This article was written by Claire Thorne, Penta Foundation’s Vice President, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London. It is taken from Penta’s 2024 Annual Social Report.
When we developed the 2020-2024 Penta strategy, we had no inkling that a global pandemic with a novel coronavirus was just around the corner. Whilst our scientific priorities included emerging childhood infections, our main research focus was on our key scientific priority areas of HIV and blood-borne viruses, severe bacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and infection in pregnancy and vertical transmission.
Over the last five years, Penta has maintained its strong HIV research theme, reflecting our origins as a paediatric HIV trials network. Our HIV research in 2020-2024 spanned clinical trials, observational studies and fundamental research. This included the impactful ODYSSEY trial, which helped to make Dolutegravir accessible for children globally, and our cohort collaboration, EPPICC, which provides real world data on safety and effectiveness of new antiretrovirals in pregnancy and childhood. Meanwhile the EPIICAL platform has not only provided critical evidence for the HIV cure agenda but also established paediatric cohorts around the world as a resource for future research. Our AMR research has similarly gone from strength to strength, with expanded activities in Africa such as the PediCAP trial and SNIP-AFRICA, both of which have applied innovative methodologies.
Recognising the need for specific research on SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and pregnant people, Penta’s research took a new direction when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. We coordinated pregnancy and paediatrics studies in the ORCHESTRA project, and have subsequently led the VERDI project, focusing on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on pregnant people and children, which expanded in 2022 to address mpox and research preparedness more generally. This work has paved the way for further partnerships, such as in CoMeCT (Coordination Mechanism for Cohorts and Trials), in which Penta continues to highlight the specific needs of children and pregnant people.
Our expanding research and training portfolios have strengthened collaborations with clinicians, researchers and institutions across the world, and stimulated substantial growth of the Penta ID Network over the past five years. The Penta Network Engagement Committee has played a key role in supporting this growth and “nurturing our network”, a key strategic objective, together with the Penta Foundation team. Meanwhile our virtual Penta Aperitivo webinars provide valuable opportunities for scientific exchange and connection across the network.
These strategic adaptations and collaborations have significantly impacted our research, empowering our researchers and improving outcomes for the communities we serve.
The lessons learnt from the 2020-2024 period are informing Penta’s 2025-2029 strategy, particularly in expanding our global network to underrepresented regions and enhancing our preparedness for emerging infectious diseases, ensuring rapid and equitable responses for our target populations.
Explore our 2020-2024 achievements in the graphic below.
