On July 10, 2025, Ms. Yui Kohno, Manager at Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI), delivered a presentation at Symposium 7, “New Trends in Drug Discovery Promotion,” held during the 40th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Infection Prevention and Control in Yokohama, Kanagawa.

In her presentation, titled “Promoting Infectious Disease Drug Discovery through Policy – A Think Tank Perspective,” Ms. Kohno shared policy recommendations that can accelerate the discovery and development of new antimicrobials. She highlighted examples of collaborative policy dialogue at HGPI involving venture capital and institutional investors, which underscore the importance of creating clear indicators reflective of drug discovery ventures that can be effectively evaluated by capital markets. She also proposed optimal approaches to information disclosure in integrated reports. Furthermore, the potential for simultaneous revisions to the core curricula in medical, dental, pharmaceutical, nursing, and veterinary education to bolster infection control and advance One Health initiatives was highlighted.

This year’s annual meeting, held with the theme “Infection Control: Elevating as Science, Fostering as Culture,” featured discussions on a diverse range of topics. Notably, for the first time in the meeting’s 40-year history, a symposium dedicated to infectious disease drug discovery was included, marking a significant milestone and raising expectations for increased developments in the future.

Throughout 2025, based on the “Report on Review of Future Promotion of Infectious Disease Research,” the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) plans to convene expert committees, such as the “Expert Committee on Medical Countermeasure (MCM) Research.” In line with this momentum, HGPI has also launched new joint lecture initiatives with several universities to foster the next generation of infectious disease researchers and professionals over the coming decade and beyond. All stakeholders, including academic societies, are encouraged to take concrete steps towards a better future and provide feedback to relevant government committees.