This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed, tailored towards and contributing to some of the following expected outcomes:

• International research funders are supported by a dynamic and efficient secretariat in their coordination efforts for a rapid research response when a pandemic or a severe epidemic strikes.
• International research funders can rely on a tested framework underpinning a rapid and effective research response, and as such ensure stronger research preparedness and response for public health emergencies, including in cross-cutting areas such as data sharing, social science, clinical trial networks and others.
• Research funders, policymakers and the research community are well informed of the activities of the members of the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R)^[1], both as a group and individually.

Scope:

Recent history has illustrated the potential extent of threats posed by new or emerging infectious diseases, as well as the central importance of global collaboration and coordination to fight such regional or international challenges. GloPID-R was established in 2013 for this reason, in response to a request for coordination by the Heads of International Research Organisations. GloPID-R now provides a widely recognised platform for infectious disease research funders to work together to better tackle severe epidemics such as Ebola or Zika, pandemics at regional level that affect outermost regions, as well as global pandemics such as COVID-19.

GloPID-R enables coordination between funders and with relevant global actors such as the World Health Organization (WHO) or the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI); or promotes exchanges and synergies between funded researchers. The GloPID-R’s regional hubs strategy fosters regional research priorities and funder engagement. The network is engaged among others in efforts to strengthen the coordination of clinical trial responses, to track research and evidence on diseases with pandemic potential, or to coordinate funding for cross-cutting research on pandemic preparedness.

Proposals should foresee administrative and technical support through a secretariat to maintain, but above all to support GloPID-R’s continuous evolution for an optimal value added.

Proposals are expected to cover all the following activities:

• Provide administrative and organisational support to the Board of GloPID-R, in close collaboration with the European Commission;
• Provide strong scientific support through a transparent process on topics requested by the GloPID-R Board, independent scientific advisors or (working) groups;
• Facilitate the work of the GloPID-R working groups and scientific advisors, using earlier experience in research preparedness and response to infectious disease outbreaks;
• Manage fluid information dissemination and communication between the Board, Members, scientific advisors, working groups, enquiries, and outside stakeholders;
• Ensure strong external communications activities, e.g. through the website, newsletter, and social media;
• Submit an annual work plan to the Commission each year following the annual meeting of GloPID-R, taking into account the conclusions of the annual meeting;
• Ensure a high level of adaptability to respond to rapidly evolving situations, following the guidance of the GloPID-R Board.

[1] https://www.glopid-r.org