Development of Roadmaps for Priority Pathogens with Epidemic Potential

Since 2016, CIDRAP has been engaged in the development of research and development (R&D) roadmaps for priority pathogens, including those identified by the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Research and Development (R&D) Blueprint for Epidemics. These roadmaps are part of a global strategy to enhance preparedness and response to pathogens with epidemic or pandemic potential and for which there are no or insufficient medical countermeasures, such as vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics.

CIDRAP’s work in this area includes the following:

Zika virus: CIDRAP worked with the WHO, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), and global experts to develop the Zika virus an R&D roadmap; an advanced draft was finalized in 2021 and is available on the WHO website: Zika Virus Research and Development (R&D) Roadmap: Advanced Draft. August 2021.
Beginning in 2023, CIDRAP, with UTMB and support of Wellcome, conducted extensive literature reviews, updated the R&D roadmap, and, with input of 125 global health experts, outlined a priority research agenda to advance R&D for Zika medical countermeasures. The resulting manuscripts, published in February 2025 as a joint series in The Lancet Infectious Diseases and The Lancet Microbe, outline the state of the science and a comprehensive strategy to advance research, surveillance, global capacity, policy, and investment for Zika virus preparedness and response.
Lassa and Nipah Virus: In 2023, CIDRAP, with funding from Wellcome, engaged expert working groups for Lassa fever and Nipah virus to update the 2019 versions of these two R&D roadmaps. The updates reflect recent literature and consensus opinion of the expert working groups. The updated 2024 roadmaps are available on the CIDRAP website:
- A Research and Development Roadmap for Lassa Fever: 2024 Update
- A Research and Development Roadmap for Nipah Virus: 2024 Update
Summaries of strategic priorities, based on the roadmaps, were published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases for both Lassa and Nipah viruses.
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF). In 2023, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) with funding from the Welcome, convened a working group of 20 experts from CCHF-affected countries and international R&D scientists, to update the 2019 advanced draft WHO CCHF R&D Roadmap. This update reflects scientific advances of the last five years and the consensus opinion of the CCHF working group. For convenience, the 2024 updated CCHF roadmap is available on the CIDRAP website alongside similar roadmaps for Nipah and Lassa viruses:
- A Research and Development Roadmap for CCHF: 2024 Update