On 23-24 September 2025, VERDI partners gathered in Rome for the project’s final General Assembly, bringing together partners from across Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Southeast Asia to celebrate achievements, share results, and look ahead to the future of coordinated cohort research and pandemic preparedness.
The Assembly opened with updates from partners in Thailand and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), who presented the latest findings on mpox outbreaks and the challenges surrounding disease response. Their contributions set the tone for the meeting’s overarching theme: the need for adaptable, globally connected research networks that can respond rapidly to evolving threats.
Throughout the Assembly, partners presented results across all work packages — from advances in cohort mapping and data sharing to findings that can strengthen preparedness for emerging infections. Discussions highlighted VERDI’s role in developing tools, frameworks, and partnerships to support future research and inform policymakers’ decisions, thereby enhancing global capacity for rapid, evidence-based responses.
One of the focus of the meeting was the Cohort Coordination Board (CCB) and its Central Data Repository (CDR) — cornerstone initiatives established under VERDI to harmonise and sustain cohort research efforts. Participants emphasised the importance of ensuring their long-term continuity through integration with upcoming European and global initiatives, including CoMeCT, PIPELINE, and Be Ready Now.
Following the Assembly, the first in-person CCB workshop was held, bringing together representatives from European institutions and ongoing pandemic preparedness projects. The workshop concluded with five working groups focused on high-priority topics, from data collection and cohort sustainability to measuring the burden of infectious diseases. The outcomes of these discussions will shape a forthcoming CCB report, offering recommendations to guide future coordinated research and preparedness efforts.
As the project approaches completion on 31 October 2025, the two-day meeting offered an important opportunity to reflect on VERDI’s impact in strengthening global collaboration and advancing preparedness for emerging infectious diseases. The work of VERDI and the networks it helped strengthen will continue to inform Europe’s and the world’s readiness for future health threats.