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Presentation of the new PANdemic preparedness plaTform for Health and Emerging infections Response (PANTHER)

An official side event of #CPHIA2022

Date
14/12/2022
Hour
6.00 - 7.45 AM CET
Place
Kigali, Rwanda / Webinar

After months of work, the PANdemic preparedness plaTform for Health and Emerging infections Response (PANTHER) is ready to be presented to the public. The format chosen for this will be a side event at the 2nd International Conference on Public Health in Africa, which takes place in Kigali, Rwanda, from 13 to 15 December. 

Specifically, the PANTHER launch event will take place on 14 December, starting at 7 am, in Auditorium 11 of the Kigali Convention Centre. For those who are unable to attend the event on site, a live stream will be available on the PANTHER YouTube channel.

The title of the side event will be “From COVID to the development of innovation in Africa: Basics to prepare and respond to upcoming outbreaks”.

AGENDA:

  • Wednesday, 14 December 2022 - 06.00 am CET / 07.00 am CAT

Introductory presentations

Introduction to the current situation in the continent and the need for preparedness, reflecting on lessons learned from COVID-19. The importance of clinical trials in preparedness. Introduction to the PANTHER platform.

  • Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma. Acting Director, Africa CDC
  • Prof. Samba Sow. President, PANTHER.
  • Dr. Bernhards Ogutu. Board member, PANTHER.

Roundtable discussion: Research for preparedness

The African continent is getting ready to develop preparedness capacities needed to respond to outbreaks, and a clinical trials preparedness platform is essential for this. This roundtable aims to discuss different aspects of PANTHER that pertain to these capacities, from regulatory issues to clinical readiness and possible alliances.

  • Moderator: Pr. Maha El Rabbat. Vice-president, PANTHER.
  • Speakers:
    • Dr. Bernhards Ogutu, Board member, PANTHER.
    • Pr. Francine Ntoumi. Secretary, PANTHER. 
    • Dr. Margareth Ndomondo Sigonda. Head of the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonisation Initiative, AUDA-NEPAD. 
    • Dr. Matshidiso Moeti. Regional Director for Africa, WHO.
    • Dr Arshad Altaf, Research, promotion & Development, WHO/EMRO
    • Dr Mahlet Kifle Habtemariam, Senior Regional Engagement Advisor, Africa CDC

Roundtable discussion: The role of funders

Funders are essential to preparedness and to the mission of PANTHER. To discuss their fundamental role, this round table will rely a mix of public and private funders:

  • CEPI 
  • BMBF
  • Wellcome Trust
  • AFD
  • GLOPID-R African Hub
  • EDCTP 
  • UNITAID
  • Moderator: Prof Leonardo Simao (Board member, PANTHER)

Streaming

The event will be live streamed from PANTHER’s youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@pantherhealth 

About PANTHER

PANTHER (PANdemic preparedness plaTform for Health and Emerging infectious Response), developed out of the lessons learnt out of COVID pandemic in the region, aims to be launched as a wider partnership with African leadership.

The vision of PANTHER is to effectively contribute to the control of future epidemics or pandemics through a flexible “ready-to-use” clinical research platform, supporting preparedness and rapid response to emerging infectious disease via the development and assessment of adapted tools, starting with therapeutics and vaccines in Africa. PANTHER will prepare and provide the human, technical scientific and administrative infrastructure on emerging infectious diseases affecting cases in outpatients and inpatients clinics through a network of equipped and trained researchers combining experienced African research centers with healthcare sites in key population centers and more remote locations. African leadership will ensure alignment at the political and strategic level.

The main issues to be discussed are: 

  • The role of African clinical research in preparedness and timely response to outbreaks.
  • How to network clinical research centers into a platform for preparedness and response.
  • From clinical trials to access to innovative health tools.
  • Strengthening and adapting ethical and regulatory capacities for outbreak responses.
  • Supporting sustainable funding 

The side event will be moderated by PANTHER, and include representatives from the following institutions:

  • CDC Africa
  • AFRO
  • AMRH/AMA
  • WHO
  • EU
  • PANTHER