Institutes for Advanced Study, The University of Tokyo

The UTOPIA Center

The University of TOkyo Pandemic preparedness, Infection and Advanced research center

  

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!

It has been three years since a novel coronavirus emerged and caused an unprecedented pandemic that brought about immeasurable damage. While Western countries swiftly developed and introduced vaccines within the remarkable timeframe of one year from pathogen identification, it took more than three and half years for a Japanese-made vaccine to receive an authorization for use. 

In response to this situation, the "Japan Initiative for World-leading Vaccine Research and Development Centers" was launched under the guidance of AMED/SCARDA*, and at its forefront, the University of TOkyo Pandemic preparedness, Infection, and Advanced research center (UTOPIA) has been chosen as the flagship institution.

UTOPIA serves as a dynamic hub where top researchers from various fields at the University of Tokyo come together. Not only are we focused on vaccine development, but we are also committed to conducting interdisciplinary research with the goal of conquering infectious diseases. While UTOPIA is rooted in the University of Tokyo, our collaborations extend beyond national borders, actively engaging international partners.

During this pandemic, it became evident that Japan has fallen behind in both vaccine development and infectious disease research. A major contributing factor to this gap is the shortage of talent. At UTOPIA, by systematically identifying and nurturing young researchers at the University of Tokyo, we aim to become a world-class research organization that leads cutting-edge research on infectious diseases and vaccines. Our shared mission is to save the world from infectious diseases! We kindly ask for your support and cooperation.

Yoshihiro Kawaoka
Director
The University of TOkyo Pandemic preparedness, Infection, and Advanced research center (UTOPIA)


*AMED: Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development 

SCARDA: Strategic Center of Biomedical Advanced Vaccine Research and Development for Preparedness    and Response 

News

 Video 


【UTOPIA 43 Interviews】Vol.  10
Changing Healthcare with Sociology

Professor Kaori Muto, Public Policy, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo

Available on YouTube

November 2023

 News 

Professors Yoshihiro Kawaoka, Osamu Nureki, and Takao Someya  have been recognized as Highly Cited Researchers in the field of "Cross-Field" by Clarivate for 2023.

Information on Highly Cited Researchers
(To Clarivate HP)


November 2023


 News 

https://www.nobelprize.org/

© The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institu 

Professors Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman have been awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their significant contributions to the development of mRNA vaccines. 


 More information  

 Article 

Characterization of highly pathogenic clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 mink influenza viruses

Maemura T, Guan L, Gu C, Eisfeld A, Biswas A, Halfmann P, Neumann G, Kawaoka Y

eBioMedicine

October 2023

 Video 


【UTOPIA 43 Interviews】Vol.  11
Artificial Intelligence × Virus Variants: Predicting the Future with AI
Yutaka Matsuo, Professor
Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo
 

Available on YouTube

October 2023

Symposium:
Innovation in vaccine development: Perspectives from global research leaders

at the 70th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Virology.

Link to Event page

September 2023

 Article 


Determination of the factors responsible for the tropism of SARS-CoV-2-related bat coronaviruses to Rhinolophus bat ACE2

Fujita S, Kosugi Y, Kimura I, Tokunaga K; Genotype to Phenotype Japan (G2P-Japan) Consortium; Ito J, Sato K  

Journal of Virology 

Relevant posts on X

September 2023

 Article 


Transmissibility, infectivity, and immune evasion of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 variant

Uriu K, Ito J, Kosugi Y, Tanaka YL, Mugita Y, Guo Z, Hinay AA Jr, Putri O, Kim Y, Shimizu R, Begum MM, Jonathan M; Genotype to Phenotype Japan (G2P-Japan) Consortium; Saito A, Ikeda T, Sato K

Lancet Infectious Diseases 

Relevant posts on X

September 2023

 Article 


Antiviral efficacy of the SARS-CoV-2 XBB breakthrough infection sera against Omicron subvariants including EG.5 

Kaku Y, Kosugi Y, Uriu K, Ito J, Hinay AA Jr, Kuramochi J, Sadamasu K, Yoshimura K, Asakura H, Nagashima M; Genotype to Phenotype Japan (G2P-Japan) Consortium; Sato K 

Lancet Infectious Diseases

Relevant posts on X

September 2023

 Video 


【UTOPIA 43 Interviews】Vol.  9
Rock & Science -Specialist in Signal Transduction and Guitarist in 'Ojisan(?)' Band
Jun-ichiro Inoue, Project Professor
Managing Director, The University of TOkyo Pandemic preparedness, Infection and Advanced research center (UTOPIA)
Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo
(In Japanese)

Available on YouTube

September 2023

 Video 


【UTOPIA 43 Interviews】Vol.  8
Designing Proteins for Human Welfare 
Kouhei Tsumoto, Professor
Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo  
(In Japanese)

Available on YouTube

August 2023

 Video 


【UTOPIA 43 Interviews】Vol.  7
Bones, Immunity, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and COVID-19
Hiroshi Takayanagi , Professor
Dept of Immunology, Grad School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
(In Japanese)

Available on YouTube

August 2023

 Article 


Influenza H3 hemagglutinin vaccine with scrambled immunodominant epitopes elicits antibodies directed toward immunosubdominant head epitopes 

Chiba S, Kong H, Neumann G, Kawaoka Y

mBio

July 2023

 Article 

In vitro and in vivo characterization of SARS-CoV-2 resistance to ensitrelvir

Kiso M, Yamayoshi S, Iida S, Furusawa Y, Hirata Y, Uraki R, Imai M, Suzuki T, Kawaoka Y

