In August 2024 WHO and CEPI shared a joint release calling on researchers and governments to “strengthen and accelerate” global research in preparation for the next pandemic. The statement highlights the importance of extensive research across “entire families” of pathogens that can infect humans, regardless of perceived pandemic risk, as well as a focus on individual pathogens. A report issued at the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit 2024 in Brazil encourages the development of broad capabilities for rapid adaptation to emerging threats.
Pathogen prioritisation: a framework
The WHO R&D Blueprint for Epidemics’ primary goal is the accelerated development of medical countermeasures (MCM) and making these countermeasures available for diseases with epidemic and pandemic potential. It serves as a “global platform for research and development collaboration”. Central to the efforts is the concept of “pathogen prioritisation”.
The latest report outlines the results of a global pathogen prioritisation process with over 200 scientists from more than 50 countries. They evaluated the evidence related to 28 viral families and one core group of bacteria; this encompassed 1,652 pathogens.
“This process emphasised the imperative nature of collaborative efforts to attain global resilience against epidemics and pandemics.”
The report states that the approach encourages a focus on research of viral and bacterial families, rather than “isolated pathogens”, and emphasises the “critical necessity for investments in research, development, and innovation on an international scale”.
The ‘streetlight effect’
The report introduces a metaphor known as the ‘streetlight effect’, which describes looking for lost keys under a streetlamp to illustrate natural biases in research; this implies that we tend to search “where it is easiest”, rather than where the “actual answers might lie”. In this context, the area that is lit by the streetlamp represents Priority Pathogens, which are well-studied with plenty of data. The light area can be expanded by researching the Prototype Pathogens, representative viruses within a viral family that can be used as “pathfinders” to generate evidence and fill knowledge gaps with applications across the family.
Outside the illuminated area are the “Dark Areas”, including “under-monitored and under-studied” regions. These areas could harbour novel pathogens, but a lack of infrastructure and resources hinders comprehensive research. Thus, the proposed approach of research across all families, regardless of pandemic potential, could mitigate the risk of overlooking potential pandemic pathogens.
CORC
WHO is engaging research institutions across the world to establish a Collaborative Open Research Consortium (CORC) for pathogen families. Each family will have a WHO Collaborating Centre acting as a research hub. These CORCs will engage researchers, developers, funders, regulators, trial experts, and other stakeholders to promote “greater research collaboration and equitable participation”, especially in places where the pathogens are known to or highly likely to circulate.
Not if, but when
Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, described the scientific framework for epidemic and pandemic research preparedness as a “vital shift in how the world approaches countermeasure development”. He emphasised that CEPI “strongly” supports this step.
“This framework will help steer and coordinate research into entire pathogen families, a strategy that aims to bolster the world’s ability to swiftly respond to unforeseen variants, emerging pathogens, zoonotic spillover, and unknown threats referred to as pathogen X.”
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, demands a “combination of science and political resolve” in preparation for the next pandemic.
“History teaches us that the next pandemic is a matter of when, not if. It also teaches us the importance of science and political resolve in blunting its impact.”
The efforts to advance pathogen knowledge require participation of “scientists from every country”.
Pandemic preparedness and pathogen research remain central to discussions at the Congress in Barcelona, so do get your tickets to join us for these sessions in October, and don’t forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletters for global health insights.
