As of November 7, 2022, it is reported that there are approximately 630 million people infected with COVID-19 worldwide and approximately 6.6 million deaths. The international community has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Taylor from the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom reported in 2001 that 61% of infectious microorganisms and 75% of emerging infectious disease pathogens are zoonotic pathogens. It is considered important to understand the infection route of five pandemics recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the past 100 years have been caused by influenza viruses and coronaviruses, through respiratory infectious agents. Respiratory infections have more diverse transmission routes than other infectious diseases, such as droplets, air, contact, oral, and environmental. The transmission speed is high, so the next pandemic will likely involve influenza, coronavirus infections and other respiratory pathogens. The rapid development of vaccines and therapeutic drugs is essential to overcome the next pandemic.
Hokkaido Synergy Campus (Institute for Vaccine Research and Development: IVReD) has prepared a library of pathogens that may cause infectious diseases in humans in advance, and promotes basic research that contributes to vaccine development. We aim to implement a “preemptive strategy” to implement it in society.
Hokkaido University is the first in the world to establish the “International Institute for Zoonosis Control” as the only institution specializing in zoonotic diseases. International Institute for Zoonosis Control maintain an influenza A virus library containing all subtypes. In addition, as a countermeasure against COVID-19, we are working on the environment, basic research, and clinical research throughout the university, producing many results and contributing to society. In addition, regarding tuberculosis, which kills about 1.5 million people every year, we have established an international joint research network, developed new diagnostic methods based on the results of surveys on the prevalence of drug-resistant strains, and are implementing them in society.
Under the above background, the Hokkaido University Vaccine Research and Development Center collaborates with the flagship center to establish clinical research core hospitals (Hokkaido University Hospital), Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and Institute for Genetic Medicine within the same campus. In addition to the cooperative system of all of Hokkaido University, such as research institutes and the International Institute for Zoonosis Control, we are strongly collaborating with multiple companies such as Denka Co., Ltd., Shionogi & Co., Ltd., and NB Health Laboratory Co. Ltd.. By integrating with the international research and education network, including the University of Melbourne, which we have built so far, we will be able to isolate and detect zoonosis diseases that cause respiratory diseases through epidemiological research. We aim to promote basic research that contributes to the development and construction of production systems for domestic vaccines by utilizing common infectious disease pathogens.
Director of Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (IVReD)
Hirofumi Sawa