Article written by Ali Judd, Professor of Epidemiology at UCL, and Pablo Rojo, paediatric infectious diseases consultant at UCM/Hospital 12 de Octubre; co-chairs of Penta Scientific Steering Committee. It is taken from the Penta 2025 Annual Report.
As we move further away from the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, it is important to sustain and enhance lessons learned so we are more prepared in future. Recent years have exposed significant vulnerabilities in global health systems, including unpredictable changes in incidence of infections, growing antimicrobial resistance, persistent inequities in access to care, and uncertainty around research funding. In this rapidly changing global health landscape, with strong interconnectivity between regions and countries and increased dependence on each other, we carry a responsibility that goes well beyond knowledge generation. 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.
These factors have shaped the development of Penta’s new scientific strategy for 2025-2029, which seeks to ensure that scientific priorities remain responsive to emerging challenges while reinforcing the foundations of equitable, collaborative and sustainable research.
The Penta Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) was established in 2023 and plays a central role in this effort. As the body responsible for guiding scientific priorities and ensuring coherence across Penta’s working groups, the SSC provides scientific oversight grounded in transparency, accountability and rigour.
The 2025-2029 strategy is structured around three interconnected strategic directions, which together define how Penta will pursue impact over the coming years. These directions reflect a balance between nurturing the Network that underpins Penta’s work, generating evidence that informs policy and practice, and ensuring preparedness for future changes in infection epidemiology. Rather than operating in isolation, these strategic directions are mutually reinforcing and are guided by a shared commitment to equitable access to studies.
Equity is a cross‑cutting principle throughout the strategy and Penta is committed to ensuring that the populations most affected by infectious diseases are meaningfully represented. This commitment aligns closely with Penta’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals and its broader mission as an organisation.
As the strategy moves from planning to implementation, measuring impact will be essential. Beyond scientific outputs, Penta will continue to reflect on how its work strengthens research capacity, informs policies and ultimately improves health outcomes.