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Breaking through the barriers of their respective fields, the world's top researchers have united to fight infectious diseases and develop life-saving vaccines.
Save the World!
Save the World!
At the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus emerged and caused an unprecedented pandemic, bringing immeasurable damage across the world. This experience made clear the importance of establishing, during non-pandemic periods, a system capable not only of developing vaccines, but also of advancing a broad range of Medical Countermeasures (MCMs), including therapeutics and diagnostics, and rapidly translating them into practical use during infectious disease emergencies.
Against this backdrop, the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) Strategic Center of Biomedical Advanced Vaccine Research and Development for Preparedness and Response (SCARDA) has launched the “Research and Development Platform Program for Medical Countermeasures against Infectious Disease Emergencies,” and the University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center (UTOPIA), The University of Tokyo, has been selected as its flagship center.
Since its selection in 2022 as the flagship center of the “Japan Initiative for World-leading Vaccine Research and Development Centers,” UTOPIA has brought together researchers from a wide range of disciplines across the University of Tokyo and has promoted interdisciplinary research, human resource development, and domestic and international collaboration, with a particular focus on infectious disease research and vaccine development. With this new selection, we will further build upon the research foundation developed to date and expand our activities into an integrated platform for the research and development of MCMs, encompassing not only vaccines but also therapeutics and diagnostics.
We will also strengthen a seamless research and development framework spanning basic research, preclinical studies, clinical research, and implementation in society. At the same time, we will actively promote collaboration among academia, industry, and government, strengthen partnerships with research institutions in Japan and overseas, foster the next generation of researchers, and incorporate emerging approaches such as artificial intelligence into our research. Through these efforts, we aim to establish a world-leading research and development center capable of rapidly and effectively delivering the MCMs needed in times of infectious disease emergencies.
Guided by our longstanding mission to “Save the world from infectious diseases,” UTOPIA will continue to take on this expanded responsibility. We sincerely ask for your continued support and cooperation.
Yoshihiro Kawaoka
Director
The University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection, and Advanced Research Center (UTOPIA), Institute for Advanced Studies, The University of Tokyo
Article
Article
Positive selection of IgG over IgM plasma cells through BCR isotype-specific antigen presentation and signaling
Positive selection of IgG over IgM plasma cells through BCR isotype-specific antigen presentation and signaling
Yuki Tai, Takuya Koike, Hiromi Yamamoto, Kyoko Shida, Niklas Engels, Takeshi Inoue, Wataru Ise, Jürgen Wienands, & Tomohiro Kurosaki
5 September 2026
Article
Article
Vaccine acceptance in a future pandemic after COVID-19 and its decision drivers in Japan
Vaccine acceptance in a future pandemic after COVID-19 and its decision drivers in Japan
Junna Kawasaki, Masakaze Hamada, Masaki Machida, Ryo Komorizono, Mie Kobayashi-Ishihara, Naoko Fujita, Takahiro Tabuchi & Yuki Furuse
1 September 2026
Article
Article
Protective effect of A(H5N8) stockpiled vaccine against a virus genetically identical to a human isolate of bovine A(H5N1) influenza virus
Protective effect of A(H5N8) stockpiled vaccine against a virus genetically identical to a human isolate of bovine A(H5N1) influenza virus
Ryuta Uraki*¶, Maki Kiso, Kiyoko Iwatsuki-Horimoto, Mutsumi Ito, Seiya Yamayoshi, Masaki Imai, and Yoshihiro Kawaoka¶
1 September 2026
Article
Article
Vaccine-related misinformation and attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination in Japan
Vaccine-related misinformation and attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination in Japan
Yuki Furuse, Takahiro Tabuchi
31 July 2026
Article
Article
Review
GC B Cells, Tfh Cells, and Influenza bnAbs: Insights for Improving Universal Vaccine Design
GC B Cells, Tfh Cells, and Influenza bnAbs: Insights for Improving Universal Vaccine Design
Takeshi Inoue, Wataru Ise, Tomohiro Kurosaki
July 2026
Article
Article
iEvac-Z, an Inactivated Ebola Vaccine: Phase 1 Trial in Japan
iEvac-Z, an Inactivated Ebola Vaccine: Phase 1 Trial in Japan
Tokiko Watanabe*, Michiko Koga*, Masanori Nojima*, Minako Kono, Yuriko Tomita, Tadashi Maemura, Itsuki Anzai, Yuri Furusawa, Calvin Duong, Yoichiro Kino, Peter J. Halfmann, Fumitaka Nagamura, Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi, and Yoshihiro Kawaoka¶
30 July 2026
Event
Event
UTOPIA Participates in “Meneki Fushigi Mirai 2026”
26 July 2026UTOPIA Participates in “Meneki Fushigi Mirai 2026”
UTOPIA participated in Men-eki Fushigi Mirai 2026, a public outreach event organized by the Japanese Society for Immunology.
