Open Innovation

Akihiko Yamamoto, Ph.D.

Head of External Intelligence Group, Portfolio Strategy Department, Deep Human Biology Learning (DHBL) HQs, Eisai Co., Ltd.

Since April 2026, Akihiko Yamamoto, Ph.D., has served as the Group Head of the External Intelligence Group in the Portfolio Strategy Department at Eisai Co., Ltd. By monitoring external drug discovery trends, he explores and identifies partners that bridge science and drug discovery, while incubating new collaborations to integrate cutting-edge technologies and medicinal discovery assets into Eisai.
After joining Eisai in 2006, Akihiko Yamamoto, Ph.D., began his career as a medicinal chemist. He has primarily focused on oncology research, contributing to drug discovery projects involving kinase inhibitors, Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADC), and targeted protein degraders. In 2010, he joined a research program at Professor Yoshihito Kishi’s laboratory at Harvard University for approximately one and a half years. Following this, from 2015, he served as an Exploratory Project Leader, where he focused on establishing drug discovery platforms for epigenetics.
From 2020, he engaged in external public relations activities at Eisai’s PR Department, after which he joined the Corporate Planning Department in the same year. From 2022, he served as Head of the Corporate Portfolio Group, where he was responsible for aligning R&D strategies with corporate management and planning. In 2023, he returned to the R&D division as the Head of Japan Site within the Collaboration & Incubation Department. Since 2024, he has concurrently served as Global Lead for the joint research and development program with Harvard University regarding the natural product Halichondrin B, while managing related alliance operations.
Dr. Yamamoto graduated from the Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto University in 2001, and received his Ph.D. in 2006 from the Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University.

Gota Kobayashi

Group Head, Strategic Alliance, Portfolio Strategy Department, Deep Human Biology Learning (DHBL)HQs, Eisai Co., Ltd.

Gota Kobayashi leads Eisai's Strategic Alliance function, overseeing global R&D alliances with academic institutions, research organizations, and industry partners. His team drives collaborative research, co-development, licensing, and external innovation initiatives to advance the discovery and development of transformative medicines.
Prior to joining Eisai, Mr. Kobayashi held clinical development roles at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, contributing to multiple oncology programs across solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. After joining Eisai, and through 2021, he built a career exclusively in oncology R&D and business — spanning clinical development, marketing, medical affairs, and R&D strategy. Throughout this period, he led product strategy and commercialization for multiple oncology therapeutics before heading the medical affairs and clinical development planning functions, where he drove evidence generation and international development strategy while concurrently serving as Global Project Lead for an FGFR inhibitor program. This end-to-end experience across the pharmaceutical value chain, from drug discovery through post-launch value maximization, underpins his approach to building productive, science-driven partnerships. Since 2022, he has broadened his focus beyond oncology to lead R&D alliance strategy and operations across all therapeutic areas, including neuroscience, under Eisai's integrated R&D framework.
Mr. Kobayashi received his MS degree in Biology from the Graduate School of Engineering, Shinshu University.

Tonya Gilbert, Ph.D.

Director, External Innovation, Deep Human Biology Learning (DHBL) Office, Eisai Co., Ltd.

Tonya Gilbert, Ph.D., leads external innovation activities for the U.S. Group within Eisai’s Deep Human Biology Learning (DHBL) Office, where she identifies and manages academic, biotech, and non profit collaborations that support Eisai’s global discovery and early development programs. Her work focuses on neurology, with particular emphasis on neurodegeneration. Dr. Gilbert also works closely with Eisai Innovation, Inc. to foster strategic partnerships.
Dr. Gilbert brings broad scientific training and translational experience to her role. She approaches external innovation with scientific curiosity and a commitment to respect driven relationship building. She is passionate about working with academic investigators and early stage companies to advance novel ideas toward meaningful patient impact.
Prior to joining Eisai, Dr. Gilbert spent over seven years at Eikonizo Therapeutics, Inc., where she advanced from Scientist to Executive Director of Translational Research. There, she contributed to disease modifying therapeutic programs for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, with responsibilities spanning cross functional R&D leadership, program and alliance management, and due diligence.
Earlier in her career, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, conducting human neuroimaging research in neuropsychiatric disorders and aging.
Dr. Gilbert received her B.S. in Biochemistry from SUNY Geneseo and her Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine through the Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences.

Peter Atkinson, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Head of Hatfield Research Laboratories and External Innovation, Eisai Ltd. 

Since joining Eisai Ltd. in 2011, Peter Atkinson, Ph.D., has led scientific, strategic, and partnership-driven initiatives across Eisai’s global discovery and external innovation activities. He currently serves as Executive Director and Head of Hatfield Research Laboratories (HRL) at Eisai’s EMEA headquarters, where he oversees laboratory operations, scientific capability development, and cross-functional research strategy. In addition, he leads the UK External Innovation function, responsible for scouting, evaluating, and managing discovery-stage collaborations and investment opportunities that support Eisai’s Neurology portfolio.
Before joining Eisai, Dr. Atkinson built extensive experience in neurology and psychiatry drug discovery at leading pharmaceutical organizations. He contributed to multiple early-stage programmes at SmithKline Beecham (later GlaxoSmithKline) in the UK and subsequently at Wyeth Research (later Pfizer) in the United States. Across these roles, he helped advance target identification initiatives and preclinical programmes spanning neurodegeneration, neuropsychiatry, and molecular neuroscience.
At Eisai, Dr. Atkinson has played a key role in expanding global academic and biotech engagement, strengthening external scientific networks, and shaping Eisai’s approach to collaborative innovation. He also contributes to company-wide strategy discussions related to emerging science, technology platforms, and portfolio opportunities.
Dr. Atkinson holds a Ph.D. in cell physiology and pharmacology from the University of Leicester, followed by an Industrial Postdoctoral Fellowship at Wyeth Research. He continues to actively support early scientific careers, innovation ecosystems, and cross-sector research partnerships in the UK and internationally.