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
Article
Regulatory Mimicry of Cyclin-Dependent Kinases by a Conserved Herpesvirus Protein Kinase
Naoto Koyanagi, Kowit Hengphasatporn, Akihisa Kato, Moeka Nobe, Kosuke Takeshima, Yuhei Maruzuru, Katsumi Maenaka, Yasuteru Shigeta, Yasushi Kawaguchi
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS)
April 2025
Article
Immunological analysis of LC16m8 Vaccine: Preclinical and Early Clinical Insights into Mpox
Kouji Kobiyama, Daichi Utsumi, Yu Kaku, Eita Sasaki, Fumihiko Yasui, Tomotaka Okamura, Taishi Onodera, Asuka Joy Tobuse, Areej Sakkour, Ahmad Faisal Amiry, Tomoya Hayashi, Burcu Temizoz, Kaiwen Liu, Hideo Negishi, Noriko Toyama-Sorimachi, Michinori Kohara, Tatsuya Sawasaki, Junichi Takagi, Kei Sato, Yoshimasa Takahashi, Yasuhiro Yasutomi, Ken J Ishii
April 2025
Event
The Second Joint Symposium of AMED SCARDA Japan Initiative for World-leading Vaccine Research and Development Centers was held.
17 March - 19 March 2025 | Kobe International Conference Center
March 2025 News
How is avian influenza impacting chickens, cows, cats, and even humans? Prof. Yoshihiro Kawaoka joins NEJM Editor-in-Chief Eric Rubin and Deputy Editor Lindsey Baden to discuss the latest updates on this evolving outbreak
Article
Wataru Ise, Takuya Koike, Nozomi Shimada, Hiromi Yamamoto, Yuki Tai, Taiichiro Shirai, Ryoji Kawakami, Mana Kuwabara, Chie Kawai, Kyoko Shida, Takeshi Inoue, Nozomi Hojo, Kenji Ichiyama, Shimon Sakaguchi, Katsuyuki Shiroguchi, Kazuhiro Suzuki, Tomohiro Kurosaki
Journal of Experimental Medicine
February 2025
News
For UTokyo Members Only (Science and Humanities)
The 2025 UTOPIA
AI Research Discovery Program
<Deadline: 15:00, Thursday, 6 March 2025>
AI Research Discovery Program
<Deadline: 15:00, Thursday, 6 March 2025>
Video
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol.32
Professor Hiroyuki Noji
Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
February 2025
News
For UTokyo Members Only (Science and Humanities)
The 2025 UTOPIA Young Researcher Development Program
<Deadline: 15:00, Thursday, 27 August 2024>
The 2025 UTOPIA Young Researcher Development Program
<Deadline: 15:00, Thursday, 27 August 2024>
Video
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol.31
Dreamed of Being a Witch, Not a Princess!? How Gut IgA Knows Good and Bad Bugs
Professor Reiko Shinkura
Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo
Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo
January 2025
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol.31
Dreamed of Being a Witch, Not a Princess!? How Gut IgA Knows Good and Bad Bugs
Professor Reiko Shinkura
Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo
Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo
January 2025
Article
Highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza A virus replication in ex vivo cultures of bovine mammary gland and teat tissues
Masaki Imai¶, Hiroshi Ueki, Mutsumi Ito, Kiyoko Iwatsuki-Horimoto, Maki Kiso, Asim Biswas, Sanja Trifkovic, Nigel Cook, Peter J. Halfmann, Gabriele Neumann, Amie J. Eisfeld, and Yoshihiro Kawaoka¶
Emerging Microbes & Infections
January 2025
Video
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol. 30
RNA Modifications, Spinach, and Curry Udon: Research That Rewrites Textbooks
Professor Tsutomu Suzuki
Lab of RNA biochemistry, The University of Tokyo
Lab of RNA biochemistry, The University of Tokyo
January 2025
Article
Neutrophil adhesion to vessel walls impairs pulmonary circulation in COVID-19 pathology
Hiroshi Ueki*¶, I-Hsuan Wang*, Maki Kiso, Kenta Horie, Shun Iida, Sohtaro Mine, Michiko Ujie, Hung-Wei Hsu, Chen-Hui Henry Wu, Masaki Imai, Tadaki Suzuki, Wataru Kamitani, Eiryo Kawakami, and Yoshihiro Kawaoka¶
January 2025
Article
A chimeric RNA consisting of siRNA and aptamer for inhibiting dengue virus replication
Ryo Amano, Masaki Takahashi*, Kazumi Haga, Mizuki Yamamoto, Kaku Goto, Akiko Ichinose, Michiaki Hamada, Jin Gohda, Jun-ichiro Inoue, Yasushi Kawaguchi, Meng Ling Moi, Yoshikazu Nakamura
Nucleic Acids Research Molecular Medicine
December 2024
Article
Structural and molecular properties of mumps virus inclusion bodies
Hiroshi Katoh, Ryuichi Kimura, Tsuyoshi Sekizuka, Kohei Matsuoka, Mika Hosogi, Yuki Kitai, Yukiko Akahori, Fumihiro Kato, Michiyo Kataoka, Hirotaka Kobayashi, Noriyo Nagata, Tadaki Suzuki, Yasuyuki Ohkawa, Shinya Oki, Makoto Takeda
December 2024
News
In the south-western Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a mysterious flu-like illness has reportedly caused the deaths of over 79 people. More than 300 cases have been reported, with symptoms including fever, headaches, coughing, breathing difficulties, and anemia.
