Japan pledges $2 billion in funding for pandemic vaccine research initiative
The Japanese government has earmarked $2 billion in funding for vaccine research to ensure its country is better prepared for any future pandemics, according to Nature. Japan has lagged behind other countries not only in developing vaccines but also in approving them when it comes to COVID-19. As the publication points out, three of Japan's most advanced COVID-19 vaccine candidates are still in clinical trials. To avoid a repeat, the country established the Strategic Research and Development Center for Advanced Biomedical Vaccines for Preparedness and Response (SCARDA) in March.
The central research center of SCARDA will be based in Tokyo, but it will be supported by four main institutes, namely Osaka University, Nagasaki University, Hokkaido University and the University of Chiba. The $2 billion funding is supposed to keep it running for five years. $1.2 billion will go to the center's vaccine research and development projects, while $400 million will be spent to support start-ups in drug development. The remaining $400 million will go towards setting up a network of research centers across the country, as well as vaccine testing.
SCARDA will initially focus on developing vaccines against eight infectious diseases, including COVID-19, monkeypox, SARS, dengue and Zika virus. Its researchers will also look at various types of vaccine technologies, such as mRNA and viral vectors. The center aims "to find seeds for future vaccines", but its ultimate goal is to be able to conjure up diagnostic tests, vaccines and treatments within 100 days of identifying a pathogen with the potential to become a pandemic. .
It was the UK government that first proposed the 100-day response target, based on what it learned from COVID-19. “The first 100 days in the face of a pandemic or epidemic threat are crucial to changing its course and, ideally, preventing it from becoming a pandemic,” the UK wrote in its pandemic preparedness report to the G7. According to the World Health Organization, it has recorded more than 2.5 million cases and 200,000 deaths 100 days after declaring COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern. A quick response from the start could have prevented these numbers from increasing.
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The Japanese government has earmarked $2 billion in funding for vaccine research to ensure its country is better prepared for any future pandemics, according to Nature. Japan has lagged behind other countries not only in developing vaccines but also in approving them when it comes to COVID-19. As the publication points out, three of Japan's most advanced COVID-19 vaccine candidates are still in clinical trials. To avoid a repeat, the country established the Strategic Research and Development Center for Advanced Biomedical Vaccines for Preparedness and Response (SCARDA) in March.
The central research center of SCARDA will be based in Tokyo, but it will be supported by four main institutes, namely Osaka University, Nagasaki University, Hokkaido University and the University of Chiba. The $2 billion funding is supposed to keep it running for five years. $1.2 billion will go to the center's vaccine research and development projects, while $400 million will be spent to support start-ups in drug development. The remaining $400 million will go towards setting up a network of research centers across the country, as well as vaccine testing.
SCARDA will initially focus on developing vaccines against eight infectious diseases, including COVID-19, monkeypox, SARS, dengue and Zika virus. Its researchers will also look at various types of vaccine technologies, such as mRNA and viral vectors. The center aims "to find seeds for future vaccines", but its ultimate goal is to be able to conjure up diagnostic tests, vaccines and treatments within 100 days of identifying a pathogen with the potential to become a pandemic. .
It was the UK government that first proposed the 100-day response target, based on what it learned from COVID-19. “The first 100 days in the face of a pandemic or epidemic threat are crucial to changing its course and, ideally, preventing it from becoming a pandemic,” the UK wrote in its pandemic preparedness report to the G7. According to the World Health Organization, it has recorded more than 2.5 million cases and 200,000 deaths 100 days after declaring COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern. A quick response from the start could have prevented these numbers from increasing.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices correct at time of publication.
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