The Nippon Foundation to Provide Osaka University with 23 Billion Yen to Assist its Project to Better Cope with Future Pandemics (1)

The Nippon Foundation has announced that it will provide Osaka University based in the western Japanese city with 23 billion yen (about $209 million dollars) over the next 10 years to support its infectious disease research project to prepare for future pandemics.

I made the announcement at a press conference at The Nippon Foundation on September 14 alongside President Shojiro Nishio and Executive Vice President Yasufumi Kaneda of Osaka University.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly strained Japan’s health care system while dealing a heavy blow to its economic activities. The project is aimed at preventing Japan and other countries taking a hit from future pandemics caused by as yet unknown infectious diseases by promoting open innovation between research institutions and business entities at home and abroad.

Speaking at the press conference, President Shojiro Nishio noted that Osaka University is “extraordinarily lucky” to receive such a large amount of money from The Nippon Foundation for the project, explaining that a research center the university set up last April solely to combat infectious diseases will be tasked with playing a leading role in undertaking the project. The center can accommodate up to 90 researchers from Japan and overseas.

The university, known for its advanced basic medicine, clinical application, social medicine, immunology and research into microbial diseases, will go all out to obtain tangible results in 10 years to contribute to conquering infectious diseases, he added.

Asked by reporters why The Nippon Foundation decided to support Osaka University out of hundreds of universities and institutions in and outside Japan, I pointed to its history of research into infectious diseases dating back to Koan Ogata (1810-1863), a notable medical doctor and educator who founded Tekijyuku, a “place of learning,” that evolved into Osaka University.

The university is a bit different from other Japanese national universities because of its flexibility and track record of working closely with industry, I said, noting that President Nishio and Executive Vice President Kaneda are committed to opening up the research center to talent from universities and research institutions around the world.

“Therefore, I believe that Osaka University is our best partner.”

(To be continued)