Need for sustainable biobanking networks for COVID-19 and other diseases of epidemic potential

by Rosanna W Peeling, Debrah Boeras, Annelies Wilder-Smith, Amadou Sall, John Nkengasong

Outbreaks of infectious diseases are occurring with increasing frequency and unpredictability. The rapid development and deployment of diagnostics that can accurately and quickly identify pathogens as part of epidemic preparedness is needed now for the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO has developed a global research and innovation forum to facilitate, accelerate, and deepen research collaboration among countries and funders. Great progress has been made in the past decade, but access to specimens remains a major barrier for the development and evaluation of needed quality diagnostics.

24th July 2020 • comment