Future directions in combating outbreaks at CEPI Centralized Laboratory Network

The first CEPI Centralized Laboratory Network (CLN) meeting held in Rome in July 2024 gathered 67 experts from 27 global institutions, including CLN facilities, alongside key collaborators such as the World Health Organization (WHO), European Commission, US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Gates Foundation, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), PATH, and the Pasteur Network. The meeting showcased the network's achievements in standardizing immunological assays for emerging diseases, particularly SARS-CoV-2, while addressing challenges in assay development, validation, and technology transfer. Discussions focused on improving access to reagents, harmonizing protocols, and overcoming logistical and quality related barriers. The meeting also concentrated on preparedness and sustainability, aligning the network's goals with CEPI's 100-Day Mission to rapidly develop assays for Disease X. Topics such as rapid testing capabilities, high-throughput technologies, strategic partnerships, and communications between facilities were key highlights in the effort to tackle future outbreaks. Since the meeting, CEPI-CLN have actively addressed the feedback and suggestions, leading to improvements in the facilities' quality systems, better high-throughput assays, more proactive technology transfer strategies, and stronger partnerships. These enhancements ensure that the network remains adaptable and responsive to global health emergencies, further cementing its role in advancing standardized immunological assays for rare emerging diseases.