Nature Communications

July 2023

 Video 


UTOPIA Research Grant for Young Researchers FY2023

List of selected projects and overview of applications/adoptions have been posted

July 2023

 Video 


【UTOPIA 43 Interviews】Vol.  6
Protect People from Pandemics!
Kei Sato, Professor
Systems Virology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
(In Japanese)

Available on YouTube

July 2023

 Video 


【UTOPIA 43 Interviews】Vol.  5
Deciphering Life's 3D Secrets: Unveiling Molecular Structures for Life-Saving Breakthroughs 
Osamu Nureki, Professor
Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo
(In Japanese)

Available on YouTube

July 2023

 Article 

Antiviral effect and safety of nafamostat mesilate in patients with mild early-onset COVID-19: An exploratory multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial

Okugawa S, Ikeda M, Kashiwabara K, Moritoyo T, Kohsaka T, Shimizu T, Hagiya H, Hasegawa K, Otsuka F, Miwa A, Kisimoto N, Mizoguchi A, Imamura A, Ikeuchi K, Tsutsumi T, Jubishi D, Hashimoto H, Okamoto K, Harada S, Inoue JI, Seto Y, Moriya K 

International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents

July 2023

 Article 

High body temperature increases gut microbiota-dependent host resistance to influenza A virus and SARS-CoV-2 infection

Nagai M, Moriyama M, Ishii C, Mori H, Watanabe H, Nakahara T, Yamada T, Ishikawa D, Ishikawa T, Hirayama A, Kimura I, Nagahara A, Naito T, Fukuda S, Ichinohe T 

Nature Communications

July 2023

 Article 

In vitro and in vivo characterization of SARS-CoV-2 strains resistant to nirmatrelvir. 

Kiso M, Furusawa Y, Uraki R, Imai M, Yamayoshi S, Kawaoka Y. 

Nature Communications

July 2023

 Event 


First UTOPIA Symposium

10 - 11 June 2023, Nagano (+Web)

 Video 


【UTOPIA 43 Interviews】Vol.  4
Embracing the Joy and Sorrow of Patients 
Sakae Tanaka, Professor
Director of the University of Tokyo Hospital


(In Japanese)

Subscribe to our channel on YouTube

June 2023

 Article 

Transmission and re-infection of Omicron variant XBB.1.5 in hamsters

Halfmann PJ, Uraki R, Kuroda M, Iwatsuki-Horimoto K, Yamayoshi S, Ito M, Kawaoka Y 

eBioMedicine

June 2023

 Event 


Science for delivering vaccine in 100 days

September 3 - 6, 2023

Chair: Ken J. Ishii

Abstract Submission: May 17 -  June 28
Pre-Registration: May 17 -  August 25

 Video 


【UTOPIA 43 Interviews】Vol. 3

"Mutual benefits" and "Altruism" are the key to overcoming challenges
Masahiko Kikuchi, Project Professor
The UTOPIA Center, The University of Tokyo


(In Japanese)

Subscribe to our channel on YouTube

June 2023

 Video 


【UTOPIA 43 Interviews】 Vol. 2

I believe there is a ray of hope beyond countless failures. 

Yasushi Kawaguchi,  Professor 

Division of Molecular Virology,  the Institute of Medical Sciences, The University Tokyo


(In Japanese)

Subscribe to our channel on YouTube

June 2023

 Video 


【UTOPIA 43 Interviews】 Vol. 1

Discovering true freedome through research

Ken Ishii,  Professor 

Division of Vaccine Science,  the Institute of Medical Sciences, The University Tokyo


(In Japanese)

Subscribe to our channel on YouTube

June 2023

 Video 


Professor Kawaoka, director, introduces UTOPIA on YouTube

In Japanese with English subtitle

Subscribe to our channel on YouTube.


May 2023

 Article 

Efficacy of antivirals and mRNA vaccination against an XBF clinical isolate

Uraki R, Ito M, Kiso M, Yamayoshi S, Iwatsuki-Horimoto K, Sakai-Tagawa Y, Imai M, Koga M, Yamamoto S, Adachi E, Saito M, Tsutsumi T, Otani A, Kashima Y, Kikuchi T, Theiler J, Yotsuyanagi H, Suzuki Y, Korber B, Kawaoka Y 

The Lancet Regional Health Western Pacific

May 2023

 Article 

Replicative capacity of SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants BA.5 and BQ.1.1 at elevated temperatures

Muramoto Y, Takahashi S, Halfmann PJ,Gotoh S, Noda T, Kawaoka Y 

The Lancet Microbe

April 2023

 Article 

In SARS-CoV-2 delta variants, Spike-P681R and D950N promote membrane fusion, Spike-P681R enhances spike cleavage, but neither substitution affects pathogenicity in hamsters

Furusawa Y, Kiso M, Iida S, Uraki R, Hirata Y, Imai M, Suzuki T, Yamayoshi S, Kawaoka Y 

eBioMedicine

April 2023

 Article 

Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 clinical isolates

Uraki R, Iida S, Halfmann PJ, Yamayoshi S, Hirata Y, Iwatsuki-Horimoto K, Kiso M, Ito M, Furusawa Y, Ueki H, Sakai-Tagawa Y, Kuroda M, Maemura T, Kim T, Mine S, Iwamoto N, Li R, Liu Y, Larson D, Fukushi S, Watanabe S, Maeda K, Wang Z, Ohmagari N, Theiler J, Fischer W, Korber B, Imai M, Suzuki T, Kawaoka Y 

Nature Communications

March 2023

 News 


(In Japanese only) 

Articles on the UTOPIA center by Professor Kawaoka on Gakunai-kouhou on the UTokyo web site. 

25 January 2023

To UTokyo web site