WHO Seeks Input on Roadmap to Counter Future Coronavirus Threats
The World Health Organization (WHO) is soliciting public feedback on a draft Research & Development (R&D) Roadmap designed to bolster global preparedness for future coronavirus outbreaks. This initiative comes as transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, continues worldwide, and with ongoing detection of latest coronaviruses in animal populations that pose a potential spillover risk to humans.
Roadmap Focus Areas
The roadmap, developed through the Coronavirus Collaborative Open Research Consortium (CORC-CoV) led by Singapore’s PREPARE programme, aims to prioritize research and coordinate efforts across the coronavirus R&D landscape. It focuses on six key areas:
- Ecology & Transmission: Understanding how coronaviruses spread between animals and humans.
- Virus Biology: Investigating the fundamental characteristics of coronaviruses.
- Immune Responses: Studying how the human immune system responds to coronavirus infections.
- Detection Technologies: Developing improved methods for diagnosing coronavirus infections.
- Medical Countermeasures: Accelerating the development of vaccines, therapeutics, and other medical interventions.
- Biosafety & Biosecurity: Strengthening measures to prevent accidental or intentional release of coronaviruses.
Call for Feedback
The WHO specifically encourages contributions from individuals working in coronavirus research, product development, clinical trials, regulation, lab science, and biosafety. Feedback should be specific and clearly reference the relevant theme, section, or bullet point within the roadmap to facilitate efficient incorporation.
How to Submit Feedback
Comments should be submitted by February 28, 2026, to the following email addresses:
The draft roadmap and further details are available through the WHO website. World Health Organization
The Ongoing Threat of Coronaviruses
The WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020, and subsequently characterized it as a pandemic on March 11, 2020, when over 118,000 infections and 4,292 deaths had been reported across 113 countries PMC. SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, is an infectious disease that primarily causes mild to moderate respiratory illness, but can lead to severe illness and death, particularly in older adults and those with underlying medical conditions WHO. The continued emergence of new coronaviruses in animal reservoirs underscores the need for proactive research and development to prevent future pandemics.