Pasteur Network Annual Meeting 2024 will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Pasteur Network Annual Meeting 2024 (PNAM), co-organized with the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), is set to take place from October 21-23 in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This prestigious event will convene leaders and experts from across the Pasteur Network and beyond, offering a platform to tackle today’s most pressing global health challenges. Participants will engage in a rich programme of presentations, workshops, and discussions aimed at fostering collaboration and driving scientific innovation. With a focus on key topics such as epidemic preparedness, climate-sensitive diseases, and equity in health research, the PNAM 2024 promises to be a catalyst for advancing public health solutions worldwide. 

The meeting will address global health priorities, including climate change and its impact on infectious diseases like Dengue, epidemic preparedness for Mpox and Avian Influenza, as well as innovations in diagnostics, vaccine equity, therapeutics, gender and maternal health, and the role of AI in health research. These discussions align with the Pasteur Network’s strategic vision of reinforcing epidemic intelligence, promoting equitable collaborations, and fostering sustainable development in global health research. 

Opening Ceremony 

The opening ceremony will take place on Monday, October 21 at 6 PM (Rio de Janeiro UTC-3) and will be chaired by Mario Moreira, President of Fiocruz. It will feature remarks from key Brazilian officials, including Nisia Veronica Trindade Lima, Minister of Health of Brazil. Amadou Sall, President of the Pasteur Network & CEO of the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Rebecca Grais, Executive Director of the Pasteur Network, and Yasmine Belkaid, Vice-President of the Pasteur Network and President of the Institut Pasteur, will also deliver opening remarks. 

Keynote presentations will be given by global health leaders, including Peter Piot, Professor at The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and President of the PN Strategic Advisory Board, and Manoel Barral Netto from Fiocruz Bahia, who will share their insights on critical global health issues. 

At 7:15 PM, the Talent Awards ceremony will take place, celebrating outstanding contributions within the Pasteur Network. This year, the award, funded by the Institut Pasteur, will honor a scientist who has demonstrated both scientific excellence and a strong commitment to sharing the work with the wider public through communication and engagement initiatives. 

Follow the Live Streaming 

The opening ceremony will be available to stream live on YouTube: 

Engagement and Strategic Discussions 

Throughout the event, participants will take part in a series of roundtables and parallel sessions focusing on the Pasteur Network’s strategic priorities: (1) strengthening epidemic preparedness with a focus on climate-sensitive health issues; (2) advancing research and innovation in diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments; (3) building knowledge-sharing communities; and (4) promoting equitable and sustainable collaborations. 

The meeting will also provide a platform for scientists from across the Network to present their research, furthering the professional development objective of the PNAM. 

For more details about the event :

About the Pasteur Network  
The Pasteur Network is an alliance of over 30 institutes which plays a crucial role in tackling global health challenges through science, innovation and public health. Its distinctive strength lies in the diversity and extensive geographic reach, spanning 25 countries across 5 continents, fostering a dynamic community of knowledge and expertise.  
The Pasteur Network is recognized as a WHO non-state actor, and members of the network are frequently embedded into local Ministries of Health. The PN sustains a global infrastructure encompassing 50+ national and regional reference laboratories, which includes multiple Biosafety Level 3 Laboratories, and 17 WHO Collaborating Centers.  
For more information, consult the 2023 Pasteur Network report
Press contact: Juliette Hardy / news-pn@pasteur.fr  

About Fiocruz 
Fiocruz is the largest biomedical research institution in Latin America, also producing vaccines and medications to supply the Unified Health System (SUS). Linked to the Ministry of Health, it was established on May 25, 1900, to initially manufacture serums and vaccines against bubonic plague. Since then, the institution has undergone an intense trajectory that is intertwined with the development of public health in Brazil. Today, Fiocruz operates in 10 states, as well as the Federal District, and has an office in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, in Africa. In addition to its institutes based in Rio de Janeiro, it maintains units in the Northeast, North, Southeast, and South regions of Brazil. In total, there are 16 technical-scientific units focused on education, research, innovation, assistance, technological development, and outreach in the health sector. For more information, visit https://portal.fiocruz.br/en.

Press contact: Fiocruz / ccs@fiocruz.br 

On Monday, June 17th, in Paris, the Pasteur Network and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bolster their collaboration in global health initiatives. This agreement marks a significant step towards addressing infectious diseases and improving public health worldwide.

