November 2024 Notes From The Board

As the global community navigates three ongoing Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) emergencies—clade 1 mpox, H5N1, and Marburg virus—we are reminded of the vital role that GloPID-R plays in research preparedness and response. This newsletter highlights just a fraction of the research efforts underway to combat these outbreaks and prepare for future challenges.

We extend our gratitude to WHO and USG HHS for co-hosting this year’s General Assembly. Our open session will focus on WHO’s Health Emergencies R&D Blueprint and its new pathogen prioritisation approach, emphasising the importance of global collaboration. In light of the evolving EID landscape and the significant changes in preparedness and response since GloPID-R’s inception nearly a decade ago in 2015, the board has recommended a strategic refresh, which will be discussed further during the General Assembly.

We are also looking forward to updates on GRIPP, GloPID-R’s inaugural joint funding call, which aligns with WHO’s efforts to enhance global research capacities.

Lastly, we want to share some staffing changes at the GloPID-R Secretariat based in Berlin, Germany: Dr Hans Hagen, Scientific and Advocacy Director has decided to retire, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours. Margit Baring will be leading the Secretariat as Managing Director. We also welcome our new Media Manager Maheen Ghani, Communication and Engagement Manager Noopur Bhardwaj, and Scientific Program Manager Julie Cronjaeger.

If you’re interested in submitting content for future newsletters, please reach out to Maheen at maheen.ghani@charite.de.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement, and enjoy reading the Newsletter!