PREPARE International Advisory Panel (IAP) Review Meeting, 11-13 September 2023

PREPARE held its second International Advisory Panel (IAP) Review Meeting on 11-13 September 2023.

At the meeting, the IAP welcomed Prof Johan Neyts (KU Leuven, Belgium) and Prof Rino Rappuoli (Fondazione Biotecnopolo di Siena, Italy) as new members. The other members of the Panel are Prof Baron Peter Piot (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK) as Chair, Dr Karin Bok (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, USA), and Dr Meera Chand (UK Health Security Agency, UK).

More information on the IAP can be found here.

During the three-day meeting, the IAP and PREPARE Executive Committee (EXCO) focused on the progress made by the PREPARE Co-Operatives and Cores over the past year, with the IAP providing valuable feedback and advice on PREPARE’s future directions. The Meeting touched on Singapore’s vaccine and therapeutic development in the public sector, where PREPARE and the IAP discussed with essential stakeholders in the field on common goals and objectives, and how PREPARE may contribute relevant research work.

Dinner with PREPARE IAP and EXCO, hosted by former Chief Health Scientist Prof Tan Chorh Chuan

On 12 September, the IAP had a virtual meeting with the Minister for Health, Mr Ong Ye Kung, to discuss the steps for Singapore to take towards building a sustainable pandemic preparedness plan for the nation. This plan will include fostering stronger relationships with regional and international partners.

Virtual meeting between the IAP and Minister for Health, Mr Ong Ye Kung

A seminar was held on 13 September to close the Meeting. Hosted by Prof Piot, the seminar was attended by 63 attendees, during which the IAP was invited to present on the theme of “New frontiers in therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases”. During the session, each IAP expert provided insights from their experiences and knowledge of international institutions. Topics covered at the seminar were:

• Broader-spectrum antivirals for epidemic and pandemic preparedness – Prof Johan Neyts

• NIAID pandemic preparedness and emergency response: Looking at the past to shape our future – Dr Karin Bok

• Introduction to the Italian plan for pandemic preparedness – Prof Rino Rappuoli

Poster for the new frontiers in therapeutics & vaccines for the infectious diseases seminar

Presentation and discussion during the seminar

The PREPARE IAP aims to convene every 18-24 months in Singapore, with interim ad-hoc virtual update meetings. PREPARE looks forward to working closely with the IAP members to further Singapore’s epidemic preparedness and response research agenda.