The need for global R&D coordination for infectious diseases with epidemic potential.

The relentless increase of public health crises caused by emergent, often life-threatening infectious diseases—eg, Nipah virus infection, severe acute respiratory syndrome, avian influenza, Middle East respiratory syndrome, Ebola virus disease, chikungunya, Zika virus infection, and now yellow fever—needs no introduction. In an increasingly globalised world, a coherent global response is needed, not only in the immediate care of patients and countermeasures to transmission but also in the prompt initiation of research efforts.

The timely establishment of the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R) network (May 28, p 2197) of research funding organisations in 2013 is an exciting development and fits neatly with the research and development (R&D) Blueprint Initiative of WHO.

In May, 2015, the 68th World Health Assembly “welcomed the development of a blueprint, in consultation with Member States and relevant stakeholders, for accelerating research and development in epidemics or health emergency situations where there are no, or insufficient, preventive, and curative solutions, taking into account other relevant work streams within WHO”.

The R&D Blueprint aims to reduce the time between the declaration of an international public health emergency and the availability of effective tests, vaccines, antivirals, and other treatments that can save lives and avert a public health crisis.

WHO expert teams, an international scientific advisory group, and several partners engaged via global forums have been collaborating to articulate this novel R&D model. Several activities have been developed, experiences from the R&D efforts during the west African Ebola outbreak have provided a starting point, and the Zika virus outbreak in the Americas has served as an important testing ground.

The WHO R&D Blueprint is both a convening mechanism for public health officials, scientists, and product developers, and an instrument to articulate technical guidance for R&D preparedness and response, especially in the area of coordination (ie, addressing priorities and avoiding unnecessary duplication), that can be effectively implemented through norm setting, appropriate incentives, and other measures.

WHO collaborates and works in partnership with several initiatives that are being implemented by international stakeholders and that complement the efforts of the R&D Blueprint. We welcome GloPID-R's partnership and commitment to improve the sharing of information among funders, align decision making, and allow for an expedited and coordinated approach among many major global funding agencies. However, most individual funding agencies are likely to make decisions on a case-by-case basis in line with their mandates and mission.

To fulfil its mandate, WHO has a core responsibility in the area of research and coordination of research. WHO will use its convening capacity to fulfil this responsibility. Although WHO is not a funding agency nor in general a major implementer of research activities, it has a global mandate to set evidence-based priorities and standards for research, ensuring that all voices are heard and avoiding conflicts of interests. Success of the R&D Blueprint will certainly depend on the concerted efforts of all stakeholders.