We introduced UTOPIA’s research activities through posters and an interactive quiz on immunology and infectious diseases.
Note: This event was conducted in Japanese.
Article
Article
Gut Microbiota-Derived Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles in COVID-19: Their Signature and Immunological Impact
Gut Microbiota-Derived Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles in COVID-19: Their Signature and Immunological Impact
Aya Ishizaka, Michiko Koga, Tomoya Hayashi, Ken J Ishii, Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi and Taketoshi Mizutani
July 2026
Article
Article
Effectiveness of baloxavir marboxil in nonhuman primates infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H7N9) virus
Effectiveness of baloxavir marboxil in nonhuman primates infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H7N9) virus
Kiyoko Iwatsuki-Horimoto, Masaki Imai, Toru Ishibashi, Shinya Yamada, Maki Kiso, Mutsumi Ito, Atsuhiro Yasuhara, Seiya Yamayoshi, Yoshihiro Kawaoka*
July 2026
Event
Event
The 4th UTOPIA Symposium
The 4th UTOPIA Symposium
7—8 July 2026 | Hongo, Tokyo
July 2026
Article
Article
Affinity- and epitope-dependent pathogenicity of GM-CSF autoantibodies in patients with autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis
Affinity- and epitope-dependent pathogenicity of GM-CSF autoantibodies in patients with autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis
Shinji Futami*, Chie Kawai, Jun-ichi Kishikawa, Masaki Hirose, Hiroshi Kida, Po-hung Wang, Kazuo Yamashita, Fumihiko Ishikawa, Takayuki Kato, Yoshikazu Inoue, Atsushi Kumanogoh, Tomohiro Kurosaki# & Takeshi Inoue#
June 2026
Article
Article
Hiroshi Ueki, Yuriko Tomita, Calvin Duong, Hiromichi Mitake, Maki Kiso, Yuri Furusawa, Dongming Zhao, Tiago Jose da Silva Lopes, Li Wu, Huapeng Feng, Seiya Yamayoshi, Satoshi Fukuyama, Makoto Yamashita, Manabu Ozawa, Masahito Ikawa, Nobuaki Yoshida, Tokiko Watanabe, and Yoshihiro Kawaoka
16 June 2026
Article
Article
Acuminate horseshoe bats in Chachoengsao, Thailand
A novel group of bat viruses found in Thailand holds clues about the diverse properties and circulation dynamics of SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses
A novel group of bat viruses found in Thailand holds clues about the diverse properties and circulation dynamics of SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses
Virological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses dynamically circulating in Southeast Asia
Virological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses dynamically circulating in Southeast Asia
Wacharapluesadee S, Saikruang W, Lytras S, Matsumoto K, Uriu K, Hinay A Jr, Guo Z, Rattanatumhi K, Supataragul A, Ninwattana S, Thippamom N, Srisuk T, Maneeorn P, Noradechanon K, Duengkae P, Sirichan N, Kosugi Y, Fujita S, Yo MS, Matsunaga R, Hu B, Du L, Wang L, Tsuda M, Oda Y, Nasser H, Kimura KT, Akasaka H, Asakura H, Nagashima M, Sadamasu K, Yoshimura K, Yamamoto Y, Nagamoto T, Asakura T, Shihoya W, Hashiguchi T, Ikeda T, Tanaka S, Chu H, Tsumoto K, Nureki O; Genotype to Phenotype Japan (G2P-Japan) Consortium; Genotype to Phenotype Asia (G2P-Asia) Consortium; Plianchaisuk A, Putcharoen O, Sato K.
