A five-party collaborative agreement to strengthen preparedness for infectious disease crisis

On March 31, 2026, The University of Osaka signed an agreement with Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, the Osaka Institute of Public Health, and Osaka Metropolitan University to strengthen cooperation in responding to infectious disease crisis.

This agreement is based on the intent of the action plans revised by the government and Osaka Prefecture, considering the experience from responding to COVID-19. With the aim of establishing a prompt and effective response system in the event of an infectious disease crisis, relevant institutions will work in close coordination even during normal times in order to collect and analyze information and conduct comprehensive risk assessments, thereby leading to the implementation of evidence-based infectious disease countermeasures.

Under this agreement, the following initiatives will be promoted:

-Establishment of a system for information collection and analysis to support infectious disease intelligence.
-Research and studies on infectious disease crisis management, as the provision and sharing of necessary information and equipment.
-Development and exchange of specialized personnel in the field of infectious diseases.
-Implementation of training exercises assuming the outbreak of novel influenza and similar infectious diseases.
-Provision, sharing, and promotion of information based on scientific evidence.

The signing ceremony took place at the Osaka Prefectural Government Office and was attended by representatives of all related institutions. From UOsaka, President KUMANOGOH Atsushi and Director YAMASAKI Sho of the Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER) attended, sharing their commitment to strengthening collaboration with relevant institutions.

President Kumanogoh, while mentioning about the history of The University of Osaka’s ongoing research in infectious diseases and immunology since its founding as a response to societal challenges, stated the following.

Being such a major metropolitan area, Osaka is prone to healthcare system strain during pandemic, and with Kansai International Airport, it constantly faces the risk of the introduction of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Considering these regional characteristics, it is essential for the government, universities, and research institutions to prepare in an integrated manner even during normal times, and this agreement provides an extremely important framework for that purpose. Through this agreement, we will bring together cross-disciplinary knowledge, including research on infectious diseases and immunology, and contribute to the implementation of effective infectious disease countermeasures and the development of specialized personnel.

At The University of Osaka, CiDER plays a central role in advancing an integrated approach that spans from fundamental research to societal implementation in preparation for future pandemics. Through this agreement, the university will further strengthen its collaboration with local governments and research institutions, and work toward implementing effective infectious disease countermeasures and developing specialized personnel.
*Agreement on Collaborative Preparedness for Infectious Disease Crisis