9 December 2024 (updated on 19 December 2024 and 6 January 2025) Event
UTOPIA welcomed researchers from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)
29 November 2024
News
Three members from UTOPIA have been selected for a research grant from the Takeda Science Foundation. Congratulations!
High-Risk Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Grant
Ryuta Uraki (UTOPIA)
Medical Research Grant
Shiro Chiba (UTOPIA)
Visionary Research Grant (Start)
Naoki Morita (Institute for Quantitative Bioscience)
Article
Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 XEC variant
Kaku Y, Okumura K, Kawakubo S, Uriu K, Chen L, Kosugi Y, Uwamino Y, Begum MM, Leong S, Ikeda Sadamasu K, Asakura H, Nagashima M, Yoshimura K, Ito J, Sato K,
The Lancet Infectious Diseases
November 2024
Article
Structural basis for receptor-binding domain mobility of the spike in SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 and JN.1.
Yajima H, Anraku Y, Kaku Y, Kimura KT, Plianchaisuk A, Okumura K, Nakada-Nakura Y, Atarashi Y, Hemmi T, Kuroda D, Takahashi Y, Kita S, Sasaki J, Sumita H; Genotype to Phenotype Japan (G2P-Japan) Consortium; Ito J, Maenaka K, Sato K, Hashiguchi T.
October 2024
Article
Shiho Chiba*, Maki Kiso, Shinya Yamada, Kazuhiko Someya, Yoshikuni Onodera, Aya Yamaguchi, Satoko Matsunaga, Nao Jounai, Seiya Yamayoshi, Fumihiko Takeshita, and Yoshihiro Kawaoka¶
October 2024
Video
Professor Yasuhiro Yamada
Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
October 2024
Event
UTOPIA welcomed a delegation from the University of New South Wales.
From left: Professor Colin Grant, Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka, Professor Dane McCamey and Dr Ian Langford
30 October 2024
Article
A human isolate of bovine H5N1 is transmissible and lethal in animal models
Chunyang Gu*, Tadashi Maemura*, Lizheng Guan*, Amie J. Eisfeld*, Asim Biswas*, Maki Kiso*, Ryuta Uraki, Mutsumi Ito, Sanja Trifkovic, Tong Wang, Lavanya Babujee, Robert Presler Jr., Randall Dahn, Yasuo Suzuki, Peter J. Halfmann, Seiya Yamayoshi, Gabriele Neumann, and Yoshihiro Kawaoka
News Release
H5N1 virus isolated from infected dairy worker is 100% lethal in ferrets, but does not appear to be circulating in nature anymore
October 2024
Event
World Flu Day 2024 Symposium /
9th Japan-China Bilateral Symposium on All Influenza Viruses (WFD-JCS 2024)
Supported by The University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center (UTOPIA)
9th Japan-China Bilateral Symposium on All Influenza Viruses (WFD-JCS 2024)
Supported by The University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center (UTOPIA)
1 - 2 November 2024 | Shirokanedai, Tokyo
Video
Professor Taisuke Horimoto
Department of Veterinary Microbiology, the University of Tokyo
Department of Veterinary Microbiology, the University of Tokyo
October 2024
Article
Low-frequency CD8+ T cells induced by SIGN-R1+ macrophage-targeted vaccine confer SARS-CoV-2 clearance in mice
Muraoka D, Moi ML, Muto O, Nakatsukasa T, Deng S, Takashima C, Yamaguchi R, Sawada SI, Hayakawa H, Nguyen TTN, Haseda Y, Soga T, Matsushita H, Ikeda H, Akiyoshi K, Harada N.
October 2024
Video
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol. 27
Toll-like Receptors: Host Defense, Inflammation, and Autoimmune Diseases
Toll-like Receptors: Host Defense, Inflammation, and Autoimmune Diseases
Professor Kensuke Miyake
Division of Infectious Genetics, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo
September 2024
Video
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol. 26
From Treating Patients to Discovering Cures: A Path into Stem Cell Research
From Treating Patients to Discovering Cures: A Path into Stem Cell Research
Professor Atsushi Iwama
Division of Stem Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
September 2024
Event
13 September 2024 | Auditorium, IMSUT
14:00 - 15:00
Dr. Masaru Kanekiyo
Vaccine and antibody discovery targeting influenza virus neuraminidase
Dr. Masaru Kanekiyo
Vaccine and antibody discovery targeting influenza virus neuraminidase
Organizers: Koji Kobiyama, Cevayir Coban
Article
Review Article
BCR signaling in germinal center B cell selection
Takeshi Inoue, Yoshihiro Baba, Tomohiro Kurosaki
→Share Link (Free Access until 9 Oct 2024)
August 2024
Article
Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 KP.3.1.1 variant
Kaku Y, Uriu K, Okumura K; Genotype to Phenotype Japan (G2P-Japan) Consortium; Ito J, Sato K.
