The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have jointly urged researchers and governments to broaden and accelerate global research efforts in preparation for future pandemics. The call to action was made at the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit 2024, emphasizing the need to focus not only on individual pathogens but on entire families of pathogens that pose potential risks to human health.
The organizations advocate for a proactive approach using prototype pathogens as models to enhance understanding across pathogen families. This strategy aims to develop adaptable knowledge, tools, and countermeasures that can be swiftly applied to emerging threats, thereby improving global pandemic readiness.
A report from the WHO R&D Blueprint for Epidemics, presented at the summit, highlighted the importance of expanding research beyond well-known pathogens to include lesser-studied ones, especially in regions with high biodiversity and limited resources. The report used a metaphor comparing researchers to people searching for lost keys under a streetlight, with the streetlight representing well-studied pathogens. By exploring prototype pathogens, the “lighted area” of knowledge can be expanded, shedding light on pathogen families that may currently be overlooked.
Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, endorsed the WHO’s scientific framework, describing it as a critical shift in global countermeasure development. This new framework aims to coordinate research on entire pathogen families, enhancing the world’s ability to respond rapidly to unforeseen variants, emerging pathogens, zoonotic spillovers, and unknown threats, often referred to as “pathogen X.”
The prioritization work behind the report involved over 200 scientists from more than 50 countries, who reviewed the scientific evidence on 28 virus families and one core group of bacteria, totaling 1652 pathogens. The assessment considered factors such as transmission patterns, virulence, and the availability of diagnostic tests, vaccines, and treatments.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized the inevitability of future pandemics and the critical role of scientific and political commitment in mitigating their impacts. He highlighted the need for a global effort to expand knowledge about the myriad pathogens surrounding humanity.
To support this initiative, WHO plans to establish a Collaborative Open Research Consortium (CORC) for each pathogen family. These CORCs will include a WHO Collaborating Centre as a central hub, facilitating collaboration among researchers, developers, funders, regulators, and trial experts worldwide. The aim is to foster equitable research participation, particularly from regions where pathogens are likely to emerge.
