Two Indians selected to CEPI scientific advisory committee

Two Indians selected to CEPI scientific advisory committee

Subject: Science & tech

Context: Immunologist Dr Vineeta Bal and Bharat Biotech Executive Director Dr Krishna Mohan have been selected to the scientific advisory committee at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

Concept:

Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness for Innovation (CEPI)

• The CEPI is a foundation that takes donations to finance independent research projects to develop vaccines against emerging infectious diseases (EID).
• It is focused on the WHO’s “blueprint priority diseases.
• These diseases include the Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV), the SARS coronavirus 2 the Nipah virus, the Lassa fever virus, and the Rift Valley fever virus, as well as the Chikungunya virus and the hypothetical, unknown pathogen “Disease X”.
• CEPI investment also requires “equitable access” to the vaccines during outbreaks.
• CEPI was conceived in 2015 and formally launched in 2017 at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.