Link to the Paper in Cell | Link to the Press Release
6 May 2026 News
News
10 June 2026 | Shirokanedai (IMSUT)
Institutional Seminar Series
Institutional Seminar Series
10:00 — 11:30 Auditorium, 1st building, The Institute of Medical Science
Dr. Steven G Reed
CEO, HDT Bio, USA
Harnessing RNA technology for effective vaccines for cancer and infectious disease
Harnessing RNA technology for effective vaccines for cancer and infectious disease
Organizers: Ken Ishii, Cevayir Coban
Video
Video
Ryuta Uraki, Associate Professor
Department of GMP Education and ImmunoVirology, UTOPIA, The University of Tokyo
13 May 2026Ryuta Uraki, Associate Professor
Department of GMP Education and ImmunoVirology, UTOPIA, The University of Tokyo
Video
Video
Professor Yukinori Okada
Department of Genome Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
8 May 2026Professor Yukinori Okada
Department of Genome Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Article
Article
Foxp3 drives context-dependent epigenetic programs that define regulatory T cell molecular identity and function
Foxp3 drives context-dependent epigenetic programs that define regulatory T cell molecular identity and function
Yuxi Wei, Hinako Ago, Ryuichi Murakami, Shotaro Funatsu, Marina Osaki, Akira Nakajima, Yoshinori Hasegawa, Ryoji Kawakami, Shimon Sakaguchi, Shohei Hori
May 2026 Video
Video
Professor Yutaka Suzuki
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo
April 2026
Event
Event
The 3rd International Symposium on Nucleic Acid Immunity (NAIS 2026)
The 3rd International Symposium on Nucleic Acid Immunity (NAIS 2026)
16–18 September 2026
Nara Kasugano International Forum, Nara, Japan
16–18 September 2026
Nara Kasugano International Forum, Nara, Japan
Abstract Submission Deadline: 12 June 2026
Early Registration Deadline: 8 May 2026
Standard Registration Deadline: 31 July 2026
April 2026
News
News
Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in November 2025, Prof. Colin Grant from the University of New South Wales visited UTOPIA.
Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in November 2025, Prof. Colin Grant from the University of New South Wales visited UTOPIA.
→ View photos from the MOU signing ceremony
1 April 2026 Article
Article
IL-1 delineates squalene-based adjuvant efficacy and reactogenicity in a cell-type-specific manner
IL-1 delineates squalene-based adjuvant efficacy and reactogenicity in a cell-type-specific manner
Yuya Yoshioka, Anri Nishinaka-Yoshioka, Kouji Kobiyama, Tomoya Hayashi, Yujiro Kidani, Yosuke Yanagida, Junpei Kasahara, Kenichiro Tsujii, Yoshiji Asaoka, Norikazu Kuroda, Akira Kugimiya, Hiroaki Osawa, Akimasa Yoshimura, Motoyasu Onishi, Takayuki Nakagawa, Satoru Ishida, Shinya Omoto, Morio Nagira, Cevayir Coban, Ken J. Ishii
April 2026 Article
Article
Foxp3 and BATF cooperatively direct cis-regulatory programs and gene expression for effector Treg cell differentiation
Foxp3 and BATF cooperatively direct cis-regulatory programs and gene expression for effector Treg cell differentiation
Ryuichi Murakami, Norihito Hayatsu, Takahisa Miyao, Zhenan Liu, Yukito Kino, Shumpei Shibata, Suzu Kawagoe, Masashi Matsuda, Yusuke Iizuka, Hiroki Sugishita, Hideyuki Yoshida, Yoshinori Hasegawa, Wataru Ise, Haruhiko Koseki, Tomohiro Kurosaki, Shohei Hori
April 2026
Article
Article
High-temperature tolerance of bat and pangolin sarbecoviruses versus SARS-CoV-2
High-temperature tolerance of bat and pangolin sarbecoviruses versus SARS-CoV-2
Luo Chen, Ziyi Guo, Yukun Zhu, Keiya Uriu, Kei Sato
April 2026
Event
Event
27 March 2026 | IMSUT, Tokyo
27 March 2026 | IMSUT, Tokyo
The 34th Tokyo Immunology Forum
The 34th Tokyo Immunology Forum
8th Floor, Main Conference Hall, IMSUT Hospital, The University of Tokyo, Shirokanedai
