Leveraging Global Medical Data to Accelerate AI-Powered Healthcare in Japan
Chuo-ku, JP and Palo Alto, US – April 23, 2026 - Medical AI Promotion Institute (headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yuki Shimahara, ShoKawabe; hereinafter "MAPI") and Segmed, Inc. (headquartered in PaloAlto; CEO: David Gascoigne; hereinafter "Segmed"), a provider of medical data for healthcare research and AI development, are pleased to announce a strategic partnership to expand access to global medical data for AI development. Through this partnership, researchers and developers in Japan will gain access to overseas medical data, along with support for its utilization. This initiative aims to accelerate medical AI development in Japan and support the international expansion of Japanese medical AI companies.
MAPI specializes in the processing and management of medical data, supporting both the healthcare institutions that provide data and the companies and researchers that utilize it. MAPI offers comprehensive support to data users, including medical AI companies, going beyond simple data provision to encompass regulatory compliance assistance and market access support. Additionally, MAPI has established an ethics review committee to strengthen the governance framework for medical data utilization (*).
Segmed is a leading company in the U.S. real-world imaging data space. Through its data curation platform Openda, Segmed provides de-identified, regulatory-grade imaging datasets from over 2,800 healthcare institutions to researchers and AI developers.
Through this partnership, MAPI will be supporting with regulatory, data licensing, and data processing activities associated with data provision. The collaboration will accelerate R&D timelines while enhancing the quality of outcomes.
Furthermore, MAPI aims to create a new ecosystem centered on medical data to support the international expansion ofJapanese medical AI companies. For overseas expansion, obtaining local data and using it for algorithm training, validation and optimization is essential. Data selection must also consider various factors, including pharmaceutical regulations in each country. MAPI will advise on these processes and support the provision of appropriate data. Going forward, MAPI plans to provide multifaceted support for overseas expansion, including research and development and regulatory compliance in each country.
As the first initiative under this partnership, MAPI obtained overseas medical imaging data through Segmed for the purpose of developing and validating its own anonymization technology. The entire process from data quality control to delivery was completed smoothly, establishing the foundation for full-scale data provision.
MAPI and Segmed Partner to Streamline Access to Overseas Medical Data
MAPI will provide Japanese customers with access to millions of de-identified medical imaging data records obtained from more than 2,800 healthcare institutions through Segmed. By serving as the local point of contact, MAPI significantly reduces the effort required for obtaining overseas medical data, enabling efficient data utilization. Additionally, medical AI specialists at MAPI will support customers in curating the datasets needed for their product development.
Going forward, MAPI will expand access to medical data for domestic AI development companies and research institutions. MAPI also plans to make high-quality Japanese medical data available through Segmed's platform, supporting overseas companies seeking to enter the Japanese market. Through collaboration with international research institutions and companies, this initiative aims to promote the global reach of Japan's medical AI technology and contribute to the advancement of the field worldwide.
“At Segmed, we believe that advancing medical AI requires breaking down borders in data access. MAPI shares that vision. This partnership not only opens our platform of over millions of de-identified imaging datasets to the Japanese market but also lays the groundwork for high-quality Japanese medical data to reach the global research community, creating a truly two-way exchange." - said David Gascoigne, CEO, Segmed, Inc.
"We are delighted to partner with Segmed, a leading company in the U.S. medical imaging data space. Through our collaboration with Segmed, we will promote global medical data utilization and support the international expansion of Japanese medical AI development companies." - said Yuki Shimahara, Director, Medical AI Promotion Institute
*Medical AI Promotion Institute, "Establishment of an Ethics Review Committee Specializing in Medical AI and Data" (November 14, 2025)
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About MAPI
Company Name: Medical AI Promotion Institute (医療AI推進機構株式会社)
Representatives: Yuki Shimahara, Sho Kawabe
Headquarters: Life Science Building 9, 4F,12-9 Nihombashi-Odemmacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Established: November 8, 2023
Business: Development and operation of the"Next-Generation Medical Database Business" for the processing and provision of medical data
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About Segmed
Segmed, Inc.streamlines access to diverse, high-quality real-world data, including medical imaging and clinical records, for biopharmaceutical R&D, AI development, and medical device innovation. With a global network of healthcare partners across five continents, Segmed provides researchers with approximately 150 million de-identified, standardized imaging datasets through its proprietary platform, empowering safer, faster, and more equitable healthcare advancements. For more information, visit www.segmed.ai or follow us on LinkedIn @segmed-ai.
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