Rady Alumnus Appointed Auditor of Japan’s Largest Agency for Medical Research and Development

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When Kanetaka M. Maki (Ph.D. ’15) earned his doctorate in management from the UC San Diego Rady School of Management, he began a career defined by data-driven research, international collaboration, and a deep commitment to evidence-based policy. That journey has now led to his appointment by the Prime Minister of Japan as Auditor (Board Member) of the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) — the nation’s counterpart to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

In this role, Maki is responsible for ensuring transparency, accountability and rigorous governance across Japan’s largest funding agency for medical research and innovation.

“In Japanese government’s funding agencies, an auditor is not only responsible for financial oversight,” he said. “It also involves evaluating all of AMED’s activities—from grants to research programs—to ensure the agency’s decisions are contributing to the impact for society.”

Maki, now an associate professor at Waseda Business School in Japan and visiting associate professor at the Rady School, brings a uniquely global lens to this work. His international experience has allowed him to compare national innovation systems and identify what drives successful collaboration between academia, industry and government.

“Because I’ve seen how the San Diego innovation ecosystem works, I want to bring that knowledge to Japan—especially in connecting research with real-world application,” he said.

His research, which focuses on the science of innovation and entrepreneurship, underscores this perspective.

“High-quality research is essential,” he said. “But transferring that knowledge requires timing and collaboration. Scientists need to engage with startups, but also know when to step back and let professional managers lead.”

Maki credits his time at Rady — and mentorship from Professor Vish Krishnan — for shaping his analytical approach.

“At Rady, I learned how to apply rigorous data analysis to complex innovation systems,” Maki said. “Those skills now guide how I evaluate large-scale research programs and advise on policy decisions.”

Krishnan, the Jacobs Family Chair in Management and Engineering Leadership, Technology and Operations at Rady, noted that Maki’s success reflects both intellectual rigor and the school’s mission-driven ethos.

“Kanetaka has always stood out for his ability to connect rigorous research with real-world impact,” Krishnan said. “His work exemplifies how data-driven insights can guide innovation policy that truly benefits society."

Maki remains deeply connected to Rady through ongoing teaching and collaboration. Since 2014, Maki has taught the “Innovation to Market A” course as a visiting faculty member and helped launch the MicroMBA partnership between Rady and Waseda. He also introduced Rady’s “Lab to Market” model to his students in Japan, continuing the school’s tradition of turning research into impact.

“Kanetaka’s career reflects the Rady spirit—turning research into action,” Krishnan added. “He bridges cultures, disciplines and sectors to ensure that innovation is impactful globally.”

Looking ahead, Maki hopes to expand joint research projects with Rady focused on field experiments and evidence-based policymaking.

“This collaboration can help transform Japan’s innovation policy through real-world data and experimentation,” he said.

To young researchers and entrepreneurs, his advice is clear: “Don’t stay in one field. Interdisciplinary experience builds creativity and adaptability—the same skills that drive scientific discovery and innovation.”

Through his leadership and continued connection to Rady, Maki exemplifies the school’s mission: using data-driven insight and responsible innovation to improve society worldwide.