Research priorities for improved pandemic and epidemic intelligence

Pandemic and epidemic intelligence integrates surveillance data with contextual knowledge to assess health risks and inform public health decisions. Although investments in surveillance and public health intelligence have accelerated innovation, research efforts remain thematically and geographically fragmented and the translation of insights into policy and practice is inconsistent. To address this gap, the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, in collaboration with global partners, conducted a research prioritisation exercise to identify key research gaps and opportunities. Using a structured consultation process and expert-driven scoring, based on a modified Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative approach, we identified 23 priority research statements across eight thematic domains including data preparedness, quality standards, analytical frameworks, artificial intelligence and technological advances, multisectoral approaches, community-centred approaches, governance, and evidence-to-policy translation. These findings can guide funding agencies, policy makers, and research institutions in prioritising research investments that enhance data integration, diagnostic innovation, and real-time decision making.