CEPI and WHO Urge Accelerated Global Research to Prepare for Future Pandemics

The report’s development involved over 200 scientists from more than 50 countries, evaluating 28 virus families and one core group of bacteria, encompassing 1,652 pathogens.

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have called for an intensified global effort to prepare for the next pandemic. At the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, both organizations emphasized the need to expand research efforts to cover entire families of pathogens, not just those currently deemed high-risk.

The newly issued report by the WHO R&D Blueprint for Epidemics advocates for a broader research strategy. This approach suggests using prototype pathogens as guides to build comprehensive knowledge about entire pathogen families, rather than focusing solely on individual pathogens. The goal is to create versatile tools and countermeasures that can be quickly adapted to new threats.

The report’s authors illustrated their recommendations with a metaphor: scientists searching for lost keys on a street where the light only illuminates well-known pathogens. By studying prototype pathogens, researchers can extend the illuminated area to uncover and understand pathogens that are currently less well-known. This approach aims to address gaps in monitoring, particularly in resource-scarce settings with high biodiversity, where novel pathogens may emerge but where infrastructure for comprehensive research is lacking.

Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, highlighted the importance of this updated framework: “WHO’s scientific framework for epidemic and pandemic research preparedness is a crucial shift in our approach to developing countermeasures. It will guide research into entire pathogen families and enhance our ability to respond to emerging threats and unforeseen variants.”

The report’s development involved over 200 scientists from more than 50 countries, evaluating 28 virus families and one core group of bacteria, encompassing 1,652 pathogens. The assessment considered factors such as transmission patterns, virulence, and the availability of diagnostic tools, vaccines, and treatments.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized the urgency of the matter: “The next pandemic is not a question of if, but when. We need a combined effort of science and political resolve to prepare effectively. Advancing our understanding of the myriad pathogens around us requires global collaboration.”

To support this initiative, WHO is establishing Collaborative Open Research Consortia (CORCs) for each pathogen family. These consortia will involve researchers, developers, funders, and regulators from around the world, particularly from regions where these pathogens are likely to circulate. Each CORC will be led by a WHO Collaborating Centre to foster greater collaboration and equitable participation in pandemic preparedness research.