Shaping the Mpox R&D Roadmap through a One Health approach
- Wits University
Wits RHI leads Global Mpox Preparedness as Co-Chair of WHO Poxvirus CORC.
To mark the One Health Summit 2026, ANRS MIE, CEPI, and the World Health Organization (WHO) have released new global R&D roadmaps aimed at strengthening preparedness for future pandemics.
Covering 10 priority viral families and bacterial threats, including poxviruses, the roadmaps outline the critical research needed to ensure diagnostics, treatments and vaccines can be developed and deployed faster ahead of the next outbreak.
Central to this global effort are WHO’s Collaborative Open Research Consortia (CORCs), which bring together international research networks around shared priority pathogen families. plays a leading role within this initiative as Co鈥慍hair of the Poxvirus CORC, working alongside global partners to drive coordinated, open and equitable research.
Through this leadership role, Wits RHI is currently co鈥憀eading the development of the global Mpox R&D Roadmap, helping to shape research priorities across prevention, diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. This work reinforces the power of a One Health, pathogen鈥慺amily approach and positions Wits RHI at the forefront of global epidemic and pandemic readiness efforts.
Read the press release.