Craif Begins Providing MySignal Through Publicly Funded Program Utilizing Subsidies

Craif Inc. (headquartered in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Ryuichi Onose; hereinafter "Craif"), a bio-AI startup, will begin providing the urine-based cancer risk test "MySignal" through a publicly funded program utilizing subsidies in collaboration with Shinjo Village, Mimasaka District, Okayama Prefecture (Village Mayor: Hirohito Ogura), starting August 2026. This initiative, implemented at zero cost to residents, is positioned as a demonstration project to establish a new model for early cancer detection, with the aim of evaluating potential for ongoing implementation and expansion of eligibility. "MySignal" is a test that uses bio-AI technology to assess cancer risk for 10 types of cancer from Stage 1. Through this project, Craif aims to build a scalable social model for early cancer detection in regions facing healthcare access challenges and expand it nationwide.

Background of the Initiative

In Japan, one in two people will develop cancer, and cancer screening participation rates remain low at around 40%—a figure below international standards. Particularly in rural areas with limited access to medical facilities, these structural barriers further suppress screening rates. In Shinjo Village, Okayama Prefecture, residents often face travel times of over 30 minutes by car to reach nearby medical facilities, and daily life demands frequently lead to delayed screenings, resulting in participation rates below the national average. Preventing disease progression and rising medical costs due to late detection has become an urgent priority.

As one response to these regional challenges, Shinjo Village will implement a publicly funded program utilizing subsidies, enabling selected residents to take the "MySignal" test at no personal cost. Craif will collaborate with the village to advance the societal implementation of early cancer detection through the provision of MySignal.

◾ Overview of the Shinjo Village MySignal Project

Approximately 30 residents of Shinjo Village, Okayama Prefecture, selected by the village, will receive test kits. Participants will complete the test by collecting a urine sample at home and mailing it to Craif's laboratory. Individuals assessed as high-risk will receive follow-up care at Shinjo Village National Health Insurance Clinic and be supported through additional examinations at facilities such as Kawasaki General Medical Center.

Target Participants

Residents, primarily elderly individuals who face difficulties accessing cancer screenings

Cost

No cost to residents (fully publicly funded as a model project)

Capacity

Approximately 30 participants

Application Period

June to July 2026

Test Start

End of August to September 2026

Results Delivery and Additional Examinations

From October 2026 onward

Testing Facility

Shinjo Village National Health Insurance Clinic

Additional Examination Facilities

Kawasaki Medical School General Medical Center, etc. (for individuals assessed as high-risk)

◾ Statements from Project Partners and Collaborating Institutions

・Dr. Takesumi Otsuki, Director, Shinjo Village National Health Insurance Clinic

Since my appointment, I have repeatedly encountered cancer cases that, in hindsight, should have been detected much earlier. Our clinic's diagnostic capabilities are limited, primarily relying on plain X-rays, ultrasound, and a narrow range of blood tests. Amid these constraints, I have been searching for new tools to enable earlier detection for our villagers. That is when I learned about Craif's MySignal test, which evaluates cancer risk by analyzing microRNA in urine. The ability to assess multiple cancer risks at once using a minimally invasive urine sample holds significant promise for areas like ours, where medical resources are limited.

This project is being implemented through discussions with the village, using subsidies from the Regional Society Development Foundation's "Initiative for a 100-Year Life Society and Regional Revitalization" program.

As clinic physicians, we will ensure thorough explanations and informed consent for participants and will properly refer those requiring additional testing to appropriate medical institutions.

・Hirohito Ogura, Mayor of Shinjo Village, Okayama Prefecture

Shinjo Village is a small village with a population of approximately 760. About 46% of our residents are aged 65 or older, yet we also have individuals over 90 who remain active in farming. At the same time, our only local medical facility is the National Health Insurance Clinic, and reaching a hospital takes 30 minutes, while reaching a core hospital requires about 60 minutes—typical of a mountainous, rural region. In such an environment, it is crucial not only to treat illness after it occurs but also to encourage ongoing health awareness and enable early detection and treatment. The "MySignal" test we are introducing requires only a urine sample, making it accessible even for elderly residents. We hope this project will encourage residents to engage with their health, connect those in need with appropriate medical care, and ultimately extend healthy life expectancy. As a pioneering initiative unique to Shinjo Village, we also hope it will serve as a new preventive healthcare model for other rural and small municipalities across Japan.

・Dr. Yoshibumi Takigawa, Kawasaki Medical School General Medical Center

The value of the MySignal cancer risk test does not end with taking the test. It only becomes meaningful within regional healthcare when individuals identified as high-risk are reliably linked to further diagnostic testing, diagnosis, and treatment as needed.

In regions like northern Okayama, where distance to medical facilities and screening burdens are persistent challenges, it is essential to have a collaborative system where local clinics address residents' health concerns and refer them to higher-level medical centers when necessary. As a tertiary care center in Okayama Prefecture, our hospital will work closely with Shinjo Village National Health Insurance Clinic to support patients from additional testing and diagnosis through follow-up care, ensuring access to necessary medical services.

Craif's Municipal Collaboration Initiatives

To date, Craif has advanced the societal implementation of MySignal through collaborations with municipalities and medical institutions. In 2024, Craif conducted a prospective observational study in Iwanaichi Town, Hokkaido, successfully enabling early detection and treatment of Stage 0 lung cancer. Craif has since partnered with Rishiri Town, Hokkaido, to improve regional cancer screening rates, and in Misato Town, Shimane Prefecture, launched a project partially subsidizing MySignal—building a growing track record of municipal collaborations.

The current initiative in Shinjo Village represents a new municipal collaboration model, achieving publicly funded implementation with zero resident cost through subsidy utilization. Moving forward, Craif will continue deepening partnerships with municipalities and medical institutions to realize a society where more people can detect cancer earlier.

◾ About "MySignal Scan"

"MySignal Scan" is a test that evaluates cancer risk for 10 types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, from Stage 1 onward, by extracting microRNA from urine and analyzing it using AI. The test can be performed easily and non-invasively with only a urine sample.

For more details, please visit the website:

https://misignal.jp/

"MySignal Scan" is not a medical device. The test determines risk by statistically analyzing the data and does not replace medical diagnosis for confirming the presence of cancer. A low-risk result does not guarantee the absence of cancer or that cancer will not develop in the future.

* Ovarian and breast cancer tests are available only for women; prostate cancer test is available only for men.

About Craif

Craif (pronounced "Kuraifu") is a bio-AI startup founded in 2018 dedicated to early cancer detection. By integrating its proprietary analytical technology platform "NANO IP® (NANO Intelligence Platform)," which enables high-precision detection of diverse biomarkers such as DNA and microRNA from bodily fluids including urine, with AI technology, Craif is developing innovative tests that enable ultra-early detection, early treatment, and early recovery from cancer. By bringing the power of biotechnology and AI to society, Craif advances its vision of "realizing a society where people live out their full natural lifespans."

[Company Overview]

Company Name: Craif Inc. (pronunciation: Kuraifu)

Representative: Ryuichi Onose, CEO

Founded: May 2018

Capital: 100 million JPY (as of April 1, 2025)

Business: Research and development of next-generation diagnostics for early disease detection and personalized medicine, primarily in oncology; provision of the urine-based cancer risk test "MySignal® Series"

Headquarters: B1F, THE PORTAL iidabashi, 8-30 Shinogawara-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

URL: https://craif.com/