Unity Studies Global Network: A Global Initiative to Strengthen Pandemic Preparedness and Response

Washington, D.C., October 6, 2025 (PAHO) - To strengthen preparedness and response to respiratory pathogen events, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is promoting the Unity Studies Initiative, a pandemic preparedness and readiness framework for conducting targeted investigations and studies designed to generate scientific evidence to guide public health decision-making at the national, regional, and global levels during epidemics and pandemics.

What is the Unity Studies Network and why is it important?

Originally developed following the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic and later adapted for MERS and COVID-19, the Unity Studies initiative is now entering a new phase that includes the development of a Unity Studies Network. This network aims to bring together sites committed to implementing studies in a rapid and coordinated manner, ensuring that the evidence needed to respond to a pandemic is generated in a timely manner.

Influenza, COVID-19, and other respiratory pathogens will continue to pose a threat to our populations, underscoring the need for sustained preparedness. By joining the Unity Studies Network, countries gain access to:

• Standardized WHO/PAHO protocols, ready to be adapted and implemented when critical questions arise.

• Technical cooperation and training to strengthen national and local capacities.

• A global network of investigations and studies sites, enabling exchange of best practices and experiences.

Exploring the Unity Studies protocols

Through an interactive exercise during the 2025 SARInet plus and REVELAC meeting, representatives from countries in the Americas explored which Unity Studies protocols could be implemented in a hypothetical scenario to investigate household transmission, outbreaks in closed institutions, or seroprevalence studies.

This exercise allowed participants to reflect on the contributions of Unity Studies to guiding evidence-based public health measures. It also allowed them to recognize what actions can be taken during the inter-pandemic period to prepare for the collection of critical information that will not be possible to obtain from routine surveillance systems.

A call to action: Join the Unity Studies Network

The global network of Unity Studies sites currently includes 17 sites from almost all world regions, reaffirming the global commitment to preparedness and equity in research to reduce the impact of future health emergencies.

PAHO calls on countries in the Americas to join this effort, reinforcing regional cooperation and ensuring that every country can rapidly generate the local evidence needed for decision-making. Further sites are welcome to join the network.

If you are interested in learning more about the network and opportunities to participate, please contact Diana Malo ([email protected]).

Further information, including the Terms of Reference for participation in the network, can be found on the Unity Studies webpage.