The impact of the pandemic crisis on biosciences & society: opportunities and challenges

The COVID19 pandemic took place during the 4th Industrial Revolution. While it has brought a lot of advances in bioscience (vaccine, therapeutics, diagnostics, new public health tools, etc) it has also highlighted some challenges in the fight against pandemics of the 21st Century – in particular – the impact on society.

Please join us for this Heidelberg Forum Seminar on “The impact of the pandemic crisis on bioscience & society: opportunities and challenges”. The Heidelberg Forum is a collaboration between three leading research institutions in Heidelberg – EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory), DKFZ (German Cancer Research Centre) and the University of Heidelberg.

Our vision is to create a forum for cross-sectoral dialogue on the greatest challenges affecting humanity. We are committed to furthering both scientific and societal debate, by connecting experts with members of the academic community in Heidelberg, and by exploring solutions to the most pressing issues of our time. In this way, we hope to facilitate vital scientific outreach, while simultaneously giving scientists an insight into the impact their research has on society.

Our mission is to make expert-led seminars freely available to anyone who wishes to attend, with a particular focus on our academic, and academically-interested community in Heidelberg. Participants usually range from undergraduate level to senior academic staff, and we aim to include subject areas across the life and social sciences. We seek to build an open, collaborative platform to share ideas and spark debate. We encourage interdisciplinary discussion, and also provide an opportunity for participants to meet the expert at the end of each seminar.

Sylvie Briand

Director of the Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness and Prevention, Preparedness Division, World Health Organization

Biography:

Dr. Sylvie Briand is Director of the Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention department (EPP) at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. EPP develops global strategies to prevent and control epidemic-prone diseases under the International Health Regulations for 194 countries. The scope of EPP includes COVID-19 but also other dangerous pathogens such as pandemic influenza, plague, Nipah virus, smallpox, and other poxviruses and arboviruses (Zika, yellow fever, and Chikungunya) as well as any other emerging high threat pathogens or Disease X.

Dr. Briand has been at the forefront of managing acute infectious risks to global health for more than 20 years, ensuring the development of global mechanisms and sustainable frameworks to facilitate multi-lateral, multi-sectoral and multi-partners coordination as well as the adoption of innovative technologies for epidemic and pandemic response. Dr. Briand is a physician by training specialized in infectious diseases, public health, epidemiology, and social sciences.

Lecture information:

The lecture will be given in English and you’re invited to join afterwards a “Meet the Speaker” session. Refreshments will be provided.