EVORA

The European Viral Outbreak Research Alliance is a new Horizon Europe project that builds on synergies and leverage complementarities between three existing research infrastructures: the European Virus Archive Global (EVA-G), ERINHA and ELIXIR. EVA-G is a globally distributed research infrastructure, which enables worldwide distribution of virus isolates, derivatives and reagents offered through the centralized EVAg catalogue, but decentralized biobanking and database infrastructures. ERINHA is a pan-European distributed Research Infrastructure bringing together leading European Bio-Safety Level 4 and complementary facilities (e.g. BSL3) for research on high-consequence re(emerging) diseases. Their focus on biosafety and biosecurity ensures the safe handling of dangerous pathogens, contributing significantly to pandemic readiness. ELIXIR is a European life science infrastructure, which facilitates access to and analysis of life science data. Their expertise ensures efficient data sharing and collaboration, enhancing research outcomes in pandemic preparedness and response. Thus, EVORA provides the EU with a comprehensive, operational and coordinated framework for research to improve pandemic preparedness and response to viral threats. The DSMZ leads a work package on policy recommendations for pathogen preparedness to ensure compliance, transparency, and harmonization in managing viral resources and data for global health preparedness.

The major goals of the work package are:

1. to ensure Nagoya Protocol compliance for end users of viral resources
2. to analyze the intersection of the CBD and WHO rules on benefit-sharing, and the implications for management of viral resources
3. to generate a roadmap for increased scientific transparency for viral digital resources and the translation of EVORA's scientific community for EU and international policymakers