Pregnancy
and Infant
Preparedness
Platform
in Europe
Pregnancy
and Infant
Preparedness
Platform
in Europe
Why the PIPELINE Project is Needed
Recent epidemics, including Zika virus, Lassa fever, Ebola, Influenza A (H1N1), and SARS-CoV-2, have highlighted the severe impact of infectious diseases on pregnant individuals and infants. Pregnant individuals often face significantly higher risks of severe illness and complications, including pregnancy loss, congenital defects, and infant morbidity. Despite the urgent need for preventive and therapeutic strategies, they and their infants have historically been excluded from pandemic preparedness research, leading to gaps in clinical guidance and suboptimal health outcomes.
To address this critical issue, the PIPELINE project was established to ensure their inclusion in pandemic response efforts through a dedicated clinical trial platform.
How PIPELINE Responds to this Need
PIPELINE is developing and implementing a world-class, multi-country adaptive clinical trials platform to support research on novel diagnostics, vaccines, and therapies for infectious diseases in pregnancy and infancy. The project will:
- Establish a responsive clinical trial network across multiple European countries.
- Conduct a multi-country adaptive trial focused on RSV prevention as a proof of principle.
- Integrate innovative trial designs to rapidly deliver robust clinical evidence.
- Ensure capacity to pivot toward emerging infectious disease threats.
- Foster collaborations with regulatory bodies, global health initiatives, and clinical networks to enhance pandemic preparedness and response.
By leveraging cutting-edge research methodologies and a strong collaborative framework, PIPELINE will generate critical evidence to inform public health strategies and improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
Governance
PIPELINE is a collaborative effort involving 16 leading research institutions across Europe. The project is coordinated by the Fondazione Penta ETS, ensuring strategic leadership and seamless integration of research activities.
