Science Tackles Disasters & Diseases for a Better Planet
The Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo) has launched the Visionary Initiatives (VIs) (https://www.isct.ac.jp/en/017/research/visionary-initiatives) in the 2025 academic year, a cross-disciplinary, integrated research framework to co-create new value with society while advancing science and human wellbeing. Six VIs are currently tackling the challenge of shaping the future, each developing distinct shared visions for societal transformation based on three pillars: 'Better Life', 'Better Society', and 'Better Planet'.
One of these initiatives, Resilience Tech-Society, is led by Professor Tomoko Ishino, who serves as program director (PD). In this article, Ishino discusses building a resilient society in the face of frequent disasters and infectious diseases like COVID-19 and malaria.
Standing at the Intersection of Scientific Pursuit and Compassion
Why did you choose a tropical disease among infectious diseases for your research?
Ishino: During my college years, I conducted fundamental research on the body's ability to regenerate and defend itself against diseases in a pharmaceutical sciences lab. Alongside my studies, I participated in study tours in several Asian countries, where I witnessed poverty but was consistently touched by the smiles of local children. These experiences deepened my desire to make a difference in Asia. I considered working for international aid organizations, but my fascination with basic research led me to study tropical diseases, fulfilling both aspirations.
I became interested in applying reverse genetics to malaria parasites around the time I earned my doctoral degree, driven by my strong focus on what is provable. While conventional genetics identifies genes based on observed traits, reverse genetics starts with genes to determine their functions, aiming to uncover the mechanisms of life. Shortly after earning my doctorate, I discovered a lab in Japan using reverse genetics for malaria research, and despite the rarity of switching fields after completing a Ph.D., I joined as a postdoctoral fellow and later continued my work at the Pasteur Institute in France.
Malaria infects humans through mosquito bites, and my research focuses on identifying the molecules involved in infection processes and their functions. I'm reminded of the mystery of life and the joy of research each time I track these 10-micrometer parasites under the microscope. Yet, the stark reality is that about 600,000 people die from malaria each year, and our lab is committed to addressing this urgent global challenge.
Science Tokyo has collaborated with the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Ghana to conduct international joint research on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. For malaria, we initiated studies to identify factors contributing to the disease in both humans and parasites, aiming to unravel the infection mechanisms in endemic regions by analyzing parasitic strains.
Integrating Human and Scientific Power to Build a Crisis-Resilient Society
What are your goals as PD leading the Resilience Tech-Society VI?
Ishino: Our VI, Resilience Tech-Society, aims to build systems ensuring essential services like environmental recovery, lifelines restoration, and medical care provision during unavoidable natural disasters or pandemics. As PD, my focus is on infectious diseases, which are categorized into emerging diseases like COVID-19 and re-emerging diseases like malaria. Both threaten daily life and are challenging for any single country to manage in an era of frequent cross-border travel and business. We leverage the research hub at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, and our established connections to gain insights into ongoing infectious disease situations and develop human resources in Ghana, sharing our VI's philosophy and findings with the world.
What potential can science tap through collaboration?
Ishino: Major donor nations are cutting international aid budgets, leading to a decline in funding for disaster response and infectious diseases, with serious consequences for Africa, including shortages of HIV therapeutics. Despite this, scientists must continue their work. Science and international collaboration are ultimately carried out by people, so strengthening human connections and mutual support is essential. Collaboration between researchers in different fields is also crucial for unlocking new research potential, as discussions with diverse disciplines can lead to unexpected solutions for social problems.
This perspective was reinforced when I met Professor Kazuo Takayama, who was developing a liver-on-a-chip device. We quickly established a strong working relationship, and since then, Professor Takayama has joined Science Tokyo, contributing to our VI's research.
Resilience Tech-Society: Achieving a Society Resilient to Disasters and Pandemics
How do you intend to create a disaster-resilient society?
Ishino: Japan ranks third in natural disaster risk, but natural disasters and pandemics are unpredictable and preventable. My long-term goal as PD is to protect people's livelihoods, lives, and dignity under any circumstances. The term 'resilience' in the VI: Resilience-Tech Society may be unfamiliar in Japan, referring to the ability to recover and adapt with flexibility. It also carries a sense of mutual support and human consideration. To foster resilience, we need robust preparations enabling mutual support in any situation, achieved through the power of science. However, preparedness cannot be built overnight; we must learn from past disasters, accumulate knowledge, and gradually develop a disaster-resistant social structure, repeating this cycle.
Challenges have emerged from our experience with COVID-19, including the spread of rumors and fake news. Effective vaccines won't reach people if anxiety overwhelms them, so developing scientific approaches to reduce anxiety and convey accurate information is crucial.
What are your hopes for the future of science?
Ishino: When discussing science, we often emphasize convenience and novelty, but our priority should be bridging science and society in areas that generate public benefits but are often overlooked, such as protecting people's livelihoods, lives, and dignity from natural disasters. As globalization progresses, establishing mechanisms for international collaboration and support becomes increasingly important. As global support systems change, events in certain regions or institutions can have far-reaching implications, requiring us to develop a framework offering stable support through research, technology, and human resources, including cultivating human resources who can contribute globally regardless of nationality.
I hope that through our VI, young researchers will see that their work can ultimately help make our planet better. Resilience originally referred to psychological recovery, and I appreciate its multi-faceted meaning: restoration, recovery, and flexibility. While eliminating disaster damage may be impossible, uniting scientific fields around this mission can reduce damage and protect people's livelihoods, lives, and dignity. My goal is to shape a humane future where science gently supports people, a truly resilient society.
Interview Date: October 28, 2025 (via Zoom)
Profile
Tomoko Ishino
Professor, Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine
Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences
Science Tokyo
Tomoko Ishino (Japanese) (https://sites.google.com/view/tmdu-parasitology/%E6%95%99%E5%AE%A4%E5%93%A1/ishino?authuser=0)
