Soumya Swaminathan To Be Among 20 Experts Of UK-led Pandemic Team

Soumya Swaminathan In UK-Led Pandemic Team: Chief Scientist at the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr Soumya Swaminathan is one of the 20 experts to make up a new UK-led Pandemic Preparedness Partnership (PPP) which will meet on Tuesday as part of global endeavours to save lives from future diseases.

Swaminathan had previously made headlines by being a leading figure in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Indian clinical scientist became the chief scientist of the World Health Organisation in the year 2019. She has vast experience in the field of health sciences has helped her race against her father M. S. Swaminathan’s legacy of revolutionising Indian agriculture.

More About The UK-led Pandemic Preparedness Partnership (PPP)

The partnership is chaired by UK Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance. It has the remit to world leaders at June's UK-hosted G7 Summit in Cornwall. It will advise the UK G7 Presidency on how to meet a target of cutting down the time to develop and deploy high-quality vaccines for new diseases from 300 to 100 days. The same will be backed by additional funding of 16 million pounds to support the work of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) on global vaccine supply.

The partnership brings together industry, international organisations and leading experts. This is aimed at developing vaccines at a faster rate, therapeutics and diagnostics through greater global cooperation on research and development, manufacturing, clinical trials and data-sharing.

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in this regard, "The Covid pandemic has shaken the world but united us in our determination to ensure no disease has such an impact in the future."

"As G7 President, the UK is determined to work with our partners to build back better from coronavirus and strengthen global preparedness for future pandemics. This new expert group will drive our efforts in the years ahead to protect people everywhere from new diseases and to save lives," he added.