IAEA Convenes ZODIAC Week in Vienna to Strengthen Global Defences Against Future Pandemics

ZODIAC Week is structured to foster dialogue and collaboration between its key bodies. The first in-person session of the ZODIAC Ad-Hoc Scientific Panel , composed of independent scientists from all regions, will provide scientific guidance and recommendations for the initiative's future direction, including exploring new strategies like irradiated vaccines and antimicrobial resistance control.

Simultaneously, the first Research Coordination Meeting (RCM) of the new coordinated research projects (CRP) for Africa, funded by Japan, will begin its work. The project aims to strengthen surveillance systems across the continent by accelerating sample collection, improving diagnostic accuracy, and understanding pathogen genetics. These efforts are running in parallel with the ZODIAC National Laboratories (ZNLs) Implementation Meeting, which brings together lab representatives to foster collaboration and coordinate surveillance and response strategies.