My Philosophy

Interview .02 | ⁩ Dr. Ayako Kamisato Pick Up
Woman Principal Investigator

Interview .02 | Encounters, Support, and Research with Purpose

We spoke with Dr. Ayako Kamisato, who is conducting research under the “Women PI Startup” support program. As part of her work, she has carried out a web-based survey examining the types of support women believe are necessary when undergoing an abortion.

Ayako Kamisato National Center for Child Health and Development
Department of Medical Legal Research Head

Advances in medical research and healthcare have greatly contributed to the protection and promotion of our health and well-being. At the same time, however, such progress can raise complex ethical, legal, and social questions.
For example, developments in genome-editing technologies have brought to the forefront the question of whether the birth of genetically edited babies should be permitted. I conduct research on the legal and regulatory frameworks needed to address these challenges.
My hope is to connect the findings of my research to national policy, and in doing so, contribute, even in a small way, to shaping a responsible future.

I did not originally aspire to pursue a full-time research career. After giving birth, I had imagined continuing my research quietly while focusing primarily on raising my child.
However, while I was on parental leave, I was unexpectedly encouraged to apply for a position. That opportunity marked the beginning of my life as a researcher.
Looking back, I feel that my current path — including my appointment at the National Center for Child Health and Development last year — has been shaped by a series of fortunate encounters and generous support. I remain deeply grateful for those connections. It is through these opportunities that I have also been able to receive support from funding programs designed for women researchers.

Many women researchers who are balancing childcare or caregiving responsibilities experience the stress of not being able to secure sufficient time for research, or feel compelled to forgo opportunities such as attending academic conferences.
In that context, programs that actively support women researchers are meaningful not only because of the tangible assistance they provide, but also because they serve as a powerful source of motivation.
With this support, I was able to conduct a large-scale survey examining public perceptions of women’s reproductive health and rights.
This topic is closely connected to the way women live and work. I am committed to ensuring that these findings are carefully translated into social impact and shared more broadly with society.

Ayako Kamisato National Center for Child Health and Development
Department of Medical Legal Research Head

Graduated from Keio University with a degree in Environmental Information and completed both her master’s and doctoral studies in law at the Graduate School of Social Sciences, Hosei University, earning a PhD in Law.
After working at a private think tank and serving as a researcher at the University of Tokyo, she joined the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, in 2009 as a Specially Appointed Assistant Professor. She later served as Specially Appointed Associate Professor and Associate Professor before assuming her current position in July 2024.