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, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases in children and in pregnancy.
Our vision is to be at the forefront of clinical science that improves prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infections in children.
Our mission is to build a global network that conducts excellent research to help health systems achieve optimal outcomes for children.
We support research that seeks to better understand both the dynamics of transmission and how to get optimal health outcomes for children and in pregnancy.
Our scientific priorities are:
- HIV & viral infections
- Severe bacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance
- Infections in pregnancy and vertical transmission
- Neglected and emerging childhood infections
Our objectives
- To nurture a vibrant network of experts and investigators generating solutions for children’s health, notably infections
- To develop impactful research on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infections in children and in pregnancy
- To deliver training and education programmes for clinical providers and researchers that ensures high quality of patient care and research
- To collaborate with international partners to drive research agendas and deliver impact
- To inspire a new generation of leading researchers in paediatric infectious diseases
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.
