NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and Japan Institute of Health Security Announce International Strategic Partnership to Enhance High-Consequence Infectious Disease Preparedness
The Memorandum of Understanding outlines information and resource sharing, as well as clinical and research collaboration on high-consequence infectious diseases and emergency response
Jun 04, 2025
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue today announced a new strategic partnership with the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS), a Tokyo-based agency which serves as a world-class Integrated Science Center for Infectious Diseases to protect people from various diseases and health emergencies such as infectious diseases. The international agreement outlines a commitment to enhance infectious disease preparedness at both institutions.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishes a structured collaboration between both institutions to address emerging infectious diseases effectively. The MoU outlines protocols for information and resource sharing, education and training initiatives, as well as clinical and research collaboration. The institutions will partner on special pathogen preparedness strategies, research publications, and clinical and operational protocols, as well as joint research projects on high-consequence infectious diseases, protocol development for emergency response, and shared expertise in patient management and containment strategies.
The MoU with JIHS represents Bellevue Hospital’s second international agreement, following the signing of a partnership with South Korea’s National Medical Center in April.
“This collaboration between Bellevue Hospital and the Japan Institute for Health Security represents another crucial step in our ability to address emerging health threats around the world,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Chief Executive Officer Dr. Eric Wei.
“We look forward to this high-level international collaboration between Bellevue and top infectious disease leaders at JIHS. This global partnership enables us to expand the expertise we have developed over the last decade, and enhances our almost 300-year history of treating infectious diseases.”
“This agreement with the Japan Institute of Health Security strengthens a shared commitment to advancing clinical excellence and operational readiness in the face of infectious disease threats,” said Dr. Vikramjit Mukherjee, Director of the Special Pathogens Program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “As a national leader in special pathogens preparedness, Bellevue is proud to collaborate with JIHS to exchange expertise, develop response protocols, and contribute to a more resilient and connected global health security landscape.”
“This Memorandum of Understanding represents a significant milestone in our shared commitment to enhancing health security both nationally and globally,” said Dr. Norio Ohmagari, Director, Department of Infectious Disease Clinical Policy, Bureau of Health Security and Management, Japan Institute for Health Security. “Through the strategic partnership between NYC Health Bellevue and Japan Institute for Health Security, we are reinforcing our collective capability to respond effectively to health emergencies, including emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and disasters. Together, we aspire to build a healthier, safer, and more resilient world for all.”
The Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS) was established through the merger of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases (NIID) and the National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM). The JIHS will serve as a world-class Integrated Science Center for Infectious Diseases to protect people from various diseases and health emergencies such as infectious diseases. The JIHS will also serve as a scientific advisory body during infectious disease crises, providing scientific knowledge with the Japanese government including the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The mission of the JIHS is to contribute to the creation of a resilient and secure society through the implementation of research and development on infectious diseases and other diseases, as well as the provision of medical care.
Bellevue Hospital, the oldest public hospital in the United States, has a longstanding legacy in infectious disease management and is a recognized leader within the National Special Pathogen System (NSPS)—a nationwide, tiered network of care ranging from frontline facilities to advanced treatment centers. Bellevue’s Special Pathogens Program serves as the designated Level 1 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC) for HHS Region 2, which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. RESPTCs act as resource hubs, providing highly specialized care for patients suspected of, or infected by, special pathogens such as Ebola, mpox, or H5N1 bird flu.
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About Japan Institute for Health Security
The Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS) was established through the merger of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases (NIID) and the National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM). The JIHS will serve as a world-class Integrated Science Center for Infectious Diseases to protect people from various diseases and health emergencies such as infectious diseases. The JIHS will also serve as a scientific advisory body during infectious disease crises, providing scientific knowledge with the Japanese government including the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The mission of the JIHS is to contribute to the creation of a resilient and secure society through the implementation of R&D on infectious diseases and other diseases, as well as the provision of medical care. For more information visit jihs.go.jp.
About NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue is America’s oldest public hospital, established in 1736. Affiliated with the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the 851-bed hospital is a major referral center for highly complex cases, with 6,000 employees including highly skilled, interdisciplinary clinical staff. The hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center and annually it sees about 103,000 emergency room visits, and more than 520,000 outpatient visits. Clinical centers of excellence include: Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care; Cardiovascular Services; Bariatric Surgery; Designated Regional Perinatal Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Children’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program; and Cancer Services. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/bellevue and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
