Craif Opens Its First Overseas Proprietary Bio AI Lab in San Diego, USA
Craif, a bio-AI startup, opened its first overseas bio-AI lab in San Diego. CEO Ryuichi Onose relocates to lead the US expansion of their early cancer detection technology.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 17:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 08:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 08:56 (25 min after Collected)
Craif Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Ryuichi Onose; hereinafter "Craif"), a bio-AI startup, announces the opening of its first overseas owned and operated bio-AI lab in San Diego, California, USA. Concurrently, Representative Director and CEO Onose will relocate to San Diego to lead the establishment of a global business structure.
Craif Bio AI Lab in San Diego, USA
■ Background and Future Outlook of the US Lab Opening
Craif operates with the mission of "realizing a society where people live out their natural lifespans" by working on early disease detection and treatment optimization. The company quickly began practical application of "microRNA," the theme of the 2024 Nobel Prize, developing technology to analyze urinary microRNA using AI. They offer "miSignal Scan," which enables ultra-early risk detection for intractable cancers like pancreatic cancer, and it is rapidly spreading through public funding introductions at over 2,400 medical institutions, 5,000+ pharmacies/drug stores, e-commerce, corporations, and local governments in Japan. Additionally, they plan to apply for regulatory approval of the medical device program in 2026.
Meanwhile, cancer is a universal challenge, and Craif aims to establish a global standard by applying the early cancer detection technology, testing operations, and business model developed in Japan to the US market. They have steadily built a foundation in the US through the establishment of a US subsidiary and taking residence in "JLABS San Diego," operated by J&J. With an eye on insurance reimbursement in the field of early pancreatic cancer detection, they are collaborating with 30 medical institutions across 15 states. Now, to strengthen R&D in preparation for the service launch in the US, they have opened their first overseas owned and operated bio-AI lab in San Diego, one of the world's leading biotechnology hubs. At the same time, the CEO's relocation will accelerate global recruitment and fundraising, kicking off the construction of an organizational structure to propel the US business.
■ About Craif's Proprietary Lab
- Name: Craif U.S. Laboratory
- Location: 6370 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 106, San Diego, CA 92121
- Opening Date: April 1, 2026
- Primary Role: Base for specimen measurement and analysis in the US
■ Comment from Representative Director and CEO Ryuichi Onose
When Craif was founded, Mr. Samejima of ANRI, an early investor, pushed me saying, "Go for a grand slam or strike out in the US, give it your all," and that's how this challenge began. As long as we are tackling the universal issue of cancer, I believe it is inevitable that we compete globally and contribute to solving the world's problems. As a startup originating from a Japanese university, we have been running with the ambition to change the world based on innovative technology.
There were opportunities to expand into the US before, but they did not materialize due to the impact of COVID-19 and other factors. However, as a result, we were able to focus on science and business development in Japan, refining Craif's bio-AI technology to a world-leading standard.
It might have seemed like a roundabout journey, but because of that accumulation, we are now able to challenge the US, the world's premier bio-ecosystem, in a state where we are fully competitive in technology, team, and culture. On the other hand, to actually deliver the tests to society and solve the problem of cancer, we must overcome numerous difficulties in all areas of research, clinical practice, and business. To do this, we must tackle the highly competitive US market head-on in both talent and capital, and win in the capital market competition.
Accomplishing this remotely from Japan is extremely difficult, so I decided that I, as the founder, should stand on the front lines and take on the challenge. The real battle starts now. With determination, we will take on the US and, as Craif, carve out the future of healthcare.
■ About "miSignal Scan"
"miSignal Scan" is a test that extracts microRNA from urine and analyzes it with AI to evaluate the risk of 10 types of cancer*, including pancreatic cancer, from Stage 1 for each type. By simply collecting urine, the test can be performed without physical burden.
For details, please visit the website.
https://misignal.jp/
"miSignal Scan" is not a medical device. It determines risk by statistically calculating analyzed information. It does not replace a medical "diagnosis" of whether someone has cancer, and a low-risk judgment does not guarantee the absence of cancer or that cancer will not develop in the future.
* Ovarian and breast cancer are for women only; prostate cancer is for men only.
Craif Bio AI Lab in San Diego, USA
■ Background and Future Outlook of the US Lab Opening
Craif operates with the mission of "realizing a society where people live out their natural lifespans" by working on early disease detection and treatment optimization. The company quickly began practical application of "microRNA," the theme of the 2024 Nobel Prize, developing technology to analyze urinary microRNA using AI. They offer "miSignal Scan," which enables ultra-early risk detection for intractable cancers like pancreatic cancer, and it is rapidly spreading through public funding introductions at over 2,400 medical institutions, 5,000+ pharmacies/drug stores, e-commerce, corporations, and local governments in Japan. Additionally, they plan to apply for regulatory approval of the medical device program in 2026.
Meanwhile, cancer is a universal challenge, and Craif aims to establish a global standard by applying the early cancer detection technology, testing operations, and business model developed in Japan to the US market. They have steadily built a foundation in the US through the establishment of a US subsidiary and taking residence in "JLABS San Diego," operated by J&J. With an eye on insurance reimbursement in the field of early pancreatic cancer detection, they are collaborating with 30 medical institutions across 15 states. Now, to strengthen R&D in preparation for the service launch in the US, they have opened their first overseas owned and operated bio-AI lab in San Diego, one of the world's leading biotechnology hubs. At the same time, the CEO's relocation will accelerate global recruitment and fundraising, kicking off the construction of an organizational structure to propel the US business.
■ About Craif's Proprietary Lab
- Name: Craif U.S. Laboratory
- Location: 6370 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 106, San Diego, CA 92121
- Opening Date: April 1, 2026
- Primary Role: Base for specimen measurement and analysis in the US
■ Comment from Representative Director and CEO Ryuichi Onose
When Craif was founded, Mr. Samejima of ANRI, an early investor, pushed me saying, "Go for a grand slam or strike out in the US, give it your all," and that's how this challenge began. As long as we are tackling the universal issue of cancer, I believe it is inevitable that we compete globally and contribute to solving the world's problems. As a startup originating from a Japanese university, we have been running with the ambition to change the world based on innovative technology.
There were opportunities to expand into the US before, but they did not materialize due to the impact of COVID-19 and other factors. However, as a result, we were able to focus on science and business development in Japan, refining Craif's bio-AI technology to a world-leading standard.
It might have seemed like a roundabout journey, but because of that accumulation, we are now able to challenge the US, the world's premier bio-ecosystem, in a state where we are fully competitive in technology, team, and culture. On the other hand, to actually deliver the tests to society and solve the problem of cancer, we must overcome numerous difficulties in all areas of research, clinical practice, and business. To do this, we must tackle the highly competitive US market head-on in both talent and capital, and win in the capital market competition.
Accomplishing this remotely from Japan is extremely difficult, so I decided that I, as the founder, should stand on the front lines and take on the challenge. The real battle starts now. With determination, we will take on the US and, as Craif, carve out the future of healthcare.
■ About "miSignal Scan"
"miSignal Scan" is a test that extracts microRNA from urine and analyzes it with AI to evaluate the risk of 10 types of cancer*, including pancreatic cancer, from Stage 1 for each type. By simply collecting urine, the test can be performed without physical burden.
For details, please visit the website.
https://misignal.jp/
"miSignal Scan" is not a medical device. It determines risk by statistically calculating analyzed information. It does not replace a medical "diagnosis" of whether someone has cancer, and a low-risk judgment does not guarantee the absence of cancer or that cancer will not develop in the future.
* Ovarian and breast cancer are for women only; prostate cancer is for men only.