As emerging infectious diseases, such as the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and various re-emerging infectious diseases pose an ever-increasing threat to society and the economy, there is a growing demand both domestically and internationally for the training of experts in infectious disease research and countermeasures.In order to meet this societal demand, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases aims to cultivate individuals with a broad perspective on infectious diseases, flexible thinking, and comprehensive judgment, as well as the practical abilities and leadership skills to contribute to the development of infectious diseases not only in Japan but also around the world, and to the control of infectious diseases.
The concept of "One Health," which states that maintaining human and societal health requires considering animal health and environmental conservation as one, is gaining international acceptance. "One World-One Health" refers to the Manhattan Principles proposed in 2004, and is a concept that views the health of people, animals, and the environment as interconnected and united as a single health. Many SDGs, including infectious diseases, healthy living, promoting well-being, safe environments, and climate change, encompass this One Health concept. Overcoming many infectious diseases also requires promoting the "One Health" philosophy and collaborating across academic and research boundaries. Graduate School of Infectious Diseases has promoted graduate education that incorporates interdisciplinary and practical international activities related to "One Health."
To achieve the SDGs, faculty members from International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Creative Research Institute's Vaccine Research and Development Center, and Faculty of Medicine will build an interdisciplinary educational system that utilizes their respective expertise and utilize a collaborative research network in over 30 countries around the world, with the aim of training "infectious disease professionals" who can take the lead in controlling infectious diseases that are a social problem.