>

CEPI and WHO Call for Broadened Research Strategy to Prepare for Future Pandemics

Research crucial for developing effective countermeasures to emerging threats

Call to action issued at Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit

Geneva, August 6, 2024 – The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) today called on researchers and countries around the world to broaden their research strategies to better prepare for future pandemics.

The call was made at the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where CEPI and WHO presented a new framework to guide and coordinate research efforts. The framework emphasizes the importance of investing in early-stage research, developing new technologies, and strengthening surveillance systems.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that we need to be better prepared for the next global health emergency,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “This framework will help us to coordinate our efforts and ensure that we are investing in the research that is most likely to save lives and prevent future pandemics.”

CEPI and WHO are calling on researchers to focus their efforts on developing new vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments for emerging infectious diseases. They are also urging countries to invest in strengthening their surveillance systems and public health infrastructure.

“We need to be able to detect and respond to new pandemics quickly and effectively,” said Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI. “This framework will help us to do that by providing a clear roadmap for research and development.”

The Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit is a key event in the global health calendar. It brings together leaders from governments, academia, and the private sector to discuss the latest developments in pandemic preparedness and response.