Senior Research Fellow
Japan Institute for Health Security, Japan
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Kento Kimpara, BPharm, MPH Candidate, Senior Research Fellow, Japan Institute for Health Security
Kento Kimpara is a Senior Research Fellow at the Japan Institute for Health Security, where he contributes to the iCROWN initiative, a nationwide clinical research network for infectious diseases that strengthens Japan’s preparedness and response capabilities. He is also pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) at St. Luke’s International University Graduate School of Public Health, with strong interests in epidemiology, behavioral science, and health policy.
Kento began his professional career in 2017 as a pharmacist at St. Marianna University Hospital, working in pediatrics and neonatal intensive care (NICU). There, he focused on optimizing pharmacotherapy and promoting the safe and effective use of medicines in children. In 2022, he joined the National Center for Child Health and Development, where he played a key role in the Pediatric Clinical Trials Network. As Secretariat staff for the central Institutional Review Board (IRB), he supported the development and ethical oversight of pediatric drug trials, contributing to efforts to address the long-standing challenges of off-label drug use in children.
At the Japan Institute for Health Security, his current work builds on this experience, focusing on clinical research systems for infectious diseases while drawing on his background in pediatric pharmacotherapy and public health. His career vision is to promote collaborative, evidence-based solutions that enhance patient safety, expand access to pediatric medicines, and strengthen healthcare systems in Japan and globally.