【A classroom scene highlighting student participation】
Photo provided by the Public Relations and Communications Division, Hokkaido University

On December 4, 2025, Associate Professor Keisuke Takada (Division of Vaccinology for Clinical Development) of IVReD delivered an outreach lecture titled “Why Do Vaccines Work?—How the Immune System Remembers Pathogens” at Sapporo Hokuto High School, attended by 19 first- and second-year students.

The lecture was held as part of Academic Fantasista, an outreach initiative launched in 2012 under the Cabinet Office–promoted program “Dialogue between Science and Technology and Society” in collaboration with The Hokkaido Shimbun Press. Through lectures and hands-on learning experiences, the program enables researchers from Hokkaido University to share cutting-edge scientific knowledge with high school students and other young audiences.

During the session, Dr. Takada introduced the concept of immune memory—how the immune system recognizes and retains information about pathogens—using clear, slide-based explanations. By linking advanced concepts to topics familiar from high school science classes, the lecture kept students highly engaged. The session also covered the basic mechanisms of vaccine action, recent advances in immune memory research, and the IVReD’ s efforts to prepare for future pandemics, offering students valuable insight into the significance of vaccine research and development.

Students noted that the lecture offered valuable insights into how COVID-19 vaccines were developed so rapidly and shed light on the vaccine development process—topics seldom addressed in standard school curricula. The session also fostered a deeper appreciation of the importance of vaccines and encouraged students to reflect more thoughtfully on issues closely tied to human health. Overall, the lecture contributed meaningfully to enhancing students’ understanding of infectious diseases and the life sciences.

IVReD remains committed to expanding its outreach activities in infectious disease and vaccine research in collaboration with local educational institutions, government bodies, and industry partners.