Outlines a comprehensive health strategy to enhance global preparedness for epidemics and pandemics. It emphasizes a shift from focusing on individual pathogens to a broader, family-based approach, aiming to address known and unknown threats effectively.

Key Highlights

• Family-Based Approach: Focuses on researching entire families of pathogens rather than individuals. This strategy leverages genetic similarities within pathogen families to develop adaptable medical countermeasures (MCMs) to address multiple threats.
• Prototype Pathogens and Pathogen X:
  • Prototype Pathogens: These are representative pathogens from high-risk families used as models for research and development. They enable the creation of tools and treatments applicable to other pathogens within the same family.
  • Pathogen X: A placeholder for unknown future threats, emphasizing the need for proactive surveillance and flexible research strategies to prepare for unforeseen pandemics.
• Updated Priority Pathogen List: The WHO’s 2024 list includes 28 viral families and one core bacterial group, covering 1,652 pathogens—new additions like dengue, influenza A, and mpox reflect their growing threat levels. The list also highlights persistent risks like the Nipah virus, Ebola, and antimicrobial-resistant bacterial pathogens.
• Global Collaboration: Over 200 scientists from 50+ countries contributed to the prioritization process. The report underscores the importance of international cooperation in research, surveillance, and development of diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments.

Recommendations

1. Proactive Research: Invest in basic and translational research targeting pathogen families to fill knowledge gaps and develop broadly applicable MCMs.
2. Enhanced Surveillance: Strengthen global systems to detect emerging threats early, including zoonotic spillovers.
3. Capacity Building: Support low- and middle-income countries in developing infrastructure for outbreak response and research.
4. Decentralized Efforts: Promote regional collaboration to address specific health threats effectively.

Overview

Identifying priorities using the Pathogen Family approach

Outlines a systematic method to prioritize pathogens based on their potential to cause epidemics or pandemics. This structured approach aims to enhance global preparedness and response capabilities by focusing on entire families of pathogens rather than individual pathogens alone, facilitating a more comprehensive understanding of emerging infectious disease risks.

1. Expert Involvement: The WHO Secretariat contacted potential chairpersons and experts from various global regions to form Family Expert Groups (FEGs) for different pathogen families. These experts were selected based on their scientific expertise and the need for gender and regional balance.
2. Initial Pathogen List: The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) recommendations created a comprehensive list of viral families. Experts within each FEG reviewed this list and eliminated pathogens with very low or no epidemic potential, documenting their reasons for elimination.
3. Questionnaire Development: Each FEG member independently completed an online questionnaire regarding the remaining pathogens. This questionnaire was tested with input from global experts to ensure its effectiveness in assessing current knowledge about the pathogens.
4. Technical Assessment: The questionnaire included technical questions to evaluate the knowledge gaps and risks associated with each pathogen, which would inform future research and development priorities.
5. Focus on Pandemic Potential: The process emphasized identifying pathogens with the potential for Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC) or pandemic potential, thereby guiding research and development efforts towards the most pressing threats.

R for RESEARCH for all Families

Emphasizes the importance of research in enhancing global preparedness for epidemics and pandemics. It advocates for a comprehensive and collaborative research approach to preparing for and responding to potential public health emergencies.

1. Independent Family Expert Groups (FEGs): Highlights the role of FEGs in examining evidence related to various pathogen families. These groups assess scientific knowledge gaps and prioritize research needs to address public health concerns effectively.
2. Comprehensive Research Priorities: Experts identified a broad range of research priorities to advance the development of medical countermeasures (MCMs). This includes targeted basic research, translational research, and the establishment of robust clinical trial capabilities.
3. Collaborative Research Efforts: Underscores the necessity of collaborative research initiatives that involve multiple stakeholders, including scientists, public health officials, and industry partners. This collaboration is crucial for sharing knowledge and resources to tackle emerging threats.
4. Pathogen Discovery and Surveillance: Proactive pathogen discovery and surveillance are emphasized as essential components of research efforts. This involves identifying and monitoring pathogens that could pose future risks to public health.
5. Global R&D Roadmaps: Discusses the development of Global R&D and Innovation Roadmaps for each pathogen family. These roadmaps outline knowledge gaps and research priorities, serving as strategic blueprints to guide research initiatives.
6. Target Product Profiles (TPPs): Mentions the creation of Family-specific TPPs for MCMs, which will help direct research towards developing vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics that can be applied across related pathogens.