The Lancet Infectious Diseases Relevant posts on X
August 2024
News
For UTokyo Members Only (Science and Humanities)
The 2024 UTOPIA
AI Research Discovery Program
AI Research Discovery Program
<Deadline: 15:00, Thursday, 22 August 2024>
August 2024
Event
20 August 2024 | Auditorium, IMSUT
16:30 - 17:15
Dr. Sebastian Hofer
EIF5A and Polyamines are required for fasting-mediated autophagy and longevity
Dr. Sebastian Hofer
EIF5A and Polyamines are required for fasting-mediated autophagy and longevity
17:15 - 18:00
Dr. Ghada Alsaleh
Autophagy as a pathway to rejuvenate immune responses
Dr. Ghada Alsaleh
Autophagy as a pathway to rejuvenate immune responses
Organizer Professor Cevayir Coban
Video
UTOPIA 43 Interviews | Vol. 25
Making a Difference: Fighting Infections from Molecular to Global Level
Making a Difference: Fighting Infections from Molecular to Global Level
Professor Yuki Furuse
Department of Microbiology and Infection; The University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center (UTOPIA)
Department of Microbiology and Infection; The University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center (UTOPIA)
July 2024
News
For UTokyo Members Only (Science and Humanities)
The 2024 UTOPIA Young Researcher Development Program <Deadline: 15:00, Thursday, 8 August 2024>
The 2024 UTOPIA Young Researcher Development Program <Deadline: 15:00, Thursday, 8 August 2024>
July 2024
Event
World Flu Day 2024 Symposium /
9th Japan-China Bilateral Symposium on All Influenza Viruses (WFD-JCS 2024)
Supported by The University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center
9th Japan-China Bilateral Symposium on All Influenza Viruses (WFD-JCS 2024)
Supported by The University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center
1 - 2 November 2024 | Shirokanedai, Tokyo
Video
Professor Takeshi Inoue
Department of Molecular Systems Immunology; The University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center (UTOPIA)
Department of Molecular Systems Immunology; The University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center (UTOPIA)
July 2024
Article
Pathogenicity and transmissibility of bovine H5N1 influenza virus
Eisfeld AJ, Biswas A, Guan L, Gu C, Maemura T, Trifkovic S, Wang T, Babujee L, Dahn R, Halfmann PJ, Barnhardt T, Neumann G, Suzuki Y, Thompson A, Swinford AK, Dimitrov KM, Poulsen K, Kawaoka Y.
News Release
Raw milk is risky, but airborne transmission of H5N1 from cow's milk is inefficient in mammals
Jully 2024
Related Conference
The ISV Annual Congress will be held in Seoul, for which Prof. Ken Ishii will serve as one of the Congress Chairs.
Event
The Second UTOPIA Symposium was held from June 19 to 20 in Fuchu.
Click here for photos and details about Flash Talk Awards and Poster Awards.
Event
UTOPIA Seminar
Topic: Combatting tuberculosis and publishing in medical journals
Speaker: ERIC J. RUBIN, MD, PHD
Editor-in-Chief, The New England Journal of Medicine, NEJM Group
Editor-in-Chief, The New England Journal of Medicine, NEJM Group
Date/Time: Friday, 12 July 2024, 16:00 – 17:00 (JST)
Place: Auditorium, 1st building, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
June 2024
Event
Innate lymphoid cells: development, differentiation, dynamics
Professor James Di Santo, MD, PhD
Institut Pasteur
Institut Pasteur
AM 10:00 - 11:30, Friday, 21 June 2024
Auditorium, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Article
Cow’s Milk Containing Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus — Heat Inactivation and Infectivity in Mice
Guan L, Eisfeld AJ, Pattinson D, Gu C, Biswas A, Maemura T, Trifkovic S, Babujee L, Presler R Jr, Dahn R, Halfmann PJ, Barnhardt T, Neumann G, Thompson A, Swinford AK, Dimitrov KM, Poulsen K, Kawaoka Y.
New England Journal of Medicine
May 2024
Article
Memory CD8 T cells are vulnerable to chronic IFN-γ signals but not to CD4 T cell deficiency in MHCII-deficient mice
Setoguchi R, Sengiku T, Kono H, Kawakami E, Kubo M, Yamamoto T, Hori S
May 2024
Article
Inoue T, Matsumoto Y, Kawai C, Ito M, Nada S, Okada M, Kurosaki T
Journal of Experimental Medicine
May 2024
Video
Professor Makoto Takeda
Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
May 2024
Video
Professor Takao Someya
Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Systems, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
May 2024
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.
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.