Ebola and Zika showed that the world is tragically unprepared to detect local outbreaks and respond quickly enough to prevent them from becoming global pandemics. Without investments in research and development, we will remain unequipped when we face the next threat.

The ability to rapidly develop and deliver vaccines when new ‘unknown’ diseases emerge offers our best hope to outpace outbreaks, save lives and avert disastrous economic consequences. CEPI is a great example of how supporting innovation and R&D can help the world to address some of its most pressing health challenges.

Bill Gates, Co-Chair

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Just over a year ago 193 states adopted the Sustainable Development Goals – the roadmap for the future we want. Epidemics threaten that future. They can ruin societies on a scale only matched by wars and natural disasters. They respect no borders and don’t care if we are rich or poor. Protecting the vulnerable is protecting ourselves. This is why we all must work together to be better prepared – and why my Government is fully committed to ensure that CEPI achieves its mission.

Erna Solberg, Prime Minister

Government of Norway

Japan has highlighted the importance of pandemic preparedness and Universal Health Coverage. I believe the CEPI will contribute to achieving them through encouraging development of vaccines.

Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare

Government of Japan

The outbreak of diseases like MERS, Ebola, or Lassa fever will continue to pose a threat to many people’s health as long as there are no effective vaccines. This is why we are involved in the CEPI initiative, whose objective is to prevent future epidemics by developing novel vaccines.

Anja Karliczek, Federal Minister of Education and Research

Government of Germany

We know from Ebola, Zika and SARS that epidemics are among the significant threats we face to life, health and prosperity. Vaccines can protect us, but we’ve done too little to develop them as an insurance policy. CEPI is our chance to learn the lessons of recent tragedies, and outsmart epidemics with new vaccine defences. If others join us in supporting CEPI, we can realise our goal of creating a safer world

Dr Jeremy Farrar, Director

The Wellcome Trust

Recent epidemics taught the world the hard way that infectious diseases know no borders. The EU shares the CEPI objective to develop new vaccines that will help prevent and contain future epidemics, and is committed to collaborating with CEPI in joint efforts towards this goal.

Carlos Moedas, EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation

European Commission

The Australian Government is invested in the global effort to fund critical research and development gaps for pandemic preparedness and global health security. Australia is committed to global health, and will continue to build global innovative partnerships and seek out opportunities for international research collaboration. Australia’s contribution to the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, through the Medical Research Future Fund, will assist in the development of vital vaccines suitable for humans that are deploy-ready before an epidemic begins, and ensure we are prepared for future epidemics.

Government of Australia