The MoU outlines a comprehensive framework for cooperation between the two organizations, focusing on several critical areas:

• Vaccine R&D Ecosystem: Strengthening vaccine research and development, particularly in the global South. This includes regional manufacturing of vaccines and enhancing public health responses to epidemic and pandemic emergencies.
• Training and Education: Supporting joint training and educational activities to build capacity and expertise in vaccine research and development.
• Collaborative Projects: Actively pursuing funding opportunities and developing joint proposals for research and training programs.

Rebecca F. Grais, Executive Director of the Pasteur Network, highlighted the significance of this partnership: “By combining our strengths and resources, we aim to accelerate vaccine development and improve accessibility, particularly in underserved regions. This collaboration is a crucial step towards our shared vision of a healthier world.”

Jerome H. Kim, Director General of IVI, echoed this sentiment: ‘Signing this MoU with the Pasteur Network will empower us to leverage our collective expertise and amplify our efforts in combating infectious diseases worldwide. This collaboration will support IVI’s capabilities in vaccine research and development, enabling us to tackle health challenges more effectively. Together, we will generate synergies to drive innovation of life-saving vaccines for the populations who need them most.’

The partnership will be guided by a Steering Committee, ensuring regular reviews and progress on collaborative projects. Both parties have committed to clear communication, transparency, and adherence to policies on anti-fraud, corruption, equity, and sustainability.

This MoU represents a strategic alignment of resources and expertise, setting the stage for innovative solutions to global health challenges. Together, the Pasteur Network and IVI are poised to make a lasting impact on global health, particularly in regions that are most vulnerable to infectious diseases.

About the Pasteur Network:
The Pasteur Network is an alliance of over 30 institutes which plays a crucial role in tackling global health challenges through science, innovation and public health. Its distinctive strength lies in the diversity and extensive geographic reach, spanning 25 countries across 5 continents, fostering a dynamic community of knowledge and expertise.

The Pasteur Network is recognized as a WHO non-state actor, and members of the network are frequently embedded into local Ministries of Health. The PN sustains a global infrastructure encompassing 50+ national and regional reference laboratories, which includes multiple Biosafety Level 3 Laboratories, and 17 WHO Collaborating Centers.

The Pasteur Network’s work is guided by four strategic pillars: 1) Epidemic Preparedness, Intelligence, with focus on Climate sensitive diseases, 2) Research, Development, and Innovation, 3) Knowledge Communities, and 4) Good Governance and Equity.

Pasteur-network.org

About IVI:
The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) is a non-profit international organization established in 1997 at the initiative of the United Nations Development Program with a mission to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for global health.

IVI’s current portfolio includes vaccines at all stages of pre-clinical and clinical development for infectious diseases that disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries, such as cholera, typhoid, chikungunya, shigella, salmonella, schistosomiasis, hepatitis E, HPV, COVID-19, and more.

IVI developed the world’s first low-cost oral cholera vaccine, pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO), and developed a new-generation typhoid conjugate vaccine that also achieved WHO prequalification in early 2024.

IVI is headquartered in Seoul, Republic of Korea, with a Europe Regional Office in Sweden, an Africa Regional Office in Rwanda, a Country Office in Austria, and a Country and Project Office in Kenya. IVI additionally co-founded the Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute in Hong Kong and hosts Collaborating Centers in Ghana, Ethiopia, and Madagascar. Forty one countries and the WHO are members of IVI, and the governments of the Republic of Korea, Sweden, India, Finland, and Thailand provide state funding.

https://www.ivi.int.

On March 27, 2024, the Institut Pasteur de São Paulo was inaugurated by French President, Emmanuel Macron. As a member of the Pasteur Network, this institute, founded by the Institut Pasteur and the University of São Paulo, conducts international-level research in the field of health biology to further understanding of diseases and their impact on human health, especially in the context of climate change. The inauguration ceremony was hosted by Paola Minoprio, the Executive Director of the Institut Pasteur de São Paulo, and brought together a high-level delegation, including Yasmine Belkaid, President of the Institut Pasteur and Vice-President of the Pasteur Network, and Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior, Rector of the University of São Paulo. It was followed by a tour of the institute’s laboratories and discussions between the French President, researchers, students and Brazilian authorities. The inauguration of this structure comes just one year after the Institut Pasteur de São Paulo, a Brazilian private non-profit association, signed its articles of association.