Special Lecture
Prof. Akira Shibuya, University of Tsukuba
Special Lecture
Prof. Akira Shibuya, University of Tsukuba
Special Session “Behind the Scenes of the Nobel Prize”
Prof. Shohei Hori, The University of Tokyo
Prof. Taku Okazaki, The University of Tokyo
Prof. Reiko Shinkura, The University of Tokyo
Special Session “Behind the Scenes of the Nobel Prize”
Prof. Shohei Hori, The University of Tokyo
Prof. Taku Okazaki, The University of Tokyo
Prof. Reiko Shinkura, The University of Tokyo
News
News
Two UTOPIA members received presentation awards at the Third Joint Symposium of AMED SCARDA Japan Initiative for World-leading Vaccine Research and Development Centers.
Congratulations to the awardees!
Hotaka Kobayashi
Institute for Quantitative Biosciences , The University of Tokyo
Hotaka Kobayashi
Institute for Quantitative Biosciences , The University of Tokyo
Seeing mRNA vaccines in action with single-molecule imaging
Hiroshi Ueki
The University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center
Hiroshi Ueki
The University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center
Establishment of a CRISPR knockout mouse library and in vivo screening system for functional analysis of influenza virus host factors
Event
Event
The Third Joint Symposium of AMED SCARDA Japan Initiative for World-leading Vaccine Research and Development Centers was held.
The Third Joint Symposium of AMED SCARDA Japan Initiative for World-leading Vaccine Research and Development Centers was held.
2 - 4 March 2026 | Kobe
March 2026 Article
Article
cGAS-IFN-I responses by extracting nuclear DNA from dying cells via nucleocytosis
cGAS-IFN-I responses by extracting nuclear DNA from dying cells via nucleocytosis
Hideo Negishi, Yusuke Wada, Yoshitaka Shirasaki, Tomoya Hayashi, Yuji Kubota, Tomio Iwasaki, Mina Kurosawa, Tatsuma Ban, Daisuke Muto, Yusuke Suenaga, Taichi Kojima, Yuzuki Matsuda, Sean Lord Irish, Kosuke Dodo, Toru Suzuki, Mai Yamagishi, Burcu Temizoz, Atsushi Yoshimori, Chisato Kanai, Yoji Nagasaki, Masaki Ohmuraya, Tomohiko Tamura, Atsushi Iwama, Toshifumi Inada, Etsushi Kuroda, Kouji Kobiyama, Noriko Toyama-Sorimachi, Mutsuhiro Takekawa, Cevayir Coban, Ken J. Ishii
February 2026 News
News
For UTokyo Members Only (Science and Humanities)
The 2026 UTOPIA Next-Generation Diagnostic Tool Discovery Program
Deadline: 15:00, Friday, 6 March 2026
For UTokyo Members Only (Science and Humanities)
The 2026 UTOPIA Next-Generation Diagnostic Tool Discovery Program
Deadline: 15:00, Friday, 6 March 2026
News
News
For UTokyo Members Only (Science and Humanities)
The 2026 UTOPIA Young Researcher Development Program Deadline: 15:00, Monday, 16 February 2026
For UTokyo Members Only (Science and Humanities)
The 2026 UTOPIA Young Researcher Development Program Deadline: 15:00, Monday, 16 February 2026
News
News
For UTokyo Members Only (Science and Humanities)
The 2026 UTOPIA AI Researcher Discovery Program
Deadline: 15:00, Monday, 16 February 2026
For UTokyo Members Only (Science and Humanities)
The 2026 UTOPIA AI Researcher Discovery Program
Deadline: 15:00, Monday, 16 February 2026
Event
Event
20 January 2026 | Online
9:00 - 12:00 (JST)
iPREP-Flavivirus Initiative 2026
Immunology Platform for Pandemic Readiness, Evaluation, and Countermeasure Development (iPREP)
9:00 - 12:00 (JST)
iPREP-Flavivirus Initiative 2026
Immunology Platform for Pandemic Readiness, Evaluation, and Countermeasure Development (iPREP)
News
News
News
News
Following severe flooding in Sri Lanka, the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Medical Team was dispatched to the country, and Professor Yuki Furuse (Department of Microbiology and Infection, UTOPIA) participated in medical relief activities.
