Commission for Pandemic Research
The Interdisciplinary Commission for Pandemic Research was established by the DFG in June 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It has 21 members from all academic disciplines. The Chair of the Commission is Professor Dr. Katja Becker, President of the DFG.
The aim is to contribute to pandemic preparedness and pandemic analysis from a scientific perspective as well to increase the transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary body of knowledge relating to the topic of pandemics and epidemics in general and SARS-CoV-2 in particular.
Statement on the current WHO Pandemic Agreement
In a current Link auf PDF-Dateistatement on a pandemic agreement planned by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Interdisciplinary Commission für Pandemic Research has emphasised the importance of free knowledge-driven research. The statement underlines the importance of pandemic preparedness, but urges the exclusion of knowledge-driven research from the scope of application.
The Commission at a glance
Members of the Commission
The commission consists of 21 members from all academic disciplines.
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Commission Publications
The Commission has issued statements on pandemic-related issues since the beginning of the pandemic. Interner Linkmore
Activities of the Commission
Further activities on the topic of pandemic research.
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Why is a scientific commission required for this purpose?
The coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated clearly that science-based knowledge is essential for dealing with pandemics. The interdisciplinary Commission for Pandemic Research aims to provide information on the scientific background and contribute to closing information gaps by means of targeted contributions by its members. The interdisciplinary composition of the Commission allows it to issue statements on various current issues, such as Long COVID, access to health research data, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 viruses through aerosols and vaccine acceptance.
The Commission supports DFG-funded projects on research into pandemics and epidemics: this applies to ongoing work as well as to research projects under an interdisciplinary call for proposals and COVID-19 Focus Funding. Between June 2020 and June 2021, the Commission prepared a total of seven calls for “COVID-19 Focus Funding”. Call topics covered a broad spectrum of particularly pressing scientific issues. Funding is provided for projects dealing with the prevention, early detection, containment, investigation of causes and effects, and the management of epidemics and pandemics, based on the example of SARS-CoV-2 and other human pathogenic microorganisms and viruses..
The Commission currently meets every six weeks. Guests are regularly invited to address specific specialist issues, thereby contributing to the networking of research.
Programme contact at the DFG Head Office:
- Dr. Anne Brüggemann
Head of Humanities and Social Sciences 2:
Social and Behavioural Sciences
Tel. +49 228 885-2213
Link auf E-Mailanne.brueggemann@dfg.de
Media contact:
- Marco Finetti
Head of Press and Public Relations at the DFG
Tel. +49 228 885-2230
Link auf E-Mailmarco.finetti@dfg.de