The delegation attending the ceremony also included, Vahan Agopyan, Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Marco Antonio Zago, President of FAPESP, Fernando Menezes, President of the Board of the Institut Pasteur de São Paulo, Stéphane Séjourné, French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Emmanuel Lenain, French Ambassador to Brazil, Sylvie Lemmet, Ambassador for Environment for the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), Yves Teyssier D’Orfeuil, Consul General of France in São Paulo, Rémi Rioux, CEO of the AFD, Antoine Petit, Chairman and CEO of the CNRS, Valérie Verdier, Chairwoman of the Board and CEO of the IRD, Elisabeth Claverie De Saint Martin, CEO of the Cirad, Catherine Lagneau, CEO of BRGM, Monique Barbut, President of WWF-France, Sophie Sidos, President of CCEF, Jean-Michel Blanquer, Minister of National Education and Youth from 2017 to 2022, Laurent Linguet, President of the University of Guyane, Anaïs Fléchet, historian, lecturer at the University Paris-Saclay (UVSQ).

The Institut Pasteur de São Paulo is a private, non-profit association, founded on March 31, 2023 by the Institut Pasteur and the University of São Paulo, following a collaboration agreement established in 2017. Based at the University of São Paulo, in the capital of São Paulo, Brazil, on a 2000 m² site within the university campus, the institute houses seventeen laboratories, four of which are high standing biosafety level 3 (NB3/NBA3).

The Institut Pasteur de São Paulo is a member of the Pasteur Network, an alliance of over 30 institutes which plays a crucial role in tackling global health challenges through science, innovation and public health. It is the sixth member of the Pasteur Network in the Americas and the second Brazilian member, along with Fiocruz.

“This ceremony marks the outcome of years of dedicated collaboration with our esteemed partners, including the University of São Paulo, Fapesp, the Institut Pasteur, and the Pasteur Network. It represents a significant milestone not only for our institute but for all the talented teams at the Institut Pasteur de São Paulo, whose relentless efforts have brought our vision to reality since its opening in 2019. Their unwavering commitment, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, has left a mark on the history of our institution.“
Paola Minoprio, Executive Director of the Institut Pasteur de São Paulo, member of the Pasteur Network

“President Macron’s visit to USP for the formal inauguration of the Institut Pasteur de São Paulo represents the international importance of the initiative. Brazilian and French researchers will share laboratories, which will undoubtedly further improve the quality of infectious disease research at USP. Based on the studies developed at the institute, we will certainly be better prepared to face future pandemics. The recent partnership with the CNRS, another important French research institution, is also part of USP’s internationalization policy.”
Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior, University of São Paulo (USP) Rector

” Throughout its history, Institut Pasteur has forged strong links with Brazil. The inauguration of the Institut Pasteur de São Paulo confirms our strong commitment to our Brazilian partners, to work in a close partnership for the health of all, both locally and internationally. I thank all the team of the Institut Pasteur of São Paulo, particularly the University of São Paulo and the FAPESP, for their admirable work in building this new Institute in such a rapid pace. Today, to respond to new global challenges, it is essential to study the health impact of climate change and the conditions of emergence of new pathogens. The scientific community must commit itself to a plural and collective approach, through the creation of multidisciplinary and international institutions. The vocation of Institut Pasteur, in conjunction with Pasteur Network, encompassing a strong and long-term relationship we have forged with the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), has always been to support this humanistic and sharing dynamic in the service of people’s health.”
Yasmine Belkaid, President of the Institut Pasteur, member of the Pasteur Network 

“We are proud to celebrate the inauguration of the Institut Pasteur de São Paulo, a cornerstone institution of the Pasteur Network in the Americas. Nestled strategically within a biodiverse region, this institute embodies scientific excellence by harnessing cutting-edge facilities and expertise to tackle urgent global health issues, notably climate change and infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and dengue, which presently afflict this region. By aligning goals with the Pasteur Network, this high-level scientific institute will undoubtedly enrich our collective efforts and advance our mission to safeguard global health.”
Amadou Alpha Sall, President of the Board of Directors of the Pasteur Network

World-class research in Biological Science

The Institut Pasteur de São Paulo develops world-class research in Biological Science on communicable, non-communicable, emerging, re-emerging, neglected or progressive diseases that cause complex immune responses, produce nervous system disorders, and impact human and animal public health.

