ActivitiesOur two main missions:
Preparing for and Responding to Emerging Infectious Epidemic Threats

Staying one step ahead by improving research preparation in-between epidemics:
  • Identification of key institutions and scientists working in the field of emerging diseases
  • Development of tools (protocols, CRF, etc)
  • Identification of research priorities and funding opportunities (EDTCP, H2020, IMI, etc)
  • Integration within international networks (GloPid-R, Isaric, OMS Blueprint, CEPI, etc)
  • Maintaining strong collaborations with NGOs (MSF, Alima, etc)
  • Preparation of ethical, regulatory and methodological aspects
  • Monitoring of ongoing projects
  • Scientific literature watch relating to emerging diseases and outbreaks
REACTing is convinced multi-disciplinary collaboration and keeping a broad scope, ranging across fundamental research, clinical research, social sciences, environmental sciences, epidemiology and public health are essential for the preparation and coordination of research to effectively deal with unforeseeable infectious threats.
We have entered a new regime of emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases. This regular re-occurrence calls for new responses, which match the challenges faced during the urgency of epidemic crises.
In today’s ever increasingly globalised world, factors such as environmental disturbances (deforestation, changing of waterways, ...), uncontrolled urbanisation, changes in crop and livestock conditions, increasing international flights, the displacement of populations and climate change favour the emergence and spread of emerging or re-emerging infectious pathogens (MERS-CoV, SARS, Chikungunya, Zika, Ebola, H1N1, H5N1, plague ...). These germs can be at the origin of epidemics causing health crises at the national and international level.

As a result, regional, governmental and international organisations, as well as health agencies, non-governmental organisations and the pharmaceutical industry are today challenged by the repetition of these crises, which have consequences on public health, the society, the economy and sometimes the political equilibrium of a region.