studies of establishing trustworthy research environments, detailing how TRE can adapt to local settings and support AI-driven data analysis while preserving privacy.

Session 5.4: Bridging Industry and Research through the Digital Twin

The second focus of NTT Group was presented during Session 5.4, where Dr. Kunio Kashino from NTT emphasized the concept of the Bio-Digital Twin. This innovative approach, built on the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) concept, introduces a framework that integrates a person's physical and psychological data in real-time, allowing simulations that can predict diseases and optimize treatment plans.

Dr. Kashino outlined the transformative potential of IOWN, stressing its ability to fundamentally alter healthcare services through its high-efficiency, low-latency communication networks. Through collaborative projects at Osaka University and Sakakibara Memorial Hospital, adaptations of Bio-Digital Twin technology are being tested with promising results, demonstrating its capacity to support health monitoring and rehabilitation.

The discussions culminated in a panel where industry and academic experts engaged in dialogue on the implications of digital twin technology for healthcare and social contexts. Both sessions reaffirmed that not only technological advancements but also the establishment of social consensus on data sharing and governance are crucial for leveraging health data.

Conclusion: A Vision for Collaborative Future

The seminar has proved to be a pivotal opportunity for exchanging ideas on the practical challenges of health data use and the visionary prospects for future healthcare models. NTT Group's engagement through both practical solutions and visionary concepts underscores its commitment to collaborating with both domestic and international entities in advancing real-world data applications and AI-driven healthcare innovations.

This two-day seminar not only showcased the NTT Group’s endeavors in the field of medical data but also highlighted crucial international cooperation between France and Japan. Looking ahead, NTT Group aims to continue contributing to the implementation of next-generation medical practices by merging real-world data with technological advancements in AI and communication.