It has 6 research teams: Integrative Biology; Eco-epidemiology, Diversity and Evolution of Emerging Viruses; Modeling Nervous System Diseases; Trypanosomatid Infectious Processes; Vaccinology; Clinical and Molecular Virology.
The Institut Pasteur de São Paulo, formerly operating as the Pasteur-USP Scientific Platform since 2019, has published over 90 scientific papers, including research on COVID-19 and Zika syndrome to shed light on the pathogenesis of these viruses. It played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic, for example in developing and testing several diagnostic methods for COVID-19.

The researchers involved with the Institut Pasteur de São Paulo share their areas of expertise, infrastructure, and cutting-edge equipment and approach with one and the same goal – to strengthen the development of joint initiatives, develop preventive, diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic methods in relation to the diseases studied, and promote innovation, technology transfer and knowledge sharing.

More information:
The steps leading up to the inauguration of the Institute  
The Institut Pasteur de São Paulo was created after a series of agreements over the 2015-2023 period.
For more information, visit the official Institut Pasteur de São Paulo website
Read the March 2023 press release on the Institut Pasteur website
Pasteur Network website

Press contacts :

Institut Pasteur de São Paulo : Angela Trabbold – angela@academica.jor.br

USP :  Erika Yamamoto – Erikayama@usp.br

Institut Pasteur (Paris) : Aurélie Perthuison and Myriam Rebeyrotte – presse@pasteur.fr

Pasteur Network : Juliette Hardy – juliette.hardy@pasteur.fr

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Climate change threatens to reverse decades of global development progress and puts the health and livelihoods of future generations in jeopardy. Data indicates a rapid increase in temperature, humidity and rainfall which negatively impacts health, agriculture and vulnerable populations including women. For example, increasing temperatures and rainfall from El Nino support growth of mosquitoes in new locations which previously did not support mosquito populations resulting in spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. There is an urgent need to invest in creative solutions that adapt and build resilience to these existing and future climate related challenges.

The Global Grand Challenges network of partners are pleased to announce a joint funding call of approximately USD 12M. This funding is aimed to support innovators addressing the critical intersection of climate change, health, agriculture, and gender. The partners include Science for Africa Foundation-Grand Challenges Africa; Grand Challenges Rwanda; Grand Challenges Brazil; Grand Challenges Ethiopia; and Grand Challenges India in partnership with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, Foundation S-The Sanofi Collective S, Rockefeller Foundation and Pasteur Network. This funding follows a 2022 climate and health call for applications by Grand Challenges Canada and the South African Medical Research Council-Grand Challenges South Africa.

“Climate change is one of the greatest global health challenges of our time. To help solve it, we need science to understand and address the climate and health crisis, especially to support actions that benefit and protect the most affected people and communities. By bringing different funders together under the common umbrella of the Grand Challenges partnership, we can ensure that promising scientific solutions to climate change are supported and delivered to achieve impact at scale,” said Alan Dangour, Director Climate and Health, Wellcome

We seek innovative projects utilizing transdisciplinary approaches to better adapt to, mitigate, or reverse the combined, deleterious effects of climate change on health, women’s lives, and agriculture. Preference will be given to innovations that are formulated locally or adapted from other contexts. We are especially interested in cross-cutting solutions at the intersection of multiple scientific and engineering disciplines and locally led, system-level innovations that are scalable and sustainable. This request for proposals by Grand Challenges partners will provide innovators with seed grants of up to USD 200,000 each for a period of 24 months to execute their visionary projects.

Announcing the request for proposals today on behalf of all Grand Challenges partners at COP28 session on Climate-Health Solutions Showcase’ in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Science for Africa Foundation, home of Grand Challenges Africa, CEO, Tom Kariuki said: “the people whose health and wellbeing are being harmed first and worst by the climate crisis are also the ones who contribute least to its causes, and who are least able to protect themselves and their families against it—namely people in low-income and disadvantaged countries and communities. In low-income settings, rising heat, extreme weather events, changes in precipitation patterns, shifts in duration and prevalence of climate-sensitive diseases (malaria, dengue, many foodborne and water-borne diseases), and increased potential for the emergence of novel diseases damage already weak primary health care systems and community health structures. Together with our partners, we are committed to fostering collaborative efforts to catalyse innovations that will safeguard the well-being of our communities and pave the way for a more sustainable, resilient future.”

