A new European Union-funded initiative, known as the PAIR (Pandemic Preparedness and Rapid Response) project, has officially commenced in Copenhagen. Over the next five years, this collaborative effort will bring together 20 partners from seven countries with the goal of enhancing Europe's expertise and capabilities in advanced point-of-care systems and developing prognostic models powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).

Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic emerged as one of the most significant global crises in recent history, claiming millions of lives and causing widespread economic disruption. This unprecedented event highlighted the urgent need for more transparent, swift, and well-informed decision-making processes in pandemic readiness and response. It underscored the critical importance of technologies and models that can deliver rapid, reliable, and cost-effective information to support effective decision-making and maintain public trust.

Introducing Innovative Tools: PANPOC and PANRISK

To address these challenges, the PAIR project is launching two cutting-edge tools designed to improve pandemic surveillance and response:

• PANPOC: A state-of-the-art point-of-care (POC) instrument capable of rapidly detecting respiratory RNA viruses with pandemic potential. This device can analyze samples from humans, animals, and environmental sources, facilitating early detection across multiple sectors.

• PANRISK: An AI and ML-based model that processes real-time field data from publicly accessible online resources and proprietary information from project partners. PANRISK assesses pandemic risk by evaluating spatial distribution through geographical mapping, analyzing temporal occurrence patterns, and tracking the genetic evolution of viruses using bioinformatics and genetic surveillance techniques.

These tools have been meticulously developed to meet the comprehensive requirements of a European One Health genomic-informed surveillance and outbreak response system. By integrating data across human, animal, and environmental health domains, PANPOC and PANRISK aim to provide a holistic approach to pandemic preparedness.

Implementing the One Health Approach

"COVID-19 has made us acutely aware of the urgency in adopting the One Health approach to global health," stated Carsten Thure Kirkeby, the PAIR project coordinator. "This strategy addresses the needs of the most vulnerable populations within their broader contexts. With PAIR, we're striving to enhance preparedness and response efforts through improved decision-making. Advanced modeling will enable better coordination across regions and countries, effectively addressing a known weakness in pandemic response."

The One Health approach recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. By promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, it seeks to achieve optimal health outcomes on a global scale.

Collaborative Validation Across Europe

The PAIR tools will be implemented and validated by veterinary and clinical end-users in Denmark, France, Latvia, Italy, and Spain. This cross-border collaboration ensures that the tools are tested in diverse settings and can be adapted to meet the specific needs of different countries and regions.

Supporting Effective Adoption and Communication

To maximize the impact of the PAIR project, effective communication and stakeholder engagement are crucial. Ani Asatryan, project manager officer at ICONS, an Italian agency specializing in science communication and social innovation, emphasized this point:

"To support the PAIR project in its pioneering endeavors toward more effective pandemic responses, ICONS will ensure that the right people learn about and adopt the innovations—whether technological or social—in the appropriate manner."

ICONS will play a key role in disseminating information about the project, facilitating knowledge transfer, and promoting the adoption of the new tools among relevant stakeholders.

Looking Ahead: A Unified Effort for Future Preparedness

Scheduled to run from January 2024 to December 2028 under the coordination of Copenhagen University, the PAIR project represents a significant step toward bolstering Europe's pandemic preparedness. By leveraging AI and ML technologies within the One Health framework, PAIR aims to create a more resilient and responsive system capable of mitigating the impacts of future pandemics.

The PAIR project embodies a proactive approach to global health challenges, emphasizing the necessity of rapid innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and the integration of advanced technologies. Through initiatives like PANPOC and PANRISK, Europe is taking definitive steps to ensure that it is better equipped to face future health crises with agility and confidence.