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!
At the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus emerged and caused an unprecedented pandemic that brought about immeasurable damage globally. 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 be authorized 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. With a focus on vaccine development, we are committed to conquering infectious diseases through interdisciplinary research. While UTOPIA is rooted in the University of Tokyo, our collaborations extend beyond national borders, actively engaging international partners.
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that Japan has fallen behind in both vaccine development and infectious disease research, with a major contributing factor being a shortage of talent. By nurturing young researchers at the University of Tokyo, UTOPIA aims 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!
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
Professor Tomoki Todo
Hospital Director,The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Hospital Director,The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
April 2024
Video
Professor Toshifumi Inada
Division of RNA and Gene Regulation
The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Division of RNA and Gene Regulation
The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
April 2024
Event
UTOPIA Welcomes Representatives from HHS/ASPR, CDC, US Embassy, and Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
18 March 2024
Video
Takeshi Ichinohe, Associate Professor
Division of Viral Infection, Department of Infectious Disease Control, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Division of Viral Infection, Department of Infectious Disease Control, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
March 2024
Video
Takashi Okada, Professor
Director, Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Director, Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
March 2024
Article
TIFAB regulates the TIFA-TRAF6 signaling pathway involved in innate immunity by forming a heterodimer complex with TIFA
Nakamura T, Ohyama C, Sakamoto M, Toma T, Tateishi H, Matsuo M, Chirifu M, Ikemizu S, Morioka H, Fujita M, Inoue J, Yamagata Y
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
March 2024
Video
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol. 17
Malaria Research Beyond Borders: Protecting People around the Globe
Malaria Research Beyond Borders: Protecting People around the Globe
Cevayir Coban, Professor
Division of Malaria Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Division of Malaria Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
February 2024
Article
Age-associated CD4+ T cells with B cell-promoting functions are regulated by ZEB2 in autoimmunity
Goto M, Takahashi H, Yoshida R, Itamiya T, Nakano M, Nagafuchi Y, Harada H, Shimizu T, Maeda M, Kubota A, Toda T, Hatano H, Sugimori Y, Kawahata K, Yamamoto K, Shoda H, Ishigaki K, Ota M, Okamura T, Fujio K.
February 2024
Video
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
February 2024
News
PLATINUM STREET TIMES Vol. 7
The dialogue between Takako Zenba and Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka, Director of UTOPIA, has been featured in the magazine "PLATINUM STREET TIMES Vol. 7 (December 2023)," published by the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo (in Japanese). Please refer to pages 8-9.
The dialogue can also be watched on YouTube.
The dialogue can also be watched on YouTube.
February 2024
Event
The First Joint Symposium of AMED SCARDA Japan Initiative for World-leading Vaccine Research and Development Centers was held from January 31st to February 2nd in Kyoto.
February 2024
Video
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol. 16
Nurturing Research Discoveries into Real-world Applications to Save Lives
Nurturing Research Discoveries into Real-world Applications to Save Lives
Fumitaka Nagamura, Professor
Center for Translational Research/Division of Advanced Medicine Promotion, The Advanced Clinical Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Center for Translational Research/Division of Advanced Medicine Promotion, The Advanced Clinical Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
January 2024
Event
Visit by GLEAP: Students from the Seoul National University's College of Natural Sciences
Date and Time: 10 January 2024, 9:30 - 11:30
January 2024
Event
UTOPIA Seminar
Topic: Antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination
Speaker: Florian Krammer, Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
Date/Time: Thursday, 18 January 2024 16:00 -
Place: Auditorium, 1st building, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
January 2024
News
© 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.