“Grand Challenges India is keen to attract proposals that build resilient systems to mitigate climate change impact on agriculture and human health. Solutions may include responsive adaptation mechanisms, accurate surveillance and monitoring systems, predictive models, early detection of vector-borne, waterborne diseases, and infectious pathogens of concern. Strengthening research capacities, developing smart healthcare, integrating crop-livestock system to enhance agroecosystem resilience, soil health and biodiversity are some of the focus areas. The call would encourage research and innovation utilizing transdisciplinary approaches to better adapt and mitigate or reverse the combined, deleterious effects of climate change impact on agriculture and health in India.”  said Shirshendu Mukherjee, Mission Director, Grand Challenges India.

“Foundation S is pleased to support this public-private effort to strengthen community resilience to the impacts of climate change on health. Outputs of this work will help facilitate the much-needed evidence and data required to support innovative approaches for climate adaptation at the local level,” said Vanina Laurent-Ledru Director General, Foundation S.

“Continuing to make progress against diseases like malaria means addressing climate, health and development in a complementary way,” said Kedest Tesfagiorgis, Deputy Director of Global Partnerships & Grand Challenges at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “I’m excited to see the global network of Grand Challenges partners, including the seven partners from five continents supporting this call, contributing the diversity of expertise and perspective needed to foster cutting-edge, locally relevant innovation in communities around the world.”

The funding represents a pivotal step towards addressing climate change contributing to a healthier, more resilient future. Proposals should address the following critical areas: 

• Climate & health outcomes; including gender related impact
• Climate and nutrition
• Adaptation strategies for agriculture and income development, with a focus on women’s agriculture livelihoods. 
• Knowledge management and data integration of climate and health databases
• Effective response and resilient supply chains for crisis management

To read more and apply for this request for proposals please visit : https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/grant-opportunities

About the Global Grand Challenges Network of Partners

The global grand challenges network of partners support innovative solutions to “Grand Challenges” in health and development with a vision for a world where local, regional, and global innovation ecosystems are thriving and fostering solutions in the places where they will have the most impact. Together, Grand Challenges (GC) partners have invested US$1.6 billion, awarding 3,800 grants to a diverse pool of scientists and researchers in 118 countries. These include various GCs and their host institutions below:

• Grand Challenges Africa, Science for Africa Foundation
• Grand Challenges Canada, Government of Canada
• Grand Challenges South Africa, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)
• Grand Challenges Rwanda, Rwanda’s National Council of Science and Technology (NCST)
• Grand Challenges Brazil, Brazil’s Ministry of Health
• Grand Challenges Ethiopia, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health and hosted at Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI)
• Grand Challenges India, India’s government, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistant Council (BIRAC)

In addition to national government funding, these GCs are also supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, Foundation S -Sanofi Collective, Rockefeller Foundation and Pasteur Network.

Media Enquiries:
Juliette Mutheu, Corporate & Science Communications

j.mutheu@scienceforafrica.foundation

The Pasteur Network Annual Meeting 2023 (PNAM), co-organized with the Institut Pasteur de Tunis (IPT) will take place from 19 to 21 November 2023 at the Laico Hotel and Conference Center in Tunis, Tunisia. The PNAM gathers professionals from all Pasteur Network members, scientific institutions, public health institutions, multilateral organizations, civil society organizations and charitable foundations focusing on science and public health.

The meeting will focus on global thematic priorities including climate sensitive emerging infectious diseases, the R&D and innovation ecosystem, epidemic intelligence, AMR, and mother and child health.

The opening ceremony will take place on Sunday 19 November starting at 6 pm (UTC+1) chaired by Hechmi Louzir, former Director General of IPT, and will include opening remarks by the recently appointed Director General of IPT, Samia Menif. Amadou Sall, President of the Pasteur Network & CEO of the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Stewart Cole, President of the Pasteur Network Foundation & President of the Institut Pasteur, Rebecca Grais, Executive Director of the Pasteur Network, Ali M’rabet, Minister of Health of Tunisia will also provide remarks. Furthermore, presentations will be delivered on “Tuberculosis – the forgotten pandemic” by Stewart Cole and “Arabic medicine & Arabic civilization” by Dr. Rafik Boukhris.

Follow the Live Streaming

Available for the Opening Ceremony on YouTube channels

After a series of roundtables and presentations, participants will be able to engage in solution sessions on Pasteur Network strategic axes: (1) reinforcing epidemic intelligence and preparedness with a specific focus on climate sensitivity; (2) supporting the research, development, and innovation ecosystem in critical diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics; (3) creating multi-disciplinary knowledge communities; and (4) equitable collaboration, and sustainability.

