Swift implementation of high-quality research makes it possible to generate and gather scientific insights quickly. This provides the necessary information for advice on the appropriate strategic, tactical and operational decision-making needed for timely control of an infectious disease or emergency situation. In the evaluation of the COVID-19 pandemic, research readiness was identified as a priority for strengthening pandemic preparedness in all EU European Union (European Union ) Member States. (source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control).

RIVM is working on preparations that will help with rapid provision of key information for risk assessment and infectious disease control, such as:

• Transferability, infection route, severity, risk factors, clinical spectrum of the disease and immune response;
• Detection strategies (quick assessment of surveillance and laboratory capacities, sensitive nature and specificity of new diagnostic testing);
• Effectiveness of public health measures (impact, feasibility and acceptance).

As part of this research readiness, the Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb) is working on research protocols and establishing internal agreements and corresponding privacy, ethical and data aspects for epidemics (including pandemics). In addition, it is important to set up and/or maintain research networks now, during the ‘cold phase’, so that the prepared research plans can be rolled out quickly in the event of an outbreak. By doing so, results can be made available at an early stage. These results are relevant for risk assessment by the outbreak management team (OMT) and/or for assessment of control measures.

A specific example of how we are implementing the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic in practice and increasing our research readiness is RIVM’s participation in the Harmony (Dutch only) project set up by the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw). As part of this project, RIVM is cooperating on eight studies by academic hospitals and one study by a general hospital designed to set up a common infrastructure and harmonise data. This shared landscape and homogeneous data will allow us to answer overarching research questions on people’s immune response to COVID-19 vaccines. See the Harmony COVID-19 vaccine studies leaflet for more information.