In a world facing increasing global instability and funding uncertainties, our mission to improve the health of pregnant people, infants, children and adolescents is more critical than ever.
Despite these significant hurdles, 2024 was a year of intensified focus on research preparedness and collaborative innovation. This report details our key achievements from 2020-2024, highlights our 2024 research activities and outlines the strategic priorities guiding our future.
We are deeply grateful to all our stakeholders whose dedication makes Penta’s vital work possible.
“Addressing global health threats requires collaborative science that is rapid, effective, and crucially, inclusive, ensuring no one is left behind”.
— Carlo Giaquinto, President of the Penta Foundation
Our impact in 2020-2024
Click to enlarge image.
This article, written by Penta Foundation Board member Claire Thorne, offers a strategic overview of our achievements and lessons learnt, providing insight into our organisational evolution.
Key milestones of 2024
Pandemic preparedness:
Developed an electronic case report form (eCRF) for data collection on mpox in children and pregnant people, in collaboration with ISARIC
Better antibiotics:
The PediCAP study demonstrated that a shorter, oral antibiotic treatment for childhood pneumonia is as effective as injectable treatment, enabling earlier hospital discharge in African children
Innovative trial designs:
Launched SNIP-AFRICA: Innovative research to rapidly identify effective antibiotics for neonatal sepsis in resource-limited settings, combatting antimicrobial resistance
Infection prevention and control:
Developed NeoIPC surveillance toolkit to enhance infection prevention and control in European neonatal intensive care units
Close HIV treatment gaps:
The UNIVERSAL study submitted data to the Food and Drug Administration for approval of a new, child-friendly formulation of Darunavir/Ritonavir (DRV/r)
Equitable research:
Launched the Brighter Future Award Resource Centre of best practices for addressing infectious diseases equitably at the grassroots level
Education on data privacy:
Created an animated video to help children and young people understand data privacy (GDPR) when they take part in clinical trials
PentaTr@ining:
Expanded PentaTr@ining to Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with a multi sponsor (UNICEF, WHO, IOM) training workshop in Oman on the topic of Triple Elimination of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B – creating a ‘train-the-trainer’ legacy for sustainable ongoing regional health programmes
Towards an HIV cure:
Completed EPIICAL, a global platform advancing strategies for long-term HIV remission in early-treated children
20 years of Penta Foundation:
Celebrating 20 years of impact
Investing in our people: promoting equality and well-being
At Penta, we recognise that our success hinges on the talent, dedication, and well-being of our staff. As part of our 2020-2024 strategy, we are committed to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their best.
The best way to understand our culture is through the voices of our team. Read the stories of two Penta Foundation staff members.
Our commitment to environmental sustainability
At Penta, we believe in creating a positive impact not just on children’s health, but also on the environment we all share. We want our offices to be great places for our staff – and for the planet.
Advancing research on pregnancy and child health in 2024
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.
Our financial results
Revenues by research area
The chart showcases the evolving landscape of Penta’s research focus. Consistent with previous years, HIV remains the primary focus of our research. However, a steady increase in other areas is evident, reflecting our strategic response to emerging public health threat.
Expenses by type of activity
This chart illustrates the percentage distribution of our resource allocation across different activities for 2024. As the data indicates, a significant portion of our resources is directed towards the implementation of clinical trials and cohort studies.
Revenues by funder
As this chart illustrates, Penta benefits from strong partnerships with a variety of funding sources. Private institutions contribute the majority of our funding, reflecting our commitment to cross-sector collaboration. The European Commission remains a key public sector partner.
Looking ahead
The 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.
Insights from 2020-2024 have shaped our Strategy for the next five years (2025-2029), which remains faithful to our ethos: translating rigorous research into tangible solutions that improve global health outcomes for pregnant individuals, infants, children and adolescents.
Appendixes
Our previous reports
- Annual Report 2023
- Report of the independent auditor (pdf)
- Remunerations of the statutory bodies (pdf)
- Comunicazione ai sensi Art. 1 commi 125–129 Legge 06.04.22 N. 124 (pdf)
- Annual Report 2022
- Penta Foundation’s 2022 Financial Statements (pdf)
- Report of the Independent Auditor (pdf)
- Remunerations of the statutory bodies (pdf)
- Annual Report 2021
- Penta Foundation’s 2021 Financial Statements (pdf)
- Report of the Independent Auditor (pdf)
- Comunicazione ai sensi Art. 1 commi 125–129 Legge 06.04.22 N. 124 (pdf)