Innovation and responsiveness: priorities for coordinated action ‘Diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine viral targets’ in response to viral emergencies

1. What were the reasons behind the creation of the “Diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine viral targets” group

Delphine Planas. The creation of the Coordinated action (CA) “Diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine viral targets” by the ANRS MIE responds to a strategic need expressed by the scientific community: to develop, upstream of any crisis, scientific knowledge to better prepare France to deal with future viral emergencies.

Since the emergence of HIV in the 1980s, French research has followed a fairly successful pattern in basic research into infectious diseases, but this has not been very effective in developing treatments or vaccines. Unfortunately, this was confirmed by the Covid-19 pandemic: the French scientific response, which was insufficiently structured around the development of diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine tools, was unable to propose concrete solutions in time to deal with the emergency.

To be fully effective, research must now be organised around two complementary timeframes:
– Long-term basic research, which is essential if we are to learn more about existing and emerging pathogens;
– A rapid, coordinated response, capable of mobilising diagnostics, prophylactic and therapeutic treatments, and vaccines in less than 100 days in the event of the emergence of a new virus.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the fact that it is not enough to have scientific knowledge; we also need to be able to rapidly transform it into practical applications. This means structuring applied research in a more operational way, to increase efficiency, preserve our scientific leadership and protect society in future crises.

Bruno Canard. This is precisely the ambition of this CA. It aims to anticipate, as of now, the essential needs for the development of rapid response tools:
– Medicinal chemistry, to design and optimise molecules with high therapeutic potential;
– Screening of molecules and monoclonal antibodies on better-connected and streamlined platforms, to avoid duplication and speed up the identification of promising candidates;
– Structural biology, to decipher major viral targets at a very early stage, enabling the development of vaccines, diagnostic tools and drugs;
– Artificial intelligence and data integration, to exploit existing knowledge more effectively and accelerate the development of innovative solutions.

Through this CA, ANRS MIE aims to create an environment conducive to more integrated, responsive and impact-oriented research in the service of public health.

2. What are the priorities of the coordinated action ?

Delphine Planas. The aim of the CA is to improve the structure and drive research around several pathogens identified as presenting a risk of emergence on French territories, in order to improve coherence and collective effectiveness. It also aims to respond to the needs raised by the scientific community in relation to priority issues.

One of the CA’s objectives is to map the French scientific community active in each of the CA’s four thematic areas, in order to encourage exchanges and stimulate collaboration. This initiative is part of a wider drive to facilitate the rapid transition from basic research to practical applications, particularly in diagnostics, treatments and vaccines.
Bruno Canard. Finally, the CA is paying particular attention to the training and involvement of the new generation of researchers, to prepare them to meet the dual requirements of scientific quality and operational responsiveness. Through this approach, the ANRS MIE aims to better anticipate future viral emergences, strengthen French scientific excellence, and limit the health and societal impact of future pandemics.

4. What innovations in the field of the CA could be beneficial to a better response to epidemics?

Bruno Canard. First and foremost, we need to get organised. The CA is proposing to structure the scientific community, based mainly on the findings of the pandemic. A detailed mapping of existing expertise and resources will help to better connect the players, fill identified gaps and avoid duplication. This approach promotes more effective coordination between researchers and facilitates the integration of industry to accelerate the development of diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine tools. On the scientific front, we can’t avoid the already hackneyed subject of AI. Its integration to exploit data and guide research more rapidly is a major lever. We are also encouraging anticipation in key disciplines such as structural biology, so that we can immediately have the information we need to develop countermeasures, as was the case for vaccines against Covid-19, based on the structure of the Spike protein. Finally, an effort is being made to pool and better connect molecular and monoclonal antibody screening platforms, in order to rationalise and accelerate the process of selecting therapeutic candidates.

Delphine Planas. Beyond the technological aspects, the CA is also driving a change in culture. It places research in a dual dynamic: maintaining a high level of basic research while at the same time preparing for a rapid response in a short space of time. The involvement of young researchers in this dual requirement is also at the heart of the approach, to strengthen the capacity of French research to anticipate, organise and react.

5. How can researchers contribute to or take part in the coordinated action?

Bruno Canard and Delphine Planas. All researchers, including young post-docs, are invited to take part in the CA’s events. You can subscribe to the mailing list (link below). Also, please feel free to ask us at any time for contacts or any information likely to help you advance your projects.