This year, the meeting will also provide a platform for young scientists from all the regions of the Pasteur Network to present their research focused on the key thematic areas.

A visit to the Institut Pasteur de Tunis and a cultural tour are also included in the programme.

The PNAM 2023 is funded by the Pasteur Network, the Institut Pasteur de Tunis, and Wellcome.

About the Institut Pasteur de Tunis

The Institut Pasteur de Tunis (IPT) is a public health institution under the authority of the Ministry of Health of Tunisia. Its mission is to carry out epidemiological and clinical studies, biomedical investigations, as well as research activities pertaining to human and animal health. IPT also manufactures vaccines and sera for the needs of the country. Affiliated to the Université de Tunis El Manar, the institute contributes to higher education at both the national and regional levels.

The Institut Pasteur de Tunis is internationally recognized and collaborates with foreign scientific institutions.

Since its creation, in 1893 (the third Institut Pasteur after Paris and Hô-Chi-Minh-Ville), the institute has focused its research activities on infectious diseases of viral, bacterial and parasitological origin, including zoonotic and vector-borne diseases. It is also conducting research on snake envenoming, immune deficiencies, hemoglobinopathies and genetic diseases

Finally, IPT is also active in research projects involving several members of the Pasteur Network in Africa and Europe like REPAIR, PerMediNA, Atun-Dips, and Alliance SHS Afrique. For more information, visit the Institut Pasteur de Tunis’s official website.

Press contact: Hichem Ben Hassine / hichem.benhassine@pasteur.tn

About the Pasteur Network

The Pasteur Network is a vast human and scientific community with more than 30 members in over 20 countries contributing together to global health. Located in the heart of endemic areas, the Network has privileged access to a large number of pathogens that it monitors and studies on all five continents. This exceptional diversity makes the Pasteur Network a unique global actor in public health, science, innovation, and education, especially in the fight against infectious diseases.

Presse : Juliette Hardy / cominter@pasteur.fr

Complex global challenges are best addressed by unlocking the power of existing networks and empowering institutes anchored in local communities. This new partnership brings together Pasteur Network — a storied and unique organization covering a breadth of countries, people and public health challenges — with nonprofit GeoSeeq Foundation — an AI-powered platform for tracking emerging and circulating pathogens, microbial discovery and predictive modeling.

Paris and New York, October 31^st, 2023.

The threat of infectious diseases is constant and far-reaching, killing 14 million people annually. Changes in climate are exacerbating infectious disease threats, especially for water- and vector-borne diseases. These increased infectious disease threats are most often distributed in low- and middle-income countries, which experience annual surges in dengue virus, malaria, cholera and other infections. While prevention is the ideal approach to controlling infectious diseases, there is limited cross-border surveillance and coordination to drive prevention and response. Furthermore, despite recent lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, there is still no global system for infectious disease monitoring. Instead, existing platforms are siloed and single-modality or single-region focused.

Today, Pasteur Network and the GeoSeeq Foundation are announcing a partnership to usher in a new era of global pathogen monitoring and response, supporting the Pasteur Network’s 32 institutes distributed across 25 countries on five continents and powered by Biotia’s GeoSeeq platform, an AI platform leveraging diverse data streams, including climate, genomics and public health data. This partnership is facilitating new, equitable solutions for data sharing, cross-entity discovery and pathogen tracking to drive analytics and predictive models that flag circulating and emerging threats.

The partners are tackling challenges ranging from data governance (using a federated storage-based approach), platform and model development (empowering community-driven model development) to interpretation of signals working with local governments and translation to actionable insights, equity, funding and implementation. It is expected that this partnership will have an outsized impact in the Global South — as 75% of Pasteur Network members work in laboratories for the ministries of health in the low and middle-income countries (LMICs) — with an initial focus on vector-borne diseases of dengue virus and malaria.

“This partnership marks an important step toward unlocking untapped potential across a leading global infectious disease network”, said Dr. Rebecca Grais, executive director of Pasteur Network. “Unlocking network potential can transform separate initiatives into a global engine of discovery and more equitable, actionable public health information”.

