More than 30 years since its creation, Penta is today one of the most prominent scientific organisations dedicated to paediatric research. We are an international, independent, scientific collaboration devoted to advancing research on optimising the prevention and management of infections in pregnancy, infancy, childhood and adolescence.
Our vision is for a world where the health needs of pregnant people, infants, children and adolescents are always prioritised.
Our mission is to be an inclusive network that delivers impactful research to improve the prevention and management of infections in pregnancy, infancy, childhood and adolescence globally.
We are focused on developing scientific evidence to inform guidelines, policies and practice, accelerated through strategic partnerships, especially in countries where there is the greatest need. Penta advocates for equitable access to healthcare across all activities and strives to engage with affected and at risk communities to maximise impact.
Our three main strategic pillars for the years 2025-2029 are:
1. Nurturing a vibrant and collaborative international research network
2. Generating scientific evidence to inform guidelines and policies and to improve health outcomes for our priority research areas and populations
3. Preparing to address (re)emerging infection threats
Strategic Pillar 1: Nurturing a vibrant and collaborative international research network
Our network community is one of our greatest strengths. The network is committed to collaboration to advance infectious diseases research in paediatrics and pregnancy. The cornerstone of the network is the Penta Foundation. The main aim for 2025-2029 is to strengthen research capacity and expand collaborations, especially in Asia, Africa and the Americas, ensuring equitable contribution in research programmes by:
- Fostering active participation from the target regions through membership of Penta Working Groups.
- Expanding the training program to underrepresented regions.
- Inspiring and supporting future leaders in maternal and child health, across regions.
- Establishing and mobilising Special Interest Groups to incubate new research ideas and broaden participation of network members.
Strategic Pillar 2: Generating scientific evidence to inform guidelines and improve health outcomes for priority research areas and populations
Our research on prevention and treatment of infections in pregnant people, infants, children and adolescents prioritises the following four infections areas:
- HIV and viral hepatitis
- Serious bacterial and fungal infections
- Congenital and perinatal infections
- Respiratory infections
Each of these infections areas has its own Working Group, and these are complemented by four cross-cutting Working Groups, in Clinical Pharmacology, Basic Science, Education and Training, and Early Career Researchers.
The activity of the infections and cross-cutting Working Groups deliver Pillar 2 and additionally synergise and contribute to Pillars 1 and 3.
Overall, between 2025-2029, the aim is to expand the infection prevention and pregnancy research portfolios.
Additionally, each Working Group has priorities for 2025-2029. To find out what these are, visit the Working Groups page.
Strategic Pillar 3: Preparing to address (re)emerging infection threats
People across the globe are at risk from new and re-emerging infections, and environmental change and globalisation increase transmission. Pregnant people, infants, children and adolescents may be at higher risk of poorer health outcomes and inequities. The strategic focus will be on bringing together, harmonising and broadening existing research capacity to enable a rapid targeted and effective research response.
Specific aims will be:
- Maintaining a network ready to respond to (re)emerging infection threats
- Promoting master protocol approaches
- Engaging with the network to identify important preparedness questions relevant to the target populations
- Participating in European and international research preparedness initiatives to promote specific needs of the target populations
- Contributing to timely communication of scientific evidence to the public and policy makers.
Our history
Our journey is one of continuous progress. We began thirty-two years ago, driven by a shared passion among scientists: ensuring no child is left behind in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Today, this passion has ignited a global network, extending beyond HIV to address a wider spectrum of infectious diseases.
In 1991, the Paediatric European Network for Treatment of AIDS (PENTA) emerged as a collaborative effort between European paediatric HIV centres. Its primary focus was conducting independent clinical trials specifically tailored for children, complementing existing research efforts.
As the Network’s scope grew beyond HIV clinical trials and observational studies, Penta evolved into an ideal platform for fostering and supporting research and training activities. This pivotal moment gave birth to the Penta Foundation.
Recognising the neglect of other childhood infections, the Paediatric European Network for Treatment of AIDS transitioned into Penta ID (Infectious Diseases) in 2011. This shift broadened research endeavours (both clinical and basic) to encompass a wider range of paediatric infectious diseases.
With the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, Penta has developed an ambitious and unique research agenda tackling critical questions surrounding treatment and prevention for newborns and children.
The fight against COVID-19 became a crucial focus in 2021. Aligning with our core scientific strategy, we mobilised our Network members and collaborators to investigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on maternal and child health. This initiative reflects our unwavering belief that only through joining our resources and experience with partners can we advance our knowledge and inform effective virus control strategies.
In 2022, we not only consolidated our collaborative effort to advance the treatment and care of COVID-19, but we also expanded the scope of our research to mpox. This expansion aimed to build research preparedness for future emerging pathogens with pandemic potential, harnessing the power of real word data.
The year 2023 saw the establishment of the Penta research environment, designed for centralised coordination and the support of all ongoing research activities.
As we solidify our position as the leading experts in maternal and child health research, the values and behaviours that underpin our work will continue to guide us.
