On May 5, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially announced the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The concerted global efforts of accelerated scientific research provided the world with a comprehensive set of medical and non-medical countermeasures to mitigate and prevent severe illnesses caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
While COVID-19 will remain a critical area for future research, it is time to extend the focus on any pathogen of epidemic or pandemic threat, including a future Pathogen X.
The October 2023 Global Research and Innovation Forum presents an occasion to reflect on progress and discuss future strategies and priorities geared towards augmenting the impact of research on health emergency readiness and effective responses against both outbreaks and pandemics. The forum, spanned across two half-day sessions, will serve as a nexus for these crucial discussions.
The Forum will begin with keynote addresses from
- Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (WHO Director-General)
- Dr. Michael J Ryan (Executive Director WHO Health Emergencies Programme)
Spanning two half-day sessions, this forum is an open webinar to join robust scientific discussions aimed towards augmenting the impact of research in the realm of health emergency preparedness an addressing outbreaks and pandemics.
The agenda will be posted shortly and will include over 40 presentations from distinguished experts covering the following Forum Sessions
- Session 1: Gearing up research and innovation readiness: what makes the difference? - an exploration of the pivotal elements that lead to effective research and innovative solutions during health crises.
- Session 2: Can innovation help improve the standard of clinical care everywhere? - delve into the role of innovation in enhancing global clinical care standards and ensuring equitable care.
- Session 3: What research to develop innovations to prevent/control infection at primary healthcare level? - identifying research areas pivotal for infection control at the grassroots healthcare level.
- Session 4: Community-centered readiness and response to health emergencies: can evidence turn the tide? - evaluating the role of community-centered strategies and their evidence-based impacts during health emergencies.
- Session 5: Leveraging innovative technologies in the public health intelligence space and beyond - discover the latest technological innovations that bolster public health intelligence and thei potential future implications.
- Session 6: Trust and Pandemic Preparedness: why research in this area is important? - Understand the significance of trust in pandemic preparedness and response, and the research needed to bolster it.
- Session 7: Research to generate critical evidence to inform decisions on public health and social measures - Discussing the importance of evidence-based research to guide public health strategies and social interventions.
- Session 8: Pandemic communication and resilience: what research is needed? - Highlighting the research areas that facilitate effective communication and foster resilience during pandemics.
- Session 9: Human-animal-environment interfaces in a changing world: how to mitigate emerging risks? - Addressing the triad of human, animal, and environment interfaces and the strategies to minimize emerging health risks.
- Session 10: How can an improved understanding of the ecology and evolution of pathogens help us? - Exploring how insights into pathogen ecology and evolution can be harnessed for better health emergency preparedness.
- Session 11: What research approaches to accelerate evaluation and access to vaccines? - Identifying robust research methodologies to fast-track vaccine evaluations and access.
- Session 12: What research approaches to accelerate evaluation and access to therapeutics? - Discussing cutting-edge research methodologies for quicker therapeutic evaluations and distribution.
- Session 13: Clinical trials: innovative approaches for simple and collaborative trials? - Exploring novel clinical trial methodologies that promote simplicity and collaborative research efforts.
- Session 14: The pandemic as a catalyst for innovation: a fit for purpose regulatory and ethics framework
- Session 15: Reflecting on the pandemic's role in driving innovation and establishing a congruent regulatory and ethical framework.