To ensure the
efficient and effective management of the consortium through the implementation
of the project’s governance and decision-making structures.
To ensure effective
communications both internal (within the consortium) and external (liaison
EDCTP and third parties).
To identify any
aspects requiring attention to the appropriate bodies; including responsiveness
of the project by ensuring the prompt shift of the PANDORA Consortium to an
“epidemic mode” to respond to outbreaks.
To monitor
consensus and alignment of research priorities with policy makers and public
health bodies in Africa, Europe and other global partners; gender equality
matters and training are adequately addressed.
To ensure that the
contractual, project management and financial aspects of PANDORA consortium are
carried out in an efficient, transparent and correct manner.
To organise a stakeholder meeting & systematically assess the capacity development and training needs of all participating states.
To equip core clinical and laboratory personnel in close collaboration with public health authorities working at major national referral centres with the skills and knowledge to diagnose and treat patients with emerging infectious diseases, and develop mobile lab capacity.
To establish a community of research personnel, including biomedical scientists, lab personnel, epidemiologists and clinical researchers, to undertake surveillance studies and in the event of an outbreak, to rapidly design and implement clinical trials.
To develop and disseminate multilingual training materials and tools that can have impact across the continent, for both current and future front-line personnel.
To improve patient
management (IPC, diagnostics algorithms, etc) and clinical research at the
clinical sites for EID.
To support National
Stakeholders in the development of standardized management protocols and guide
interventions should a large epidemic springs.
To provide a
platform for the prompt implementation of scientifically sound and
rigorous studies (including controlled trials) during epidemics.
To provide to
Health Authorities a map of risk integrating human, animal and environmental
data though integration with vet WPs.
Identification and
GIS mapping of zoonotic hot spots.
Priority setting of
zoonotic diseases according to geographical region.
Epidemiological studies
and determining the risk factors of zoonotic diseases with potential to cause
large epidemics.
Strengthening of
the surveillance system for zoonotic diseases.
Digital
epidemiology and participatory surveillances of selected zoonotic diseases
Strengthen of ONE
HEALTH approach
Needs assessment on
key zoonoses in the participant countries, identification of key gaps,
opportunities.
Clinical trials
designed with respect to 4-6 zoonoses and 4-6 gaps and opportunities in 2-3
partner countries.
Clinical trials
implemented in partner countries.
Dissemination of
results through to private sector, funders, health NGOs, academic communities,
and government for policy development and role-out of interventions.
To develop a common
understanding of the need for and existing systems of best practice for data
collection, collation, sharing and analysis to inform disease outbreak
management.
To create a real
time data sharing platform for disease outbreaks building on existing best
practice.
To support mechanisms
for rapid data sharing during disease outbreaks in collaboration with national
and supranational partners such as the African Centres for Disease Control.
To develop
harmonized and adaptable databases to allow rapid sharing of high quality clinical
trials data and biological samples across sites.
Develop and
strengthen analytical capacity to handle large clinical trials, surveillance
and biological samples data from consortium members and associate programmes.
To analyse the role
of health system governance structures, organisational dynamics and networks
between the human health, animal health and environment sectors(consistent with
a One Health approach) in addressing challenges to build national, regional and
pan-African laboratory, public health and clinical trials capacities for the
rapid investigation of EID outbreaks with epidemic potential.
To understand
perceptions of EID risks and the level of support for specific interventions to
address the impact of outbreaks among key One Health policy stakeholders.
To identify the
existing multi-sectoral strategies (financial, service delivery, human
resources, technology and information systems) and institutional capacities for
building appropriate levels of preparedness and response to EID outbreaks.
To investigate the
barriers that impede rapid and effective responses to EID outbreaks and the
uptake of capacity building mechanisms developed through the other work
packages.
To support the
other work packages of this project by developing evidence-based,
contextually-appropriate policy options
To set up robust
ethical, regulatory and administrative systems in each regional hub ready to
assess and approve rapid response protocols from the Network
within 48-72 hours.
To ensure regional
capacity is strengthened and maintained to respond efficiently and equitably as
resilient emergency planning from the EDCTP and
associated
organisations requires.
To develop and
‘harmonise’ the ethical and operational rules regulators and ethics committees
should use to inform the prior and expedited approval of a range of protocols
from the Network.
To identify
operational ‘pressure points’ and streamline administrative practices in
gaining research authorisation, to create system that is both flexible and
durable.
