In the past 30 years, mankind has been faced with the threat of new and emerging infectious diseases such as AIDS, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and highly pathogenic influenza. Further, in the developing countries within Asia and Africa, many individuals continue to contract infectious and parasitic diseases such as our old enemies malaria and diarrheal. The World Health Organization (WHO) refers to leishmaniasis, dengue fever and other infectious tropical diseases as “neglected tropical diseases” (NTDs) and calls for all nations to cooperate in efforts to combat them.

Since the Infection Research Department was established at Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 2000, the number of faculty researching tropical and emerging infectious diseases has increased and partnerships with overseas institutions have been strengthened. The educational and research infrastructure of the department is being advanced at various locations in Africa and Asia; for example, research facilities of Nagasaki University have been established in Kenya and Vietnam. The Institute of Tropical Medicine is internationally recognized and is a designated WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Viral Diseases.

The new program for nurturing global leaders in tropical and emerging infectious diseases aims to provide practical education using a curriculum that harnesses the university's resources and its well-developed research system. Students graduate well equipped to become global leaders who can solve problems from an international perspective.