Takahiro “Taka” Nagayama, Ph.D. is heading Research Institute San Diego in Daiichi Sankyo. He joined Daiichi Sankyo in 2000, then seasoned research leader at Daiichi Sankyo with a career spanning via studying abroad in Johns Hopkins, he progressed to senior director roles in Cardiovascular Metabolics in 2013 and Cell Therapy in 2016, transitioned to Business Development as senior director in 2021. After baking to Research function, he engaged the opening of Research Institute Boston in 2024, and the opening of Research Institute San Diego in 2025 and now leading the open innovation activities in the West coast.