OU Symposium -- CiDER Symposium “The Current and Future of the Pandemic – How do We Prepare for the Next Pandemic?” held

On Saturday, February 3, 2024, the Osaka University Symposium “The Current and Future of the Pandemic – How do We Prepare for the Next Pandemic?” was held at Yomiuri Otemachi Hall (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo).

This symposium was the 5th infectious disease-themed symposium sponsored by the Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER). This symposium was held in Tokyo for the first time, attracting some 1200 individuals (about 400 in-person and about 1084 online).

President NISHIO Shojiro delivered opening remarks, saying, “Osaka University, whose spiritual roots reach back to Tekijuku, a place of learning, founded by Ogata Koan (1810-1863), has engaged in world-class research in immunology and infectious diseases. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Osaka University established the Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), where researchers engage in basic research as an international hub to use collective intelligence required to control infectious diseases.”

President Nishio

His speech was followed by greetings from guests: ARAKI Hiroto (Head, Infectious Diseases Control Division, Infectious Disease Countermeasures Department, Health Service & Environmental Health Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) and TAKASHIMA Yoshihiro (Osaka University Global Alumni Fellow).

Then, Specially Appointed Professor MATSUURA Yoshiharu (Director, CiDER) explained about CiDER’s activity.

(From left) Mr. Araki, Dr. Takashima, Professor Matsuura

In Part I of the symposium, the following two individuals made speeches:

• “Solving Medical Issues by Sharing Healthcare Data: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic,” by SUEMATSU Makoto (Director, Central Institute for Experimental Animals; Professor Emeritus, Keio University; First Director, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development)
• “Pandemics and Social Psychology,” by Professor MIURA Asako (Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University)

(Left) Director Suematsu, (Right) Professor Miura

During a panel discussion in Part II, facilitated by OHTAKE Fumio (Specially Appointed Professor, CiDER), the two topics were discussed: How Do We Prepare for the Next Pandemic?” and “Can we Prevent a Collapse of the Medical Care System?”

Panelists included:

• OSHITANI Hitoshi (Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University)
• TAKEMI Ayako (Associate Professor, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo)
• UCHIDA Katsuhiko (Chairman, Japanese Association of Public Health Center Directors)
• SAWADA Toko (Novelist)
• KUTSUNA Satoshi (Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University)

They discussed the history of pandemics in Japan, its challenges in control strategies for COVID019 pandemic, and how the nation should be prepared for the next pandemic.

The panel discussion

The symposium ended with the closing remarks by Executive Vice President KANEDA Yasufumi.

Details of the symposium was published in the morning edition of Yomiuri newspaper of March 9, 2024.

Click here to view the video of the symposium
(available for viewing until March 31, 2024)