The Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition: a unique multisector approach adds to global pandemic preparedness efforts

Abstract

Detection and epidemiologic characterization of infectious disease outbreaks are key for early identification and response to potential pandemic threats. The rapid global spread of severe SARS-CoV-2 in 2020 highlighted the critical role of diagnostics in understanding the epidemiology of the virus early in the pandemic. As a natural extension of Abbott's work in diagnostics, virus discovery, and virus surveillance, the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition (APDC) was launched in early 2021. The APDC is a global multisector scientific and public health partnership whose primary objective is the early detection and mitigation of infectious disease threats of pandemic potential. As of January 2022, the APDC network has partners on 5 continents including academic institutions, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations. A novel element of the APDC is the capacity for early development and rapid deployment of scalable, quality diagnostics targeting newly identified pathogens of pandemic potential.

Keywords: Pandemic preparedness; emerging pathogens, virus discovery, surveillance, public health.

Figure 1

Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition member institutions: 1. Abbott Diagnostics, United States 2. Rush University Medical Center, United States 3. University of the West Indies 4. Colombia Wisconsin One Health, National University of Colombia, Colombia 5. University of Sao Paulo, Brazil 6. Institute for Health Research, Epidemiological Surveillance, and Training (IRESSEF), Senegal 7. Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, Stellenbosch University, South Africa 8. National Center for Disease Control, Georgia 9. Mahidol University, Thailand 10. University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe 11. YRG Cares, India 12. Quisqueya University, Haiti 13. Foundation Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Brazil 14. Uganda Virus Research Institute, Uganda