Support for the WHO as a WHO BioHub
Since 2021, Switzerland has made the Spiez Laboratory available to the WHO for tasks within the WHO BioHub system.
In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the development of a global laboratory network, the WHO BioHub system. This system is intended to make it easier for member states to quickly exchange information on emerging pathogens with epidemic or pandemic potential. This will improve and, above all, accelerate the development, introduction and validation of the necessary diagnostic capacities in the affected countries, as well as global research and development of possible countermeasures (e.g. medicines, vaccines).
Since 2021, Switzerland has made Spiez Laboratory (with its biological safety laboratory) available to the WHO for tasks within the WHO BioHub system. Spiez Laboratory is the first WHO BioHub facility worldwide. It serves as a hub for WHO member states for the rapid exchange of information on emerging pathogens with epidemic or pandemic potential.
The WHO BioHub enables the safe receipt of emerging pathogens with epidemic or pandemic potential, their rapid characterisation, the publication of the determined genome sequence in a public database and, finally, the provision of samples for distribution to authorised research institutions in member states.
Global benefits of the WHO BioHub system
The system is of great importance for global health. It enables all WHO member states (regardless of bilateral agreements) to gain accelerated access to the expertise needed to manage an epidemic or pandemic. The system is completely transparent: the genome data collected is published in public databases. The activities carried out under the WHO BioHub system are also reported to the WHO World Health Assembly.
Benefits for Switzerland
Switzerland also benefits from this special role, as it gains faster and more comprehensive access to biological material and information on current biological threats worldwide. This significantly improves early detection and response capabilities in Switzerland in the event of potential biological threats.