GeoSeeq is designed to overcome cross-border data-sharing challenges and preserve data sovereignty while still allowing data to be indexed and connected on a common platform. With this capability, the partners anticipate connecting more than 40 million data points over the next three years. This will drive new collaborations, facilitate discovery and enhance response to infectious disease threats. It will also enable impactful data-driven health responses, create new infectious disease dashboards for ministries of health and support the development of novel therapeutics, biological discoveries and vaccine design.

“Through this partnership, we are launching an ambitious, open and dedicated international effort”, said Dr. Christopher Mason, president and cofounder of the GeoSeeq Foundation. “Pathogens move readily across nations’ borders; thus, collaboration should also seamlessly move internationally between scientists, physicians and policymakers. This partnership is an essential step toward making this vision a reality”.

“Too often, groups feel isolated in their fight against infectious diseases”, said Dr. Amadou Sall, director general of the Institut Pasteur de Dakar and president of Pasteur Network. “This partnership helps to level the playing field, providing support and tools for local groups to tackle regional problems that affect their local communities”.

The Pasteur Network is a vast human and scientific community with more than 30 members in over 20 countries contributing together to global health. Located in the heart of endemic areas, the network has privileged access to a large number of pathogens that it monitors and studies on all five continents. This exceptional diversity makes the Pasteur Network a unique global actor in public health, science, innovation and education, especially in the fight against infectious diseases.

Connect on LinkedIn.

GeoSeeq Foundation is a nonprofit empowering infectious disease researchers and public health agencies globally to track, understand and control infectious disease threats.
Connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

• Juliette Hardy, Pasteur Network, +33 6 19 36 46 45, cominter@pasteur.fr,
  https://pasteur-network.org
• Lathum Nelson, GeoSeeq Foundation, (385) 743-1724, lathum.nelson@stagemarketing.com, https://www.geoseeq.com/

From 28 to 30 November 2022 the Annual Meeting of the Pasteur Network co-organized with the Institut Pasteur Italia will take place at Sapienza University in Rome. This meeting will bring together all directors, scientific directors and researchers of more than 30 Pasteur Network members in the world, located in over 20 countries across 5 continents. The theme this year is “The Start of a New Chapter”, which reflects the recent development of the Pasteur Network aiming for a more inclusive and participative governance.

The inaugural day will take place on Monday 28 November starting at 11:30 in the Aula Magna with the participation of Prof. Antonella Polimeni, Rector of Sapienza University of Rome, Prof. Luigi Frati, President of the Istituto Pasteur Italia Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, the French Ambassador in Italy Prof. Christian Masset, Prof. Silvio Brusaferro, President of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità and Prof. Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2008 and Honorary President of the Pasteur Network.

The new vision of the Pasteur Network will be presented by Dr. Rebecca F. Grais, the new Executive Director of the Pasteur Network with Prof. Amadou Sall, President of the Pasteur Network and Prof. Stewart Cole, President of the Pasteur Network Foundation.

The keynote speaker of the session “The new vision of the Pasteur Network” will be Prof. Rino Rappuoli, Scientific Director of the Siena Biotecnopolo Foundation who will deliver a lecture on “The miracle of COVID-19 vaccines and the trillion-dollar gap” to illustrate how new technologies and unprecedented public investment have transformed vaccine development and allowed fast delivery of safe and efficacious COVID-19 vaccines, mitigating the impact of the pandemic on health and the economy. A quantum change in public investment for vaccine development and widespread vaccine distribution are necessary to achieve global pandemic preparedness.

An exhibition “From Louis to Pasteur: 1822-1895” will run in parallel to celebrate 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Pasteur.

On Tuesday 29^th and Wednesday 30^th, working sessions organized for members of the Pasteur Network will deal with its main strategic priorities such as epidemic intelligence and preparedness, and research and development to support regional manufacturing of diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics. The Pasteur Network also supports thecreation of diverse collaborative multi-disciplinary communities of knowledge which will be discussed during a session called “Working Together” that illustrates the leitmotiv of the entire event.

