UCL academic advises on global pandemic preparedness report

Rachel McKendry A new report assessing the world's ability to respond quickly to a pandemic, co-authored by a UCL academic, has concluded that while progress was made on vaccines in 2023, attempts to ensure global availability of diagnostics and treatments were underfunded and lagging. Professor Rachel McKendry (London Centre for Nanotechnology at UCL and UCL Division of Medicine) was part of the advisory group for the third report of the 100 Days Mission, which seeks to ensure global availability of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines within the first 100 days of a pandemic threat. The report concluded that there were limited approved tests, treatments and vaccines for WHO priority pathogens, with the exception of Covid-19 and Ebola Zaire. The report was launched by the International Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat (IPPS), an independent body that serves to join up relevant states, the private sector, and global health institutions in support of the 100 Days Mission, at the Accademia dei Lincei in Rome. The launch coincides with the start of Italy's G7 presidency. The IPPS and partners will urge leaders to break the cycle of "panic and neglect" and keep pandemic preparedness on the agenda in 2024. Professor McKendry, who serves on the Scientific and Technical Advisory Group for diagnostics, said: "The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the central role of diagnostics in future pandemic preparedness.