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		The 21st Century COE program
		A message from the Program Leader Our Goal and its Pivotal Role An Implementation Plan for Research Projects Japanese Site Map Access Map	*Our Goals Microbiology and immunology used to be two aspects of one research discipline studying infectious disease in terms of infection and prevention. However, as science has advanced, each discipline has become an independent research field and each has centered its focus upon specific inquiries. Therefore, the most important obligation of this field, the study of pathogenesis from the viewpoint of the interactions between pathogens and host responses and the subsequent comprehensive synthesis of data and application to treatment and prevention, was not fully undertaken. As a result, today we live under the threat of new challenges such as emerging/reemerging infectious diseases. In this Program, we commit to the establishment of a frontier research field by launching a combined program in microbiology and immunology, where microbiology endeavors to investigate pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and immunology elucidates the mechanisms of innate immunity and host responses against infection such as acquired immunity. Upon this new foundation, we believe that a comprehensive understanding of the pathology of infectious diseases, and effective preventive measures against infection via the engineering of the immune system, can be achieved. Moreover, we will develop the outcomes of our research projects into translational research, so that we can contribute to the international community by establishing effective measures for preventing infectious diseases and providing treatment solutions for many people suffering from allergies and autoimmune diseases. *Special Features The development of antibiotics and vaccines and the advancement of public health care systems have provided the means to prevent and contain infectious diseases, thus contributing to the welfare of humanity and social progress in the 20thcentury. However, we are now facing new challenges including: 1)The emergence of an entirely new range of problems including drug tolerance, immunocompromised hosts, and hospital acquired infections; 2) Serious problems in developing countries which repeat a vicious cycle of poverty and the spread of infectious diseases; and 3) The occurrence of emerging/reemerging infectious diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. We are now forced to take measures against these challenges. Osaka University has won worldwide acclaim for its outstanding achievement and contribution to the advancement of the field of immunology and microbiology. To carry on this tradition, we commit to strive to be the best in our research areas and to take a leadership role in the international family of science. Recent research has elucidated the fact that innate immunity possesses a control over an acquired immunity as a preventive mechanism against pathogens, leading to international recognition of the crucial role of innate immunity in medicine. To challenge the imminent dangers of infectious disease in the 21st century, it is critically important to combine microbiology and immunology as one integrated discipline. In this Program, we will create opportunities for world-renowned microbiologists and immunologists to work together to study pathogens and the host immune system in one discipline, further develop their results into translational research, and finally contribute to the welfare of humanity. *A Pivotal Role Infectious disease remains the world’s leading killer, especially in developing countries. Therefore, we cannot overemphasize that the prevention and treatment of infectious disease is the most crucial medical issue of the 21st century. Moreover, even in industrialized countries, the reduction in the effectiveness of antibiotics due to the emergence of drug tolerant bacillus, the increase of opportunistic infections due to advancements in medicine, and the threats caused by emerging/reemerging infectious diseases, have been recognized as new challenges to medical science. Over the years, Osaka University has endeavored to discover new microorganisms and has attained high levels of performance in the research areas of bacteriology, virology, and protozoology. Furthermore, our pioneering efforts to develop vaccines for prophylactic immunization have been recognized internationally. Of great significance in immunology, our achievements in the fields of cytokine research and innate immunity have been highly acclaimed, and have produced a number of leading scientists in various research/educational institutions. Following this tradition, an internationally recognized microbiology program tailored to combine studies in microbiology and immunology can be established by creating a research domain organized as COE where microbiologists and immunologists can share information and work together. Furthermore, through recent advancements in research on innate immunity, which controls the host immune response at the initial stage of infection, the connection between infection and allergies/auto immune diseases has started to be clarified. We believe that this combined program in microbiology and immunology will lead to the development of a novel approach to the control of infectious disease by engineering the immune system and will lead to providing advanced treatment for allergies/autoimmune diseases. Therefore, in terms of exploiting the exploration and advancement of medicine, we are certain that this program can offer a significant contribution to 21st century medicine.