D for DEVELOPMENT of MCMs against known threats

Focuses on the strategies and actions necessary to develop medical countermeasures (MCMs) to combat known infectious disease threats. It advocates for a proactive and collaborative approach to developing MCMs against known threats, ensuring that public health systems are better prepared to respond to infectious disease outbreaks.

1. Targeting Known Threats: Emphasizes the importance of developing MCMs specifically aimed at pathogens identified as significant threats to public health. The goal is to ensure that effective vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics are available for these known pathogens.
2. Research and Development (R&D) Priorities: Outlines the need to prioritize R&D efforts based on epidemiological data and the potential impact of various pathogens. This prioritization helps allocate resources effectively to the most pressing health threats.
3. Collaboration and Coordination: Highlights the necessity of cooperation among various stakeholders, including governments, research institutions, and the private sector. Coordinated efforts are essential to streamlining the development process and sharing knowledge and resources.
4. Regulatory Considerations: Discusses the importance of understanding regulatory pathways for MCMs, which can influence the speed and efficiency of product development. Engaging with regulatory bodies early in the development process is crucial for navigating these pathways successfully.
5. Clinical Trials and Evaluation: Stresses the need for robust clinical trial capabilities to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MCMs. This includes establishing frameworks for conducting trials in diverse settings and populations to ensure comprehensive data collection.
6. Sustainability and Accessibility: Addresses the importance of ensuring that developed MCMs are practical but also accessible and affordable for populations at risk. This involves considering economic models and funding mechanisms that support sustainable development and distribution of MCMs.

D+ for DEVELOPMENT of MCMs for Prototype Pathogens

Focuses on the strategic development of medical countermeasures (MCMs) specifically for prototype pathogens with significant epidemic or pandemic potential. It advocates for a focused and strategic approach to developing MCMs for prototype pathogens, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, generalizability, and sustained investment in research and development efforts.

1. Prototype Pathogen Selection: Explains that prototype pathogens are selected based on their potential to serve as models for understanding and developing MCMs for related pathogens within the same family. This approach allows for the generation of generalizable knowledge that can expedite the development of countermeasures.
2. Guiding Research and Development: The development of MCMs for these prototype pathogens is intended to fill knowledge gaps and inform the design of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics for other pathogens in the same family. This strategy aims to leverage existing research to enhance preparedness for future outbreaks.
3. Focus on Generalizability: Emphasis is placed on creating MCMs that can induce immune responses effective against multiple pathogens within a family. This generalizability is crucial for maximizing the protective reactions and ensuring that countermeasures can rapidly adapt to emerging threats.
4. Clinical Development Pipeline: Highlights the importance of monitoring the clinical development pipeline for candidate MCMs. This involves tracking the progress of promising products through various phases of clinical trials to ensure timely evaluation and deployment during outbreaks.
5. Funding and Support: Discusses the need for sustained funding and support for developing MCMs for prototype pathogens, even when immediate public health needs may not be apparent. This long-term investment is essential for maintaining readiness against potential future threats.
6. Regulatory Pathways: Addresses the importance of understanding regulatory pathways for prototype pathogen MCMs, which can facilitate faster approval processes and ensure that effective products are available when needed.

R&D – PREPARING FOR THE INEVITABLE

Emphasizes the critical importance of proactive research and development efforts to prepare for future epidemics and pandemics. It advocates for a forward-thinking, collaborative approach that enhances global preparedness and ensures effective countermeasures will be available when needed.

