Time is now: Preparing for the next pandemic

At the BIOHK2024, held on September 11-14, 2024, the roundtable discussion titled "Time is now: Preparing for the next pandemic," brought together Professors Jun Liu, George Fu Gao, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Lit Man Leo Poon, and Nan Song. They explored the current state of global readiness for impending viral threats, focusing on the necessity for enhanced surveillance, improved diagnostic technologies, and the development of more efficient vaccines and drugs. The panel underscored the importance of a coordinated global response, the role of vaccination in mitigating pandemic impacts, and the challenges posed by emerging viruses and their variants. They also highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence in disease prediction and basic researches, and also the need for continuous investment in pandemic preparedness to address the gaps exposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The discussion concluded on a note of cautious optimism, emphasizing the importance of learning from past experiences and the resilience demonstrated by many countries during the recent pandemic.