Ayato Takada , DVM, PhD
Chair, The 24th Awaji International Forum on Infection and Immunity
Professor, Hokkaido University International Institute for Zoonosis Control
“The Awaji Forum on Infection and Immunity” was established in 2001 and will be held for the 24th time this year. The forum has brought together researchers in virology, bacteriology, parasitology, immunology, and related fields from a wide range of institutions in Japan and abroad. By assembling experts from different scientific backgrounds, it has contributed to the development of cross-disciplinary networks and to the promotion of collaborative research and development.
Since the 20th century, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases have posed serious challenges worldwide. In recent years, environmental changes, globalization of trade, and increasingly borderless international exchange have elevated the risk that various infectious diseases may newly emerge and spread rapidly across the globe. The unprecedented outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in West Africa from 2013 to 2016 and the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2019 and caused global disruption, have reminded us of the fundamental reality that infectious diseases pose inevitable transboundary risks. At the same time, COVID-19 also prompted the development of new strategies and frameworks for infectious disease control. The rapid development of vaccines and therapeutics, the characterization and surveillance of circulating strains, and global-scale epidemiological analyses are all outcomes of collaborative efforts by researchers worldwide in fields related to infection and immunity.
In 2026, the forum will be hosted by the International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University. The theme for this year is “Exploring Pathogens and Immune Responses: Integrative Approaches for Sustainable Global Health.” Taking advantage of the forum’s strengths in bringing together leading researchers from Japan and abroad in the fields of infection and immunity, we hope to promote active discussion and the integration of knowledge among participants from diverse backgrounds, leading to innovative ideas for overcoming infectious diseases. We also aim to provide an open and welcoming environment where students and early-career researchers, regardless of nationality, can engage in frank discussions with experienced experts from a global perspective.
We sincerely hope that this forum will contribute to further advances in research on infection and immunity and to advancing sustainable global health. We sincerely look forward to your participation.
