Craif (Location: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Ryuichi Onose, hereinafter referred to as “Craif”) is pleased to announce that Dr. Atsushi Natsume, Designated Professor at Institutes of Innovation for Future Society of Nagoya University, has been appointed as Director of Medical Affairs at Craif.

■ Dr. Natsume will accelerate research and development in the field of brain tumor
After graduating from Nagoya University School of Medicine, Dr. Natsume performed postdoctoral research in the Biochemistry research group at University of Pittsburgh, USA, worked as an assistant at the Center for Genetic and Regenerative Medicine, Nagoya University Hospital, and Designated Associate Professor at Department of Neurosurgery Nagoya University, Graduate School of Medicine, and was appointed as Associate Professor at the Department of Neurosurgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, and Leader of brain tumor at Nagoya University Hospital in November 2010. Dr. Natsume has been appointed as Designated Professor at Craif Nanodevice Industry–University Joint Research Projects at Institutes of Innovation for Future Society of Nagoya University from October 2021. With Dr. Natsume’s knowledge and experience in the area of neurosurgery and brain tumor, Craif will accelerate the research and development of urinary tests useful for early stage brain tumors. 

– Comments from Dr. Natsume –
As a brain tumor specialist, I have studied the molecules, genomes, and epigenomes involved in the development, malignancy, and progression of brain tumors while treating a variety of brain tumor patients from infants to the elderly. The starting point of my thinking is to verbalize the questions that arise through daily medical treatment as research questions, and to return the obtained results to clinical practice. As there is a blood-brain barrier, and the brain is the farthest organ from the urinary system, urinary liquid biopsy will be a big challenge. However, we will make our best efforts to make it possible together with Craif. 

Dr. Atsushi Natsume
Designated Professor, Institutes of Innovation for Future Society of Nagoya University

■ Biography
After graduating from Nagoya University School of Medicine, Dr. Natsume performed postdoctoral research in the Biochemistry research group at University of Pittsburgh, USA, worked as an assistant at the Center for Genetic and Regenerative Medicine, Nagoya University Hospital, and became an Designated Associate Professor at Department of Neurosurgery Nagoya University, Graduate School of Medicine. He was appointed as Associate Professor at the Department of Neurosurgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, and Leader of brain tumor at Nagoya University Hospital in November 2010, Dr. Natsume led various medical examinations and studies with many members and alumni of related facilities. Dr. Natsume is an opinion leader in the field of brain tumors, holding positions in numerous academic societies, including Director of the Japan Neurosurgical Society, councilor of the Japanese Cancer Association, and councilor of the Japan Society of Brain Tumor Pathology. In his research, he publishes more than 10 high impact English papers every year, and this year he published an international academic paper in collaboration with Associate Professor Takao Yasui and others, which will serve as the basis for brain tumor liquid biopsy development. He has received several incentive awards from the Japanese Neurosurgical Society, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the Japan Society of Brain Tumor Pathology, and the Japan Society of Molecular Neurosurgery. In addition he holds position in the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Association for Cancer Research, Society for Neuro-Oncology (Editorial Board), the Japanese Neurosurgical Society (Delegate, International Education Committee member), Japanese Cancer Association (Councilor), Congress of Neurological Surgeons (Steering Committee member), the Japan Society for Neuro-Oncology (Director), the Japan Society of Brain Tumor Pathology (Councilor, Secretary), the Japan Society of Molecular Neurosurgery,  Japanese Gene Therapy Association (councilor), and the Executive Director of the JCOG 0911.