CENTER FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

Before March 2020, the Infectious Diseases Surveillance Center (IDSC) in NIID had covered a lot of public health functions such as epidemiological research, research on vaccine effects and adverse events, laboratory training, and infectious disease surveillance. However, confronting the risk of outbreaks during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Kansai-Osaka EXPO 2025, the IDSC’s areas of work were so diverse that it became diff icult for a single center to play a suff icient role.
In this context, the Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response (CEPR) was established in April 2020 with the laboratory and training sections separated from the IDSC and newly established off ices for emergency responses. Subsequently, in response to the pandemic of COVID-19, CEPR’s crisis management function and human resource capacity was further strengthened. For example, functions on development and support on conducting drills and exercise, and laboratory emergency responses were reinforced.
In April 2025, on the establishment of the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS), Department of Diagnostic Testing and Technology Research was separately established from CEPR. Additionally, two new departments — Department of Planning and Coordination, Department of Preparedness and Response — were established under CEPR.
The CEPR is responsible for the following activities.
- Intelligence on infectious disease emergencies, training and exercises, scientific investigations and research, and provision of training and exercises regarding crisis management of infectious diseases.
The CEPR has two departments and four off ices, each of which has the following jurisdictions:

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND COORDINATION

OFFICE OF PLANNING AND COORDINATION

Planning and coordination of research, training and emergency operations.

DEPARTMENT OF PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY OPERATIONS SCIENCES

Investigation and research on crisis management of infectious diseases, and liaison and coordination with relevant government agencies.

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATION SCIENCES

Risk and crisis communication on infectious diseases.

OFFICE OF TRAINING AND EXERCISE RESEARCH

Support and program development for emergency response exercises and training.

CENTER FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE Contents (Coming Soon)