TY - JOUR AU - Rampling, Tommy AU - Page, Mark AU - Horby, Peter T1 - International Biological Reference Preparations for Epidemic Infectious Diseases T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2019 VL - 25 IS - 2 SP - 205 SN - 1080-6059 AB - Recent years have seen unprecedented investment in research and development for countermeasures for high-threat pathogens, including specific and ambitious objectives for development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. The inadequate availability of biological reference materials for these pathogens poses a genuine obstacle in pursuit of these objectives, and the lack of a comprehensive and equitable framework for developing reference materials is a weakness. We outline the need for internationally standardized biological materials for high-threat pathogens as a core element of global health security. We also outline the key components of a framework for addressing this deficiency. KW - biological standardization KW - reference preparations KW - infectious diseases KW - emerging infectious diseases KW - epidemic preparedness KW - bioterrorism and preparedness KW - research and development KW - viruses KW - Ebola virus disease KW - Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus KW - World Health Organization KW - zoonoses KW - vaccines KW - global health security DO - 10.3201/eid2502.180798 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/25/2/18-0798_article ER - End of Reference