Dr. Tomoya Saito is a public health crisis management expert specializing in the interface between health and security. He is a senior leader at the newly established Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS), where he oversees intelligence and emergency operations.

With over two decades of hands-on experience, Dr. Saito has managed major public health emergencies including the Great East Japan Earthquake and Fukushima nuclear accident (2011), the emergence of avian influenza A/H7N9 and SFTS, and the COVID-19 pandemic, during which he served on the MHLW COVID-19 Advisory Board, briefing the Prime Minister.

He serves on expert committees of the Government of Japan and the World Health Organization (WHO), including IHR Review Committees and Emergency Committees, and has contributed to preparedness for major international mass gatherings such as the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.