GloPID-R 2017 General Assembly, Seoul

Preparation is what’s needed for research funders to mobilize funds quickly when the WHO announces the next public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

Increasing global preparedness will be the main theme at the Global Collaboration Research for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R) fifth annual General Assembly in Seoul, South Korea on March 9-10, 2017.

GloPID-R brings together 26 major research funders to facilitate an effective research response within 48 hours of a significant outbreak with pandemic potential to save lives and economies worldwide.

Since its inception, GloPID-R has mobilized to respond to infectious diseases such as the Zika virus, yellow fever and MERS.  The meeting’s goal will be to discuss the lessons learned from these outbreaks and use that information as the platform to decide on future activities.

Line Matthiessen, GloPID-R Chair from the European Commission will preside over the meeting and will present on the findings from the “GloPID-R Zika Virus Research Workshop,” which took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil from November 30 – December 2, 2016.  This unprecedented Zika workshop assembled scientists, whose research was funded by GloPID-R members, to facilitate knowledge exchange and data sharing.

At this year’s General Assembly, the members will be presented the final GloPID-R Response Plan and will vote to approve it. The Response Plan’s goal is to facilitate a prompt and coordinated response by funders.  It includes a plan for the rapid identification of research needs as well as clarity on what the triggers should be.

Notable presentations and presenters:

• MERS, Eung-Soo Hwang, GloPID-R Vice Chair, National Research Foundation of Korea
• Yellow Fever Update, Josie Golding, Chair of Yellow Fever Working Group, Wellcome Trust
• Guidelines for Data Sharing, Katherine Littler, Chair of Data Sharing Working Group, Wellcome Trust
• Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) Opinion on the GloPID-R Strategic Agenda, Marion Koopmans, Chair of the SAB, Erasmus

The Assembly will be hosted by the Global Center for Infectious Diseases (GCID) Seoul National University College of Medicine, which is supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP) Korea.