Zika Virus Research and Development (R&D) Roadmap

Overview

R&D roadmaps are key documents to better understand current and future health threats and identify effective health technologies to save lives.

With the WHO overall coordination and oversight, together with a taskforce of internationally recognized subject-matter experts (SMEs), including scientists from the most affected countries, with specific expertise in flaviviruses and in one or more R&D areas, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota with the collaboration of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), has been tasked with facilitating the collaborative development of a Zika R&D Roadmap. The roadmap was posted on the WHO site for public comment in February 2021, and has since been revised per those comments.

The roadmap prioritizes the development of countermeasures (diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines) that are most needed by Zika affected countries and is the result of extensive consultations with the Zika R&D roadmap taskforce, leading national and international experts and other key stakeholders.

Roadmap purpose: To provide a 10-year framework for prioritizing research activities aimed at advancing the development, licensure, manufacture, deployment, and assessment of medical countermeasures (MCMs)—diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines—against Zika virus (ZIKV) disease. By highlighting key knowledge gaps, identifying strategic goals and milestones, and encouraging synergistic ZIKV research and development (R&D) activities, the roadmap will serve as a valuable tool to advance the existing complex field of ZIKV MCM research and stimulate overall investment in R&D and in implementation activities.