1. Anticipating Future Threats: Underscores the importance of preparing for inevitable public health emergencies by investing in R&D that addresses known and unknown pathogens. This includes anticipating emerging threats and developing strategies to respond effectively.
2. Focus on Pathogen Families: Advocates prioritizing research on entire pathogen families rather than individual pathogens. This broader approach enhances the ability to respond to unforeseen variants and zoonotic transmissions, thereby improving overall pandemic preparedness.
3. Global Collaboration: Highlights the need for international cooperation in R&D efforts. Collaborative initiatives among countries, research institutions, and industry stakeholders are essential for sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices to tackle emerging health threats.
4. Development of Roadmaps: The creation of comprehensive R&D roadmaps for each pathogen family is discussed. These roadmaps identify knowledge gaps, research priorities, and strategic initiatives necessary for effective pandemic preparedness and response.
5. Integration of Research into Response: Emphasizes the importance of integrating research into outbreak and pandemic response efforts. This integration ensures that scientific findings can be rapidly translated into actionable strategies during health emergencies.
6. Target Product Profiles (TPPs): Mentions the development of Family-specific TPPs for medical countermeasures, which guide research toward creating vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics applicable to related pathogens.

A GLOBAL AND A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Discusses the importance of addressing infectious disease threats through global and regional strategies. It advocates for a dual approach combining global coordination with regional specificity to enhance preparedness and response capabilities against contagious diseases.

1. Global Coordination: Emphasizes the need for a coordinated global response to infectious disease threats. It highlights that pandemics do not respect borders; thus, international collaboration is essential for effective surveillance, research, and response efforts.
2. Regional Adaptation: While a global approach is crucial, it recognizes the importance of tailoring strategies to regional contexts. Different regions may face unique health challenges and pathogen profiles, necessitating localized responses considering specific epidemiological data and healthcare infrastructure.
3. Strengthening Regional Capacities: Advocates for strengthening regional research, development, and public health response capacities. This includes enhancing local laboratories, surveillance systems, and healthcare services to better prepare for and respond to outbreaks.
4. Sharing Knowledge and Resources: Discusses the importance of sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices among countries and regions. Collaborative networks can facilitate the exchange of information and support the development of effective countermeasures.
5. Equity in Access: Highlights the need for equitable access to medical countermeasures and healthcare resources across regions. Ensuring all countries, especially low—and middle-income nations, have access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics is critical for global health security.
6. Policy and Governance: Touches on the role of policy and governance in shaping effective responses to infectious disease threats. Strong leadership and clear guidelines are necessary to guide collaborative efforts and allocate resources effectively.

KEY COLLABORATIVE GLOBAL RESEARCH ACTIONS ACROSS FAMILIES AND PATHOGENS

Outlines critical strategies to enhance global research collaboration in addressing infectious disease threats. It promotes a comprehensive approach to studying contagious diseases worldwide to strengthen preparedness and response through knowledge and resource sharing.

1. Collaborative Framework: Emphasizes establishing a cooperative framework that connects researchers, policymakers, and public health officials across different countries and regions. This framework aims to facilitate coordinated research efforts on priority pathogens and families.
2. Focus on Pathogen Families: Advocates for research initiatives targeting entire families of pathogens rather than isolated ones. This approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of related diseases and enhances the development of broad-spectrum medical countermeasures.
3. Research Consortia: Discusses the formation of Collaborative Open Research Consortia (CORCs) for each priority pathogen family. These consortia are designed to leverage global scientific expertise and resources, promoting equitable participation from researchers in high-, middle-, and low-income countries.
4. Targeted Research Priorities: Identifies specific research priorities, including assessing pathogen diversity, understanding zoonotic spill-over events, and promoting basic research that informs the development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
5. Data Sharing and Transparency: Highlights the importance of data sharing and transparency in research efforts. Collaborative initiatives should prioritize open access to data and findings to accelerate research and enhance collective knowledge.
6. Sustained Funding and Support: Stresses the need for sustained funding and support for collaborative research initiatives. Long-term investment is crucial for maintaining momentum in research and ensuring that effective countermeasures can be developed and deployed on time.
7. Integration with Public Health: Emphasizes integrating research findings into public health strategies and responses. Ensuring that scientific research informs policy and practice is vital for effective outbreak preparedness and response.

Henceforth. Moreover. Thus. Nonetheless. Nevertheless. Henceforth. Moreover. Thus. Nonetheless. Nevertheless.