Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, from mpox and avian influenza to Ebola and chikungunya, continue to threaten global health with the potential to trigger large-scale epidemics or pandemics. Recent outbreaks have exposed how quickly epidemics can escalate, and how urgently coordinated, long-term research systems are needed to respond and guide public health decisions.
Launched in January 2026, BE READY is Europe’s largest partnership dedicated to pandemic preparedness. Coordinated by ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases, it brings together 81 partners across 27 countries, including public health organisations, government ministries and leading research institutions, to strengthen Europe’s capacity to respond to cross-border health threats.
The partnership will work over the ten years to ensure research infrastructure and expertise are ready before the next pandemic hits. Anchored in the European Health Union and working closely with EU institutions and agencies, it will also ensure that evidence collected from pandemic research is fully integrated into Europe’s emergency preparedness and response.
Central to BE READY’s work is the creation of an “ever-warm” European network of clinical research sites, to be maintained active between crises. This will allow clinical studies to begin rapidly when new threats emerge, enabling faster, evidence-based responses to outbreaks.
Penta will play a key role in BE READY, contributing its internationally recognised expertise in paediatric and pregnancy research. Building on its experience in pandemic preparedness projects such as VERDI and PIPELINE, Penta will help ensure that infants, children, adolescents and pregnant people are included in research from the outset – groups that have historically been overlooked or studied too late during outbreaks.
By contributing to the design, governance and expansion of the ever-warm European research network, Penta will help develop inclusive, high-quality studies capable of delivering evidence relevant to these populations. In doing so, Penta will strengthen BE READY’s ambition to build a research system that is not only faster, but also more inclusive, generating evidence that can guide public health responses for the whole population.
Read press release on BE READY’s website
BE READY is funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement number 101226682.