Creating an International Pandemic Preparedness Policy Network (PPPN)
FUNDING:
University of Southampton New Thing Fund (£7,000)
timeframe:
January 4th to April 30th 2021 (4 months)
Rationale:
The COVID-19 pandemic has delivered a profound shock to the entire world. Given the urgency of the pandemic response, global application and translation of knowledge from the University of Southampton (UoS) has never been more pertinent. More widely across the UoS, there exists a huge breadth of high-quality multi-disciplinary research covering a range of policy-relevant activities. This research is relevant, not only for the current COVID-19 pandemic response, but also for future pandemic planning and preparedness.
Proposal:
We will build a knowledge translation network that links global health policymakers and researchers at the UoS and University Hospital Southampton. The virtual/remote activities at the UoS will include conversations with policymakers, a series of roundtable discussions that will include other UoS researchers who will feed their findings into the conversations, and a series of policy briefs summarising UoS policy-relevant research.
We will also create a database that outlines key policy stakeholders groups and individuals who are influential in global pandemic preparedness. We will work closely with infrastructure such as Public Policy Southampton, R&I services, and local and national stakeholders (e.g., Public Health at Southampton City Council; UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office).
Objectives and study outputs:
To identify and contact major global health stakeholders and identify emerging revised strategies around pandemic preparedness.
To speak to those stakeholders about their roles and priority areas, including how UoS may be able to help and support in the short- and medium-term.
To present CIRU-led pandemic-relevant research to policymakers and invite other UoS/UHS colleagues to showcase their research as appropriate.
To create a series of policy briefs summarising stakeholder policy priorities and UoS policy-relevant research. We will disseminate printed copies and make these available electronically for colleagues.
Impact:
Local and national policy-makers will have access to leading groups and experts at the UoS involved in impactful research on important issues relating to pandemic preparedness. UoS academics and researchers will also be able to advise policy-makers and stakeholders and observe the immediate impact of their research.
This page will be updated regularly with new project information and outputs.
Tell us about your policy area(s) of interest relating to COVID-19 and pandemic planning
If you are a decision-maker and work on pandemic planning anywhere in the world (for example, but not restricted to, Ministries, health services, districts or local authorities, secretariats and groups in the Commonwealth, WHO or other UN agencies, thinktanks and advisory groups), we would like to hear from you.
We have now recorded and mapped out over 100 high-quality multi-disciplinary research studies relating to COVID-19 and pandemic preparedness being undertaken by University of Southampton researchers at the University. Through UoS PPS, our next aim is to tailor and “match up” decision-makers and University of Southampton researchers by policy area(s) of interest and priority areas, and to initiate a dialogue that will boost collaborations between UoS researchers and policy stakeholders.
For those currently active in COVID-19 policy/guidance or pandemic preparedness, we’d very much appreciate 1 minute of your time to fill out the survey. To note, any personal data you enter here will not be shared with internal or external stakeholders beyond those at University of Southampton who are involved in the project.
Please either email us directly or click on the following link – it is a short form and only takes 1 minute to fill in: