In an outbreak, every day counts. Each unnecessary phone call or duplicative process wastes time and costs lives – especially in resource-stretched settings. There is a clear need for collaborative and coordinated research across medical countermeasures to help accelerate the response and reduce the threat of epidemics and pandemics.

At the moment, research for vaccines and therapeutics is often conducted in silos, decelerating momentum and pace of progress. The reasons are primarily historical: ‘This is the way we’ve always done it’. But there are real opportunities for synergies and collaboration.

Today, various large-scale global actors recognise this need for a more collaborative approach to R&D. At the global level, the WHO and its member states passed World Health Assembly resolution 75·8 on strengthening clinical trials and improving research quality and coordination, and are negotiating towards a pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response accord. The WHO is further leading the development of an interim coordination mechanism. At the regional level, stakeholders are also tackling this issue, including Africa CDC, GloPID-R’s regional hubs, EDCTP, and new clinical platform initiatives. At the national level, we anticipate numerous R&D funders will adopt more integrated approaches to research. 

The non-governmental sector must also take action. Operational research organisations should proactively collaborate, docking into global efforts.