Scientific Views

Building on complementary innovations in vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, Penta is actively contributing to preparedness strategies that combine durable population-level protection with rapid, targeted immune interventions.

Despite significant advances in HIV treatment in recent years, these have mainly benefited adults. To address this persistent paediatric treatment gap, global stakeholders came together to enable more focused and coordinated actions to make age-appropriate, optimised formulations more rapidly available for children living with HIV.

“Conducting THAI‑CARES in a setting where RSV places significant pressure on health systems helps ensure that the evidence generated is locally relevant and applicable.”

“The progress achieved in 2025 demonstrates the continued expansion and diversification of Penta’s research portfolio. By fostering international collaboration and promoting the inclusion of maternal and paediatric populations in clinical research, Penta continues to generate the evidence needed to support safer, more effective, and more equitable healthcare for children and families worldwide.”

“In a rapidly changing global health landscape, we have a responsibility to be inclusive of underrepresented regions and underserved groups, to actively listen to and reflect the voices of communities, patients and their families, uphold the highest ethical standards, and be capable of generating responsive research with real long‑term value for individuals, families and society.”

“The HIV pandemic continues to impact children around the world, and it’s our ethical and scientific duty to seek not just treatment, but a cure. EPIICAL has put the spotlight on some very important problems that persist in sub-Saharan Africa, such as the persistent high mortality rates despite early treatment and the complex factors contributing to this.”

Building upon its established legacy, Penta’s collaborative and innovative research unfolds through partnerships with academia, industry, and the wider community to address the persistent challenges posed by infectious diseases in pregnant people, infants, children, and adolescents. 

The recent global COVID-19 pandemic has starkly revealed the necessity for a fortified research preparedness framework. In this article, Evelina Tacconelli (University of Verona, Italy) reflects on Penta’s role in fortifying research preparedness for future health challenges impacting pregnant people, children and adolescents.

As we conclude the 2020-2024 strategic period, it’s a moment for reflection on Penta’s remarkable journey. This period, unexpectedly marked by a global pandemic, tested our agility and reinforced our commitment to improving the health of children and in pregnancy. This review offers a strategic overview of our achievements and lessons learnt, providing insight into our organisational evolution.

2023 marked a year of significant progress for Penta. In the face of ongoing infectious disease challenges, our team leveraged innovative approaches and fostered strong collaborations to deliver impactful outcomes.

This article was written by Alasdair Bamford and Anna Turkova, senior researchers at MRCCTU at University College London and Penta ID Network members. It is taken from Penta’s 2023 Annual Social Report.

In this interview, we speak with Prof. Ali Judd, who co-chairs Penta’s Scientific Committee and is a renowned expert in paediatric infectious diseases. Dr. Judd is playing a key role in shaping Penta’s approach to emerging infections and child health.

In this article, Dr. Alasdair Bamford and Dr. Anna Turkova, both senior researchers at MRCCTU at University College London and Penta, offer valuable insights into Penta’s impactful strategies.

This article was written by Eleanor Namusoke Magongo, Team Lead Pediatrics and Adolescent HIV Care & Treatment AIDS Control Program, Ministry of Health Uganda. It is taken from Penta’s 2022 Annual Social Report.

This article was written by Laura Mangiarini, Penta Foundation Chief Operations Officer. It is taken from Penta’s 2022 Annual Social Report.

This article was written by Philippa Musoke, Penta ID Network ODYSSEY Co-investigator in Uganda. It is taken from Penta’s 2022 Annual Social Report.

Hilda Angela Mujuru, member of the Penta ID Network, gives an account of HIV in children in the early days, and highlights the importance of Penta’s work in improving the lives of children with HIV.

Paolo Palma talks about Covid-19 vaccines and the absence of an HIV cure.