Appendix A

Workshop Statement of Task

This is a 1.5-day public workshop designed to examine the major advancements in scientific, technological, and social innovations that have been taking place to tackle microbial threats, including diagnostics, vaccine development and production, and new antimicrobials as well as nonpharmaceutical interventions and surveillance. The workshop will offer particular consideration to innovations that occur at the human–animal–plant–environment interface and those that are practical and can be implemented in different resource-level settings.

Specifically, this workshop will feature invited presentations and discussions including the following:

• Detection and diagnostic tools that empower end users and patients to take appropriate action including obtaining early treatment;
• Cutting-edge methods and tools such as advances in predictive modeling, digital platforms, and precision public health, and how to best make use of them in practice;
• Novel innovations that take into account social and behavioral factors related to microbial threats;
• Communication and structural strategies that would help demystify the uptake and increase access of effective innovations to facilitate positive behavior change and strengthen preparedness and response capacities;
• Approaches to leverage data and modeling insights that would be useful for practitioners working on the ground in diverse settings, particularly at the community level;

• Models and indicators that help reveal the extent to which the innovations are “successful”; and
• Effective mechanisms for stimulating meaningful collaboration and communication among various stakeholders, including multilateral organizations, national governments, private sector, and civil society.

Workshop speakers and discussants will contribute perspectives from government, academia, private, and nonprofit sectors.