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WHO Global Research and Innovation Forum: 2019-nCoV Emergency
February 11, 2020 - February 12, 2020
The World Health Organization will host a Global research and innovation forum 11-12 February in Geneva to mobilize international action in response to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) emergency.
The event is organized in collaboration with the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GLOPID-R), and brings together key players including leading scientists as well as public health agencies, ministries of health and research funders pursuing 2019-nCoV critical research and the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, among other innovations.
The WHO R&D Blueprint is a global strategy and preparedness plan that allows the rapid activation of
R&D activities during epidemics. Its aim is to fast-track the availability of effective tests, vaccines and
medicines that can be used to save lives and avert large scale crisis.
The global imperative for research is to maintain a high-level discussion platform which enables
consensus on strategic directions, nurtures scientific collaborations and, supports optimal and rapid
research to address crucial gaps, without duplication of efforts.
Understanding the disease, its reservoirs, its transmission, its clinical severity and developing effective
counter measures is critical for the control of the outbreak, the reduction of related mortality and
minimization of economic impact.
Purpose
To enable identification of key knowledge gaps, and research priorities and thereby accelerate the
generation of critical scientific information and the most needed medical products to contribute to
the control the 2019-nCoV emergency.
Expected outcome
A research roadmap with clearly defined priorities and governance framework addressing each of
several thematic areas will be considered at the meeting, namely: virus, diagnostics; natural history
and transmission; clinical; therapeutics; vaccines; ethics; regulatory science; animal health;
data/samples analysis and sharing and; social sciences.
Attendees
The participants will include diverse multi-disciplinary teams:
• Member States representatives from countries with cases
• Representatives from the scientific community and public health agencies
• Regulatory experts
• Bioethicists with expertise in emergencies
• Major funders of research
WHO is delighted to welcome y