Prioritizing research readiness
Recognizing the importance of timely evidence for informed decision-making and effective emergency response, countries in the WHO South‑East Asia Region (SEAR) have prioritized strengthening their research preparedness capacity. This need became particularly evident during recent outbreaks, when gaps in the rapid generation and use of standardised data limited early response actions.
To support this priority, countries across the region are strengthening their capacity to conduct early investigations and studies during epidemics and pandemics through the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) Unity Studies, supported by the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework Partnership Contribution (PC). Unity Studies complement other surveillance approaches within the WHO Mosaic framework, which promotes the coordinated implementation of multiple surveillance activities tailored to specific priority objectives.
Rapid, standardized epidemiological investigations address key questions on transmission dynamics, disease severity, population susceptibility, and vaccine effectiveness—especially in the early stages of epidemics or pandemics. By generating comparable data across countries, these investigations support national decision-making and inform regional and global risk assessments.
Aligned with the Global Influenza Strategy 2019–2030 and the PIP PC High-Level Implementation Plan III (HLIP III) 2024–2030, these efforts are supporting countries in strengthening operational research readiness as part of pandemic preparedness.
Establishing SEAR chapter of the Unity Studies Network
Drawing on lessons learned from conducting Unity Studies during the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO Global Influenza Programme established the GISRS Unity Studies Network in 2024. Guided by the regional priorities for research readiness in pandemic preparedness, WHO SEARO convened a preliminary regional consultation in July 2024 with institutions that had implemented Unity Studies in the Region during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this consultation, participating institutions and WHO country offices adapted the global terms of reference to reflect regional and country-specific needs, laying the foundation for a regional community of research focused on pandemic preparedness and response.
Initially, seven institutions in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand were eligible to join the network. With the transition of Indonesia to the WHO Western Pacific Region, the number of sites in the SEAR chapter was reduced to six institutions. Nevertheless, the Region reached its HLIP III Monitoring and Evaluation target of establishing five sites—originally planned for 2029—four years earlier than expected.
WHO SEARO and country offices strategized to operationalize the research network within the pandemic preparedness agenda and biennial work plans. With catalytic funding from the PIP PC, supplemented by other institutional funding sources, these sites adapted and implemented Unity Studies protocols at the national level.
In Bangladesh, protocols for non-seasonal influenza and other emerging respiratory diseases were adapted and applied during avian influenza events. In India, capacity for standardized outbreak investigations was strengthened through training and pilot studies, including the conduct of a household transmission study in the populous capital, New Delhi. These experiences were also documented through publication in a peer reviewed journal.
Thailand used the network to adapt integrated surveillance and diagnostic approaches to enhance epidemic readiness for multiple respiratory pathogens, while sites in Nepal and Sri Lanka conducted in country consultations to adapt protocols to national priorities.
Strengthening collaboration and sustaining impact
In July 2025, SEARO, together with the WHO Country Office for Sri Lanka, organized a symposium at the Global Public Health Summit . The Ministry of Health, the Unity Studies site in Sri Lanka, and WHO discussed how evidence generated by the site could be used for decision-making during the early stages of epidemics and pandemics.
In March 2026, a regional network meeting provided all sites with a platform to share their experiences from 2025 and to define priorities for 2026. WHO SEARO also launched the SEAR Unity Studies webpage to showcase the network’s progress and support knowledge exchange.
Together, the regional research network has enabled participating sites to collaborate with counterparts in collaborative surveillance, community protection, access to medical countermeasures, and scalable clinical care sub-systems. This integrated approach has strengthened the generation and availability of critical epidemiological and operational research data across different phases of epidemics and pandemics.
As countries continue to build on these advances, the Region is increasingly well positioned to generate timely, high‑quality evidence to inform preparedness and response to future epidemics and pandemics caused by respiratory pathogens. Sustained investment in research readiness, integrated systems, and workforce capacity will be essential to maintaining this progress and strengthening resilience to emerging public health threats.