Ecraid Expands Role in European Pandemic Preparedness Initiatives

Efforts to strengthen Europe’s response to infectious disease threats have led to the expansion of Ecraid, a clinical research network, and the launch of new collaborative partnerships across the continent.

Ecraid operates as a pan-European, not-for-profit network focused on clinical research for infectious diseases. The organisation was established to enhance Europe’s capacity to address emerging health threats by coordinating research activities and infrastructure.

The network’s development is rooted in earlier EU-funded projects, including COMBACTE and PREPARE. Ecraid was further established through ECRAID-Plan and ECRAID-Base, which received €30 million in EU investment in 2021 to build research capacity.

ECRAID-Base currently includes more than 2,000 clinical research sites located in over 40 European countries. The network supports six ongoing clinical studies, providing a foundation for rapid research mobilisation during health emergencies.

What the numbers show

• €30 million invested by the EU in 2021 for Ecraid’s development
• Over 2,000 clinical research sites included in ECRAID-Base
• 81 organisations from 27 countries participate in BE READY NOW
• Six perpetual clinical studies supported by Ecraid
• Official BE READY NOW launch ceremony scheduled for 17 February 2026

Ecraid’s leadership will transition with the appointment of Lennie Derde as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 January 2026. This change aligns with the organisation’s ongoing efforts to expand its role in European pandemic preparedness.

In addition to its existing activities, Ecraid is a key supporter of the BE READY NOW European Partnership for Pandemic Preparedness. This partnership, launched on 1 January 2026, aims to create a continuously active research ecosystem capable of responding quickly to new health threats.

Within BE READY NOW, Ecraid leads two work packages focused on building interconnected research networks and standardising data protocols for pandemic response. These initiatives are intended to improve coordination and data sharing among participating organisations.

The BE READY NOW consortium includes 81 organisations from 27 countries. A virtual kick-off meeting was held in January 2026, and an official launch ceremony is planned for 17 February 2026 in Paris to mark the beginning of this collaborative effort.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.