Preparedness for Epidemics and Pandemics: Strategic Recommendations for Cohort-Based Research

Longitudinal cohort studies, which follow individuals over time, are crucial for understanding disease progression, identifying risk factors, and evaluating public health interventions.

END-VOC, one of the European Horizon projects funded during the COVID-19 pandemic, brought together 33 cohorts from 24 countries to study the impact of emerging variants on diagnostics, treatments and vaccines. The project contributed to valuable insights into vaccine effectiveness and the burden, risk factors and potential mechanisms of Long Covid.

However, combining data from diverse cohorts remains one of the main challenges to effectively respond to emerging health threats.

The attached policy document, developed by the END-VOC consortium, distils the key lessons learned and provides actionable recommendations for the research community, data protection authorities and funding organisations. Their implementation will help strengthen the global research ecosystem, accelerate evidence-informed decision-making, and improve responses to future pandemics, ultimately saving lives.

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