A Coordinated Global Research Roadmap

Overview

On 11-12 February 2020, WHO, in collaboration with the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response (GLOPID-R) – an international network of funders to facilitate coordination and information sharing, organized a Global Forum on research and innovation for COVID-19 (‘Global Research Forum’).

The two-day meeting was convened by WHO, using the R&D Blueprint strategy as a framework. This is a strategy which aims to coordinate and accelerate global research work to target diseases that threaten humanity, develop diagnostics, medicines and vaccines fast, and promptly respond to outbreaks thereby preventing epidemics.

The goals of the meeting were two-fold:

Goal 1 (immediate priorities): To accelerate research that can contribute to containing the spread of this epidemic and facilitate that those affected receive optimal care; while integrating innovation fully within each thematic research area.

Goal 2 (mid-long term): To support research priorities in a way that leads to the development of global research platforms, aiding preparedness for the next unforeseen epidemic and encouraging accelerated research, development and equitable access, based on public health needs, to diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.