Press Releases

The University of Tokyo
Japan Institute for Health Security

    Overview   

The new research project titled, “Development of a Singly Replicating Vaccine Against Seasonal Influenza,” led by Dr. Yoshihiro Kawaoka, the University of Tokyo and Japan Institute for Health Security, has been selected for funding under the FY2025 “Vaccine and New Modality Research and Development Program” by the Strategic Center of Biomedical Advanced Vaccine Research and Development for Preparedness and Response (SCARDA), under the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED).

This project focuses on the development of a new vaccine modality known as the “singly replicating vaccine” against seasonal influenza. Unlike currently available live attenuated influenza and inactivated vaccines, this vaccine is based on a virus whose replicative ability is restricted through the deletion of a specific viral gene. When administered intranasally, the vaccine virus infects mucosal cells and produces viral antigens within the cells, eliciting a strong mucosal immune response similar to that of natural infection. However, no infectious progeny virus is produced, thereby offering a novel vaccine modality with improved safety.

This aim of the research is to validate the efficacy and safety of the singly replicating trivalent influenza vaccine in non-clinical trials and to evaluate its safety in a Phase I clinical trial as a step toward practical application.

The selection of this project was publicly announced on June 9, 2025
(https://www.amed.go.jp/koubo/21/02/2102C_00014.html).

  Project Leader:  

Yoshihiro Kawaoka, DVM, PhD
The University of TOkyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced research center (UTOPIA)
National Institute of Global Health and Medicine, Japan Institute for Health Security
Division of Virology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo

  Glossary:  

(1) Strategic Center of Biomedical Advanced Vaccine Research and Development for Preparedness and Response (SCARDA)
Established within AMED in 2022 to enable the rapid development and deployment of vaccines in response to infectious disease emergencies. The “Vaccine and New Modality Research and Development Program” aims to deliver safe, effective, and internationally relevant vaccines for prioritized infectious diseases defined by the government, through:
a) the development of infectious disease vaccines, and
b) the research and development of new modalities contributing to vaccine development.

  Inquiries:  

For research-related inquiries:
Yoshihiro Kawaoka, DVM, PhD
The University of TOkyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced research center (UTOPIA)

→  HP 

For press-related inquiries:
The University of TOkyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced research center (UTOPIA) (PR Office)
→  Contact 

Public Affairs Division, National Institute of Global Health and Medicine, Japan Institute for Health Security