# Pandemics and alertness

**Source**: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/research-and-innovation/thematic-collaboration-initiatives/pandemics-and-alertness
**Parent**: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/sitemap

A thematic collaboration initiative at Lund University

[På svenska](https://www.lu.se/forskning/tematiska-samverkansinitiativ/kompletta-miljoer-pandemihantering-och-beredskap-ett-globalt-perspektiv)

The Covid-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated how fast viruses can become a significant threat to global health. Through national and international collaboration, we can improve our readiness for future virus outbreaks.\

Creating spaces where key people and experts can share knowledge is essential if we are to develop new and effective ways to combat future virus pandemics. The experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic and other major virus outbreaks underscores this point.

## Exploring the complexity of pandemics

Pandemics and Alertness is an interdisciplinary platform that promotes collaboration in research, innovation, education and exchange of information. The platform brings together stakeholders, researchers and experts from different disciplines, public authorities and sectors of society to work together on specific virus-related topics. The aim is to improve our knowledge and understanding of how pandemics impact health, society, and the economy.

The research platform aims to:

- investigate how societies can prepare for a viral pandemic by mobilisation and initiatives to mitigate the rapid spread of viruses that pose a significant threat to public health
- contribute to the development of novel methods and techniques related to virus pandemics – including contact tracing, diagnostic tools and molecular epidemiology
- improve our understanding of what viruses look like, how they spread, and how they cause disease using both conventional methods and high-tech facilities such as MAX IV, and in the future, ESS
- evaluate initiatives and methods for the development of new antiviral drugs and prevention of virus pandemics
- spur greater interest in virology education
- promote the dissemination of knowledge and research on viral pandemics to the public.

By bringing together knowledge and experience, the platform further aims to develop innovative solutions that can help the world respond and manage virus pandemics more effectively in the future.

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## External partners

The links go to other websites.

- [Diagonal Bio AB](https://diagonalbio.com/)
- [European Spallation Source (ESS)](https://europeanspallationsource.se/)
- [European University Alliance for Global Health (EUGLOH)](https://www.eugloh.eu/)
- [European University Alliance for Global Health – Transformation through Joint Research and Innovation Action (EUGLOHRIA)](https://www.euglohria.eu/)
- [Skåne County Administrative Board, Unit for Social Sustainability](https://www.lansstyrelsen.se/skane/om-oss/other-languages/english/society/social-sustainability.html)
- [Mamta Health Institute for Mother and Child](https://mamtahimc.in/)
- [MAX IV](https://www.maxiv.lu.se/)
- [McMaster University, Global Nexus School for Pandemic Prevention & Response](https://globalnexus.mcmaster.ca/)
- [The Civil Society Network in Skåne (NÄTVERKET – Idéburen sektor Skåne)](https://natverket.org/english/)
- [Protein Production Sweden (PPS)](https://www.gu.se/en/old-URL-pps)
- [Red Glead Discovery AB](https://www.redglead.com/)
- [Region Skåne](https://www.skane.se/en/)
- [SANTHE, Africa](https://www.santheafrica.org/)
- [SARomics Biostructures AB](https://www.saromics.com/)
- [School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University](https://sph.mak.ac.ug/)
- [SciLifeLab](https://www.scilifelab.se/)
- [Swedish Society for Virology](http://www.swedishvirology.se/)
- [Umeå University](https://www.umu.se/en/)
- [University College London – UCL School of Pharmacy](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/pharmacy/)
- [University of Oxford](https://www.ox.ac.uk/)\

## Contact information

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### Coordinators

**Joakim Esbjörnsson**\
Senior lecturer, associate professor\
Systems virology\
Phone: [+46(0)46 222 0119](tel:+46462220119)\
Mobile: [+46(0)70 399 3802](tel:+46703993802)\
joakim [dot] esbjornsson [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (joakim[dot]esbjornsson[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)

**Anette Agardh**\
Professor of Global health \
Social medicine and Global health\
Phone: [+46(0)40 39 1338](tel:+4640391338)\
Mobile: [+46(0)70 833 7735](tel:+46708337735)\
anette [dot] agardh [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (anette[dot]agardh[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)

**Pia Svensson**\
Associate Researcher\
Social medicine and Global health\
Mobile: [+46(0)70 530 0581](tel:+46705300581)\
pia [dot] svensson [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se

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### Website

[Virology – virology.lu.se](https://www.virology.lu.se/)

### Research environments linked to the project

The links go to other websites.

- [Clinical genetics](https://www.clinicalgenetics.lu.se/)
- [Ergonomics and aerosol technology](https://www.eat.lth.se/english/)
- [Immunotechnology](https://www.immun.lth.se/)
- [Protein production, biophysics, crystallisation and structure determination](https://www.lp3.lu.se/)
- [Sustainability studies](https://www.lucsus.lu.se/)
- [Translational medicine](https://www.medicine.lu.se/faculty-medicine-lund-university/departments/department-translational-medicine)