Mission and Vision of the Institute
In October 2021, the Research Institute of Disaster Medicine was established under Chiba University to assist building disaster resilient communities where residents, social functions, and activities are protected from the threats of pandemics and other natural disasters.
Japan is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Lying along the seismic Pacific Ring of Fire, the Japanese archipelago has been attacked by numerous massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami have left long-standing damage that Japan has yet to recover from. Local residents in the areas around the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant were forced to evacuate because of the nuclear accident. Many of them are still struggling to overcome the socioeconomic and environmental changes and mental and physical health problems resulting from them. Pathologies resulting from maladaptation to stressors such as changes in living conditions have not been fully characterized, and effective treatment protocols have not been well developed. These situations warrant further research efforts in this area.
In 2019, the Boso Peninsula Typhoon (No. 15 or Faxai) hit the Tokyo metropolitan area. In the aftermath, many disaster-related deaths were reported as a result of prolonged water cutoffs and power outages caused by the strong wind-storm. Victims were mostly among so-called disaster vulnerable people such as those staying in medical and welfare facilities. Moreover, many cases of invasive fungal infections that are common in flood-damaged areas were reported. The magnitude of future wind and flood disaster events will increase because of advancing global warming and other climate changes.
Moreover, the novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) has spread across the globe since the beginning of 2020, becoming the third deadliest pandemic in Japan's recent history. It is unknown when the epidemic will end. The confluence of a pandemic and a massive natural hazard will increase their impacts synergistically. However, effective strategies have not been proposed for controlling the risks of such compound disasters.
In order to overcome these challenges, we need to go beyond traditional medical and biological approaches to the study of pathology. Interdisciplinary research opportunities should be sought by collaborating with scientists of different disciplines and various stakeholders from the government, academia, and private sector. Our research outputs will include identification of social factors negatively influencing health and practical strategies for improving health. These outputs will help communities adopt effective disaster preparedness policies. Against these backdrops, Chiba University has founded the Research Institute of Disaster Medicine. Focusing on interdisciplinary research on disaster medicine, this Institute has brought together a wide array of researchers across various disciplines: the departments of medicine, pharmaceutical sciences, and nursing with primary interest in human health care; the departments of pure science and engineering with expertise in advanced measurement and artificial intelligence technologies; the department of horticulture dedicated to the study of land protection and management through vegetation and other means; and the department of social sciences with a focus on preventing disaster-related adverse impacts on socioeconomic structure.
In Japan, several disaster-related research institutions have been established to conduct research on the mechanisms of natural disasters and methods for mitigating them. They are among the global frontrunners in disaster research. The Research Institute of Disaster Medicine was endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology as an institution dedicated to protecting public health from pandemics and natural disasters.
The Institute aims to assume a leading role in public health emergency preparedness and response, thereby contributing to building disaster resilient communities. It will require a long period of trial and error and persistent efforts before the Institute fully achieves its mission. We cordially ask for your understanding and support until our country creates healthier and more resilient communities for all.
