About Dr. Ryo

Dr. Ryo Kubota, a world-renowned ophthalmologist who has performed over 1,000 eye surgeries, founded Acucela in 2002 and serves as the Company’s Chairman, President and CEO.

Dr. Kubota spent his early career performing ocular research at Keio University, where he earned his M.D. and Ph.D. In the course of his work there, he discovered the glaucoma gene, myocilin, a discovery that earned him the Suda Award for his contribution to the field of neurodegenerative retinal disease. Dr. Kubota continued his research at the University of Washington and later licensed his findings from the university as the core technology on which the Acucela was formed.

Dr. Kubota practiced ophthalmology in Japan for 10 years before moving back to Washington to become an assistant professor at the University of Washington. He then founded Acucela to have a global impact through the development of novel and safe therapies for patients with blinding eye diseases.

Dr. Kubota is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the Japanese Ophthalmological Society and is a board member of the Japan-America Society.

 

Dr. Ryo Kubota in the News

“Universal Healthcare Can Save Money, But Innovation Is Key: My Experiences in Japan and the U.S.,” Xconomy, August 10, 2009

I was born and grew up in Japan and have first-hand experience as both a doctor and a patient in my native country—a nation that offers universal health care coverage to its citizens. I have also been a patient, an academic researcher and a biotech entrepreneur here in the United States, my home for the past 10 years. These experiences have helped me to compare and contrast and to see the advantages and disadvantages of both countries’ healthcare systems. Read More>>