Japan Polio Research Institute

The Japan Polio Research Institute (JPRI) was a specialized vaccine manufacturer established in 1961 in response to a severe polio epidemic in Japan. For over 50 years, the institute was the primary producer and supplier of oral polio vaccines (OPV) and later transitioned to the development of inactivated polio vaccines (IPV). In September 2012, JPRI merged with the Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University (BIKEN) to consolidate vaccine production and research capabilities. The organization played a pivotal role in the eradication of polio within Japan and the modernization of the country's pediatric immunization schedule.