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For more information:

About Istituto Pasteur Italia
Istituto Pasteur Italia, part of the Pasteur Network, is committed to promotion of biomedical research, scientific education and dissemination. The research activity is mainly focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying the biological processes with the goal of expanding our knowledge on the molecular basis of many infectious and non-communicable diseases.
istitutopasteuritalia.it

About the Pasteur Network
The Pasteur Network is a vast human and scientific community with more than 30 members in over 20 countries who together contribute to the improvement of global health. Located in the heart of endemic areas, the Network has privileged access to a large number of pathogens that it monitors and studies on all five continents. This exceptional diversity makes the Pasteur Network a global actor in public health, science, innovation, and education, especially in the fight against infectious diseases.
pasteur-network.org
The Institut Pasteur International Network is evolving and becoming the Pasteur Network (2021)

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

Washington, D.C., Paris | July 26, 2022 – The Rockefeller Foundation’s Pandemic Prevention Institute (PPI) and the Pasteur Network have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance early detection and reporting for emerging and re-emerging diseases and build a robust decentralized global surveillance network that strengthens local capacity for sharing high-quality data across countries.
The collaboration aims to enhance the effectiveness of the Pandemic Prevention Institute and the Pasteur Network’s 33 member institutions in both addressing infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 and Monkeypox, and informing interventions against them.

“Our work with the Pasteur Network will undoubtedly make a transformational impact on global health security, leveraging the ability to advance equitable data-sharing practices that will provide key stakeholders and decision-makers with timely, more accurate and relevant information to make critical health and policy decisions,” said Dr. Rick Bright, CEO of The Rockefeller Foundation’s Pandemic Prevention Institute. “Our collective aim is to advance access to pathogen surveillance, genomic sequencing, analytics, and data sharing tools in low- and middle-income countries and to foster sentinel laboratory networks for early disease detection.”

“This MoU is a major milestone in our collaboration with The Rockefeller Foundation and the PPI that could lead to significant impact in epidemic and pandemic preparedness. Together, the Pasteur Network and PPI are an effective combination of complementary talents and capacity to address global health threats said Dr. Amadou Sall, President of the Pasteur Network.

“We are proud to support this initiative. This important, historic partnership will provide much-needed support to capacity building and epidemic intelligence,” said Professor Stewart Cole, President of the Pasteur Network Foundation that contributes to the Pasteur Network’s development.

Over the coming years, the partnership will focus primarily on the following areas:

• Advancing global equitable data sharing to provide key stakeholders and decision-makers with an analytical toolset that leverages timely, more accurate and relevant data and information,
• Bolstering epidemiological and genomic surveillance in low- and middle-income countries to track emerging pathogen variants and transmission for real-time analyses, as well as advancing access to pathogen surveillance and analytical tools, such as digital apps,
• Enhancing discovery of emerging and re-emerging high consequence pathogens, generating a diversity of essential disease surveillance data streams in areas such as zoonosis, anti-microbial resistance and water borne diseases and,
• Building fit for purpose data analytics and disease discovery and forecasting systems, informed by the organizations’ partner networks, that are relevant, sustainable, and equitable at the local, state, and pan-regional level.

The partnership will also focus on interdisciplinary research projects addressing the causes of outbreaks and epidemics. The combined networks will maintain local and regional structures to foster a permanent operational force and share technologies, systems, practices, and techniques with their networks.

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About the Pasteur Network

Pasteur Network, previously known as the Institut Pasteur International Network, is a worldwide network of members which contribute to global health. This unique model of cooperation brings together, beyond the independent public or private structures that form the Network, a human and scientific community collectively mobilized for both local, regional and global health priorities. The members of Pasteur Network share the same mission to improve health through biomedical research, public health activities, training, and innovation.
For more information, visit our members dedicated webpage and follow us on LinkedIn and on the Institut Pasteur’s Twitter.

About the Pandemic Prevention Institute

The Rockefeller Foundation’s Pandemic Prevention Institute (PPI) is mission-driven to contribute to the crucial work of building systems that detect, prevent, and mitigate pandemic threats, leading to rapid, effective containment. PPI is pursuing its mission through the integration of cutting-edge technology and analytic approaches that turn data into action that drives life-saving decisions; a federated network of data users and holders with global representation; and collaborative leadership at the global level.
For more information on partners, data solutions and more visit the PPI official website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation to enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We work to promote the well-being of humanity and make opportunity universal. Our focus is on scaling renewable energy for all, stimulating economic mobility, and ensuring equitable access to healthy and nutritious food.
For more information, sign up for our newsletter at rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on Twitter.

Media Contacts:

Mike Hayes
VP Communications / CCO, Pandemic Prevention Institute
mhayes@rockfound.org | +1 703-740-6981

Juliette Hardy
Head of Communications, Pasteur Network
juliette.hardy@pasteur.fr

Original publication on July 26^th 2022. Updated on September 27^th, 2022.