DURABLE

The challenge

Outbreaks of infectious diseases are increasing due to multiple local and global interaction changes disrupting the fragile balance of the complex human-animal-environment ecosystem. The increased frequency and complexity of health threats require a different, unified form of preparedness and a coordinated, fast, reliable and effective emergency response.

Objectives

• To be be a one-stop shop for diagnostics, research, preparedness and response to current and future health threats for the benefit of citizens in the EU and worldwide.
• To coordinate, integrate, analyse and share the output for rapid and direct use in public health decision making.
• To develop and use both non-targeted and targeted methods for identification of known and new threats
• To establish a sustainable network of laboratories and research institutes that can address the barriers of better preparedness, and provide alerts, real-time scientific data and integrated analyses to HERA.
• To develop targeted studies to guide further evidence gathering in response to alerts

The Role of the Pasteur Network

The Pasteur Network (PN) plays a crucial role in the DURABLE project by enhancing capacity within the network through various training opportunities for its members. Here are some key initiatives led by the PN team:

• Mid-term Fellowships: Launching in 2024, these fellowships facilitate staff exchanges between DURABLE partner institutions, providing hands-on training opportunities.
• Onsite courses:
  • Research Management during Outbreaks: The first school, launched in May 2024 in collaboration with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin aimed to address key legal, regulatory, ethical, and other critical aspects needed to effectively support research during outbreak situations.
  • Bioinformatics for Outbreak: From July 7-11, 2025, at Institut Pasteur, this course focused on pathogen detection, outbreak tracing, phylodynamics, and pathogen evolution.
  • Development and field deployment of molecular detection assays during outbreak situations: from 18–22 May 2026, organized at the UVE, Aix-Marseille Univeristy, focused on the development, qualification, and field deployment of molecular diagnostic assays during outbreak situations, from early detection to implementation in hospital and field settings.
• MOOCs: The Pasteur Network team has initiated a freely accessible online course on Research Management in may 2026, comprising eight sessions that cover legal, regulatory, ethical, logistical, and communication aspects, as well as key principles of equity, to better prepare participants to support research during outbreak situations.
• Webinars: A series of webinars has been developed, covering topics such as in vitro and in vivo models for infectious disease research, the development and field deployment of molecular detection assays during outbreak situations, and the delivery of scientific advice to decision-makers. Across all sessions, more than 400 participants have taken part.