The next pandemic is inevitable — it’s not a matter of if, but when. At the World Health Summit 2025 (WHS 2025), global health leaders came together to confront this reality and discuss a path toward better prevention, preparedness and response. Hosted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute (HKJCGHI), the session Pandemic Preparedness Through Global Partnership focused on how science, surveillance, and strategic collaboration can be transformed into real-world solutions.

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Dr. Jakob Cramer, Director of Clinical Development at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), opened the session with a call for collective action: “Pandemic preparedness requires a lot of work on the ground. For this we need collaboration across regions, academia and organisations. Sharing the burden of all these efforts will allow us to be much better prepared for future outbreak emergencies.”

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“There is no ‘peace time.’ Outbreaks are happening around the world all the time and the next pandemic can start at anytime and from anywhere. We must collectively work to strengthen prevention, preparedness, detection, and response in all countries — not just during emergencies, but before and after,’ emphasised Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, Acting Director of WHO’s Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention. She called for stronger governance, sustainable financing, and cross-sector coordination to protect health as a pillar of peace and security and highlighted the major achievement of the Pandemic Agreement adoption during the World Health Assembly in May 2025.

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Professor Leo Poon, Co-Director of HKJCGHI and Chair of Public Health Virology at the University of Hong Kong, stated, “HKJCGHI brings together global expertise to translate science into impact — advancing diagnostics, vaccine development, and preparedness strategies that are accessible, scalable, and tailored to the needs of vulnerable populations. In a fragmenting world, we are building bridges through research, innovation, and partnership.”

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Other speakers shared diverse strategies for strengthening global readiness. Dr. Mosoka Fallah, Acting Director of the Science and Innovation Directorate at Africa CDC, advocated for a continent-wide R&D framework to empower African scientists and reduce aid dependency. Dr. Rebecca Grais, Executive Director of the Pasteur Network, highlighted the power of global alliances and trusted data systems. Dr. Frank Konings, HKJCGHI Program Director, emphasised the importance of partnership, health workforce and leveraging existing infrastructure, with the Madagascar Institute of Vaccine Research as an example of a longstanding impactful partnership with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI). He emphasized the need for pushing forward the continued investment in health security and that our joint contributions make us all better prepared.

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The session underscored the need for multilateral coordination, locally led innovation, sustainable investment, and inclusive networks that translate science into policy and action.

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HKJCGHI’s presence at WHS2025 reaffirmed its role as a global catalyst for pandemic preparedness. Established through a strategic partnership between the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), the University of Cambridge, and the University of Hong Kong, HKJCGHI unites world-class expertise in virology, immunology, and epidemiology. By integrating global field networks, cutting-edge research, and regional capacity building, the Institute is driving scalable, science-based solutions to safeguard health systems worldwide. 

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As the world faces increasingly complex health threats, HKJCGHI stands at the forefront — transforming knowledge into action and partnerships into impact.

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Please refer to the full version of the session recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UZFPz1tCn0

Photos taken and provided by World Health Summit