Preparedness and Outbreak Response

Epidemic preparedness is essential for national health resilience, enabling early detection, rapid containment, and effective response to infectious disease threats. The Preparedness and Outbreak Response horizontal at A*STAR IDL supports national frameworks such as PREPARE and PrepVax¹ by translating scientific research into practical public health solutions. This platform strengthens A*STAR IDL’s core research areas in vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and respiratory infections by providing cross-cutting capabilities.

The domain builds on A*STAR IDL’s expertise in pathogen biology, disease mechanisms, and evolution, along with advanced infection models, host-based diagnostic assays, and high-containment biosafety facilities. These resources enable timely responses to both ongoing and emerging health threats, accelerating translational science and enhancing preparedness on both national and international levels.

Designed to be highly adaptable, the domain leverages A*STAR IDL’s prior experience responding to outbreaks such as H5N1 influenza, COVID-19, Zika, chikungunya, and mpox. A*STAR IDL works in close collaboration with key healthcare and public health partners, including the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), NHG Health, National University Health System (NUHS), SingHealth, Health Sciences Authority (HSA), and DSO National Laboratories. A*STAR IDL also maintains strong links with global organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), and networks such as the Pasteur Network and the European Research Infrastructure on Highly Pathogenic Agents (ERINHA).