UTOPIA 43 Interviews
Video
Takashi Okada, Professor
Director, Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Director, Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
March 2024
Professor Toshifumi Inada
Division of RNA and Gene Regulation
The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Division of RNA and Gene Regulation
The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
April 2024
Fumitaka Nagamura, Professor
Center for Translational Research/Division of Advanced Medicine Promotion, The Advanced Clinical Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Center for Translational Research/Division of Advanced Medicine Promotion, The Advanced Clinical Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
January 2024
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol. 17
Malaria Research Beyond Borders: Protecting People around the Globe
Malaria Research Beyond Borders: Protecting People around the Globe
Cevayir Coban, Professor
Division of Malaria Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Division of Malaria Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
February 2024
Takeshi Ichinohe, Associate Professor
Division of Viral Infection, Department of Infectious Disease Control, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Division of Viral Infection, Department of Infectious Disease Control, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
March 2024
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol. 13
Pioneer in Aging Research Talks
Pioneer in Aging Research Talks
Makoto Nakanish, Professor
Dean, Institute of Medical Science
Division of Cancer Cell Biology, The University of Tokyo
Dean, Institute of Medical Science
Division of Cancer Cell Biology, The University of Tokyo
December 2023
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol. 14
Research is Fun!
CRISPR-Cas3 Pioneer Talks Fascinating Realm of Genome Editing
Research is Fun!
CRISPR-Cas3 Pioneer Talks Fascinating Realm of Genome Editing
Tomoji Mashimo, Professor
Division of Animal Genetics/Division of Genome Engineering
Director of Laboratory Animal Research Center
The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Division of Animal Genetics/Division of Genome Engineering
Director of Laboratory Animal Research Center
The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
December 2023
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol. 15
Science: A Pleasurable and Rewarding Journey
James Di Santo, Professor
Institut Pasteur, France
Visiting Professor, UTOPIA
with Dr. Tomoya Hayashi
Science: A Pleasurable and Rewarding Journey
James Di Santo, Professor
Institut Pasteur, France
Visiting Professor, UTOPIA
with Dr. Tomoya Hayashi
December 2023
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol. 10
Changing Healthcare with Sociology
Changing Healthcare with Sociology
Kaori Muto, Professor
Public Policy, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Public Policy, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
November 2023
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol. 11
Artificial Intelligence × Virus Variants: Predicting the Future with AI
Artificial Intelligence × Virus Variants: Predicting the Future with AI
Yutaka Matsuo, Professor
Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
Available on YouTube
Yutaka Matsuo, Professor
Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
Available on YouTube
October 2023
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol. 12
United Against Infection: Save the World and Inspire Generations
United Against Infection: Save the World and Inspire Generations
Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi, Professor
Division of Infectious Diseases, Advanced Clinical Research Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Division of Infectious Diseases, Advanced Clinical Research Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
November 2023
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
Bones, Immunity, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and COVID-19
Hiroshi Takayanagi, Professor
Dept of Immunology, Grad School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
August 2023
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol. 8
Designing Proteins for Human Welfare
Kouhei Tsumoto, Professor
Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
Designing Proteins for Human Welfare
Kouhei Tsumoto, Professor
Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
August 2023
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
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
September 2023
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol. 4
Embracing the Joy and Sorrow of Patients
Sakae Tanaka, Professor
Director of the University of Tokyo Hospital
Embracing the Joy and Sorrow of Patients
Sakae Tanaka, Professor
Director of the University of Tokyo Hospital
June 2023
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
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
July 2023
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol. 6
Protect People from Pandemics!
Kei Sato, Professor
Systems Virology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Protect People from Pandemics!
Kei Sato, Professor
Systems Virology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
July 2023
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
Discovering true freedome through research
Ken Ishii, Professor
Division of Vaccine Science, the Institute of Medical Sciences, The University Tokyo
June 2023
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
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
June 2023
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
"Mutual benefits" and "Altruism" are the key to overcoming challenges
Masahiko Kikuchi, Project Professor
The UTOPIA Center, The University of Tokyo
June 2023
Professor Kawaoka, director, introduces UTOPIA on YouTube
In Japanese with English subtitle
Subscribe to our channel on YouTube.
May 2023