SPRI’s 8th Seminar: 2025 Outbreaks and Emerging Pandemic Strategies
On December 31, 2025, the Sheba Pandemic Preparedness Research Institute (SPRI) hosted its 8th seminar in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at Sheba Medical Center’s Shpirer Auditorium.
Titled “Outbreaks of 2025 and a Look into the Future,” the event from 11:30 to 15:00 addressed West Nile virus, winter respiratory infections, and measles, presenting cutting-edge data to strengthen pandemic readiness.
Led by SPRI Director Prof. Gili Regev-Yochay with opening remarks from Prof. Dror Harats, Deputy Director for R&D, the seminar convened experts for real-time outbreak analysis and forward-looking strategies.
SPRI’s Origins and Core Mission
SPRI originated from Sheba’s COVID-19 response in January 2020, when Prof. Regev-Yochay’s Infection Prevention and Control Unit mobilized over 9,000 healthcare workers for studies on vaccine effectiveness, immune responses, and population variations. This work generated over 60 publications in leading journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, Nature, and JAMA, directly informing national policies like Israel’s third booster campaign.
Established to develop rapid diagnostics, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines for future threats, SPRI rests on three pillars: SPRI cohorts, monoclonal antibody prevention/treatment, and the Sheba HCW cohort.
The institute integrates virologists, immunologists, epidemiologists, clinicians, and bioinformaticians to advance from foundational research through Phase I trials and industry collaborations with partners like NIH’s Vaccine Research Center, Harvard, Pasteur Institute, and Charité Berlin.
Keynote and Cutting-Edge Research Updates
Dr. Danny Douek, Chief of Human Immunology at NIH’s VRC, PREMISE Director, and SPRI Senior Scientific Advisor, delivered the keynote “An Immunological Approach to Preparedness Against Infectious Agents,” outlining strategies to build defenses against emerging pathogens.
SPRI researchers presented 2025 outbreak data aligned with the institute’s pillars: Prof. Ili Margalit on compassionate WNV-neutralizing plasma use; Dr. Gili Joseph on WNV serology dynamics; Dr. Mayan Gilboa on respiratory virus burden via the CHILL project; and Dr. Yael Ottolenghi-Weiss, Head of SPRI Laboratory, on respiratory infection serology trends.
Measles Outbreak: Clinical and Laboratory Response
Dr. Eyal Nadir from Israel’s Ministry of Health detailed the 2025 measles outbreak’s clinical and epidemiological profile. Dr. Efrat Buchris from the Central Virology Laboratory explained integrating epidemiology, lab diagnostics, and phylogenetic analysis to monitor transmission and guide control during the resurgence.
Leadership for Global Health Security
Guided by Prof. Gili Regev-Yochay’s vision, SPRI advances real-time surveillance, next-generation vaccines, and international partnerships to transform infectious threats into manageable challenges, safeguarding communities worldwide through proactive research and preparedness.
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