December 2025 Following severe flooding in Sri Lanka, the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Medical Team was dispatched to the country, and Professor Yuki Furuse (Department of Microbiology and Infection, UTOPIA) participated in medical relief activities.
Event
Event
17 - 18 November 2025 | Tokyo
17 - 18 November 2025 | Tokyo
The Joint Symposium of AMED SCARDA Japan Initiative for World-leading Vaccine Research and Development Centers for Early-career Researchers 2025
November 2025The Joint Symposium of AMED SCARDA Japan Initiative for World-leading Vaccine Research and Development Centers for Early-career Researchers 2025
News
News
Event
Event
UNSW & UTOPIA Symposium and MOU Signing Ceremony
UNSW & UTOPIA Symposium and MOU Signing Ceremony
November 12–13, 2025 | UNSW, Sydney
November 2025 Event
Event
The 3rd UTOPIA Symposium
The 3rd UTOPIA Symposium
October 20–21, 2025 | Tama Center, Tokyo
→ Photos from Poster Presentation Award
October 2025 Event
Event
UTOPIA participated in BioJapan 2025
UTOPIA participated in BioJapan 2025
UTOPIA participated in BioJapan 2025, held at PACIFICO Yokohama on October 8–10, 2025.
The event featured presentations by Professor Reiko Shinkura and Professor Ken Ishii, a program introduction by the project managers, and a joint poster exhibition with the Synergy Centers.
Article
Article
Lizheng Guan, David Pattinson, Amie J. Eisfeld, Tong Wang, Peter J. Halfmann, Gabriele Neumann, Tera R. Barnhardt, Alexis C. Thompson, Amy K. Swinford, Kiril M. Dimitrov, Keith Poulsen, and Yoshihiro Kawaoka
New England Journal of Medicine
December 2025 Article
Article
Sustainable and portable CRISPR-based diagnostics for high-sensitivity Mpox detection
Sustainable and portable CRISPR-based diagnostics for high-sensitivity Mpox detection
Rika Hirano, Kazuto Yoshimi, Koji Asano, Kohei Takeshita, Ken J. Ishii, Kei Sato, Tomoji Mashimo
December 2025
Article
Article
Read the article on Nature.com
This is an advertisement feature published in the Nature Index Immunology collection
Video
Video
Regulatory T Cells: Controlling Immunity
Regulatory T Cells: Controlling Immunity
Professor Shohei Hori
Laboratory of Immunology and Microbiology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo
Watch on YouTube
Watch on YouTube
Professor Kawaoka, director, introduces UTOPIA on YouTube
In Japanese with English subtitle
Subscribe to our channel on YouTube.
May 2023
Journalist Meets Scientist - Protect People from Infectious Diseases (UTOPIA Special Interview)
Takako Zenba, the host of TBS's 'Houdou Tokushu' , meets Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a virologist and the Director of the UTOPIA Center at the University of Tokyo,
Ms Zenba is an alumna of the University of Tokyo. This insightful dialogue was recorded at Shirokanedai Campus of the University of Tokyo on 30 October 2023.
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