Ongoing actions

This research builds on ongoing research to investigate cross-cultural differences in risks facing adolescents in a context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mail, web and social media-based surveys are both quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed to gain a better understanding of how the pandemic affects children and young people’s lives, health and well-being and family needs by employing a cross-cultural comparative perspective.

Principal Investigators:

• MORISAKI Naho (Japan), Chief Researcher, National Center for Child Health and Development
• Polly Waite (United Kingdom), Senior Clinical Research, Psychologist, University of Oxford

Project in collaboration with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) (United Kingdom)

This comparative study investigates healthcare financing policies and practices in healthcare service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. By analyzing and comparing the institutional arrangements used to fund COVID-19-related health services and sources of funding for the services in different health system contexts, this study will help inform health system policy in anticipation of future similar challenges and will contribute to the debate in countries currently undertaking healthcare financing reform for universal health coverage (UHC).

Principal Investigators:

• HONDA Ayako (Japan), Professor, Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University
• Valéry Ridde (France), Research Director, Centre Population et Développement (CEPED), IRD, Université de Paris

Project in collaboration with Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR) (France)

WHO Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO)

20 August 2021

Call for experts

Issued on:  20 August 2021

Deadline: 10 September 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members of the WHO Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO). This “Call for experts” provides information about the advisory group in question, the expert profiles being sought, the process to express interest, and the process of selection.

Background

The rapid emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 has highlighted the importance of being prepared for any future event, to be able to identify novel pathogens early and to address the risk factors that contribute to their emergence and spread. In May 2020, the World Health Assembly, through resolution WHA73.1, requested the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) to continue to work closely with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and countries, as part of the One Health approach, to identify the source of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the route of introduction to the human population.

There have been an increasing number of high threat pathogens emerging and reemerging in recent years with, for example, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, Lassa, Marburg, Ebola, Nipah, avian influenza, the latest being SARS-CoV-2. There is not only need for robust surveillance and early actions for rapid detection and mitigation efforts, but a need for a robust and systematic processes to establish the study around the emergence of these pathogens and routes of transmission from their natural reservoirs to humans.

To this end, the Director-General has established the WHO Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins on Novel Pathogens (hereinafter referred to as ‘SAGO”). The SAGO will advise the WHO Secretariat on technical and scientific considerations regarding emerging and re-emerging pathogens, and will be composed of experts acting in a personal capacity. It is established in accordance with the WHO Regulations for Study and Scientific Groups, Collaborating Institutions and Other Mechanisms of Collaboration.