A European Proactive Adaptive Clinical Trials Network within EU-Response

Recent pandemics showed Europe how serious health threats can be to society. Proactive approaches are needed to ensure that medical countermeasures are available during pandemics. PROACT EU-Response’s overarching objective is to prepare Europe for future pandemics by strengthening upon existing networks of experts and civil society focused on clinical therapeutic platform trials within hospital inpatient settings across Europe. In case of an outbreak, this network will provide capacity to pivot rapidly to implement large, multi-country platform trials studying therapeutics and diagnostic-tool performance. Underpinned by strong community involvement and further strengthened by the inclusion of social and implementation scientists, PROACT EU-Response centres on six objectives: expand a solid network of clinical centres across Europe that will implement a clinical trial assessing a syndromic approach for respiratory viral infections; strengthen a laboratory network to identify pathogens and biomarkers of disease monitoring for routine surveillance; support a network of methodologists and trialists who will ensure the trials’ logistical and methodological aspects; initiate a network of professionals to work on preparedness tools to ensure a smooth pivot from inter-pandemic to the pandemic period in case of an outbreak; build a network of social science researchers who will provide nuanced understanding of the social contexts; and establish a community group to work on activities that will empower patients and citizens in Europe regarding their own health and educate them about science and health issues. By bringing together scientists, social science researchers, and civil society members, PROACT EU-Response will benefit the entire European population and beyond through decreased mortality and morbidity associated with emerging diseases, lower societal economic costs of morbidity, strengthened research and innovation expertise, human capacities, and know-how for combatting communicable diseases.