Dr. Hiromichi Nishihara, CMO, Director, TrusteeA man with partial facial paralysis underwent months of conventional treatment. Yet one side of his face remained motionless—his smile stuck in a lopsided stillness. Most regenerative clinics would have followed a familiar protocol: an intravenous stem cell infusion. In this method, cells circulate through the bloodstream with the aim of eventually reaching the damaged nerves.
At RPT Osaka Clinic, Dr. Hiromichi Nishihara took a different approach.
Drawing on decades of surgical experience, he made a bold decision—directly injecting 100 million mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the patient’s facial nerve and ganglion. Within two months, the once-paralyzed muscles began to move. His affected eyelid lifted. His mouth regained balance. His face came back to life.
At Osaka Clinic, regenerative medicine goes beyond administering stem cells. It’s about strategy, precision and results. Dr. Nishihara—one of Japan’s most experienced regenerative medicine specialists with over 27,000 stem cell treatments—and CEO Akihiro Toda, who also served as Secretary General of the Special Certified Regenerative Medicine Committee (the backbone of regenerative medicine in Japan), run the clinic with one guiding principle – evidence-based, ethical regenerative care that improves lives.
“With integrity and passion, we take responsibility for our colleagues, our society and the impact we make. By holding ourselves to the highest standards, we strive to exceed expectations and earn patient trust,” says Dr. Nishihara.
But Why Use Only MSCs?
MSCs are at the forefront of regenerative medicine due to their unique ability to repair, regenerate and regulate the immune response, offering hope for conditions once considered untreatable. Their multi-lineage differentiation transforms them into bone, cartilage, muscle, nerve and skin cells, making them ideal for treating neurodegenerative diseases, joint disorders and tissue damage. Unlike conventional treatments that focus on symptom management, MSC therapy works at the cellular level, targeting the root causes of degeneration and inflammation.
“The idea is to reset the body’s ability to heal itself. MSCs have that potential,” says Nishihara.
The method of administration, however, is critical for this potential to be fully realized. Many clinics opt for IV infusion, but this approach lacks precision, relying on passive distribution rather than targeted action.
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With integrity and passion, we take responsibility for our colleagues, our society and the impact we make. By holding ourselves to the highest standards, we strive to exceed expectations and earn patient trust
For patients who qualify, MSC therapy begins with a minimally invasive stem cell harvesting procedure. A small 1–1.5 cm incision is made near the navel to extract adipose tissue, a rich source of MSCs. These cells are then cultured over six to eight weeks, expanding to 100–200 million cells to form a highly potent therapeutic dose. Once ready, the cells are administered based on the patient’s condition. In joint degeneration or nerve damage cases, the treatment involves targeted local injections to promote precise tissue repair. And for autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, the cells are delivered through systemic infusion to support broader immune modulation.
Beyond MSC therapy, Osaka Clinic also offers immunotherapy, an advanced treatment that enhances the body’s immune function. Immune cells are extracted from the patient’s blood and cultured for up to three weeks before being reintroduced via intravenous infusion or injection. The clinic provides three types of immunotherapies. T-cell therapy enhances adaptive immunity, particularly for cancer treatment. Natural killer (NK) cell therapy detects and eliminates abnormal cells, preventing recurrence, while dendritic cell (DC) therapy stimulates immune responses, improving overall immune regulation.
When combined with MSC therapy, immunotherapy strengthens immune modulation, particularly for conditions where inflammation is central to disease progression.
“We have confirmed the efficacy of our treatments in a range of diseases, including autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and atopic dermatitis, degenerative knee osteoarthritis, facial paralysis, diabetes and Buerger’s disease,” says Dr. Nishihara.
Cases in point are patients who underwent up to 10 MSC injections within the timeframe outlined in the regenerative medicine provision plan. Post-treatment evaluations assessed pain levels, walking ability, ulcer severity and hemodynamics (angiography results). The results demonstrated significant improvements, including pain relief, restored mobility and ulcer healing, reinforcing the impact of targeted regenerative therapy.
Where Science, Safety and Ethics Shape Regenerative Medicine
Osaka Clinic sets the gold standard for regenerative medicine in Japan by ensuring treatment effectiveness and patient safety. Amid concerns about unregulated clinics operating without proper oversight, Osaka Clinic prioritizes strict regulatory adherence and medical integrity.
“Regenerative medicine holds incredible promise, but it must be guided by experience, ethics and rigorous scientific oversight to deliver life-changing therapy,” says Dr. Nishihara. “We believe that a commitment to these principles is what truly differentiates us.”
This philosophy translates into patient treatments marked by precision, safety and transparency.
Patients benefit directly from Dr. Nishihara’s extensive surgical background. As a specialist certified by the Japanese Surgical Society and the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery, his expertise in cancer and gastrointestinal treatments ensures that every regenerative procedure is executed with surgical precision and meticulous care, significantly enhancing treatment outcomes.
Mr. Toda’s leadership in shaping Japan’s regulatory landscape complements this medical expertise. As Executive Director of the Specified Certified Regenerative Medicine Committee, he has been instrumental in enforcing rigorous quality controls, surpassing standard industry practices. His international experience in medical tourism further strengthens clinic protocols, ensuring therapies align with global best practices for safety and ethics.
Through this synergy of surgical excellence and stringent regulatory oversight, Osaka Clinic offers more than cutting-edge treatments—it provides patients with confidence in ethical care and reliable outcomes. By placing patient well-being above profit and championing regenerative medicine as a science-driven practice, Osaka Clinic regenerates trust and sets a new benchmark in healthcare.
