GLOPID-R

Newsletter

November 2019

A revised strategy for the next GloPID-R phase

Over several years, GloPID-R has succeeded in bringing together a large network of funders with a common interest in research preparedness and response to infectious disease outbreaks. Previous and current outbreaks continue to advance and deepen the experience of GloPID-R Members, of other networks and of research initiatives. All these stakeholders remain committed to the quick deployment of funds for research, for supporting health systems and to preparing research priorities for future epidemics.

As the need for stronger research preparedness becomes increasingly clear, GloPID-R has revised its strategy to enhance its impact and further strengthen cooperation between GloPID-R members. Collaboration between members before, during and after an outbreak, is key to supporting national priorities and research plans and this next strategic phase includes a fine-tuning of Member participation.

As we know, research takes time to plan, invest and implement. Preparedness is a priority objective for GloPID-R and as such, continuing to work closely with WHO is key to reinforcing our effectiveness in this area. By identifying concrete actions and deliverables in coordination with WHO, and defining a working model for collaboration, we will strengthen the complementarity of stakeholders and avoid duplication of resources.

GloPID-R’s reach and impact rely on how well we communicate our action and priorities. With the revised strategy, visibility of the alliance and its members will be reinforced, as will the capacity for influence of the network.

On December 17th and 18th in London, GloPID-R will hold a meeting on finding synergies between the GloPID-R Clinical Trial Network and GloPID-R member funded cohorts on emerging diseases to improve collaboration in the event of an emergency epidemic or respiratory pandemic. Specifically, this frontiers meeting will explore the feasibility of scaling up clinical research networks and emerging pathogen cohort studies in the event of an epidemic, using technologies that enable timely data collection, analysis and dissemination. Options for sustaining these networks and cohorts in order to support strategic research capacity, especially in global regions prone to and vulnerable to emerging epidemics, will be explored.

The current Ebola outbreak in DRC continues to highlight the importance of preparedness and response. Despite public mistrust and conflict affecting response in parts of the region, new tools, including vaccines, have helped contain the outbreak, the second worst ever in history. Vaccinations with the Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo vaccine regimen, developed by J&J, have now started in Goma, through a clinical trial funded by an international consortium, which includes GloPID-R observer CEPI and other GloPID-R members. Although the priority remains the operational response to the outbreak, GloPID-R is maintaining regular contact with WHO to be informed and aware of priority research gaps and needs. Outbreaks like Ebola expose the challenges and issues, including political, regulatory and logistic ones, that still need to be addressed on a mid- and long-term perspective. Nevertheless, the Chairs, supported by the Secretariat, aim to reinforce the impact of the GloPID-R alliance, through added-value projects and through a structure that will reinforce the ownership and participation of its Members, to further develop shared principles and policies addressing research preparedness and response.

Best regards,

Barbara Kerstiëns
GloPID-R Vice Chair

GloPID-R Activities

GloPID-R Frontiers Meeting, London

The GloPID-R Frontiers Meeting on finding synergies between the GloPID-R Clinical Trial Networks and Emerging Pathogen Cohorts for Epidemic Research, Preparedness and Response will take place in London on December 17 and 18, 2019.

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GloPID-R General Assembly to take place in London in April 2020

GloPID-R General Assembly to take place in London in April 2020
GloPID-R will hold its 8th General Assembly on April 29 and 30, 2020 in London. The event will be hosted by Wellcome Trust, a valued and committed member of the initiative.

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REACTing Symposium on Emerging Infectious Diseases

Coordinated by Inserm’s I3M Institute, a GloPID-R member, REACTing held its first Symposium on Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France on November 21, 2019.

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GloPID-R Member Activities

Nature publishes article by key GloPID-R participants

A group of scientists, under the leadership of GloPID-R Vice-Chair Jeremy Farrar (Wellcome Trust) and including GloPID-R scientific advisor, Marion Koopmans (Erasmus MC), has published an article in the prestigious journal Nature.

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Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)

The first public agency to participate in BARDA from outside the US.

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Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)

GloPID-R observer CEPI to co-host Nipah Virus International Conference, Singapore, December 9-10, 2019.

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Othe News

Infectious Diseases: Global Challenges and Future Strategies

Over 400 scientists and physicians came together at the Joint Annual Meeting of the German Society of Infectious Diseases (DGI) and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), which took place in in Bad Nauheim from 21 to 23 November, 2019.

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Funding Calls

Clinical Research and Product Development Fellowships (CRDF) – Joint call with WHO/TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases 2019

  • Call budget: € 1.5 million
  • Call budget: €100,000
  • Open date: October 30, 2019
  • Close date: February 28, 2020

The purpose of this joint call for proposals is to provide funding to actions that aim to support researchers and key members of clinical trial research teams from LMICs to acquire specific skills in clinical research and development through placements in academic affiliated research organisations, CROs, pharmaceutical companies and PDPs.

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ERINHA-Advance TransNational Access Call

A TransNational Access Call for proposals to offer scientists free of charge transnational access (TNA) to ERINHA’s full catalog of services, including access to cutting edge high containment facilities.

  • Close date: December 15, 2019

The call is funded under the EU H2020 ERINHA-Advance project.

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TRANSVAC’s 7th call for TransNational Access proposals

TRANSVAC is a collaborative infrastructure project funded by the European Commission (EC), initially under the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) and currently under Horizon 2020. The project is a joint effort of leading European groups working in the field of vaccine development and is coordinated by the European Vaccine Initiative (EVI). TRANSVAC is designed to accelerate vaccine development by enhancing European vaccine research and training, and increase sustainability of EC vaccine projects by implementing a permanent research infrastructure for early vaccine development.

  • Open date: October 15, 2019
  • Close date: December 15, 2019

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Upcoming Events

3rd International Conference on Zika Virus and Aedes related Infections

February 13-16, 2020
Washington D.C., USA

19th International Congress on Infectious Diseases International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID)

February 20-23, 2020
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

International Conference on Reemerging Infectious Diseases

March 18–20, 2020
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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The GloPID-R Secretariat is a project which receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101094188.