PACE-UP

PAN ASEAN Coalition for Epidemic and OUtbreak Preparedness

01.01.2026 bis 31.12.2030

The second phase of the PAN ASEAN Coalition for Epidemic and Outbreak Preparedness (PACE-UP) builds on the achievements of Phase I (2021–2025) to strengthen epidemic preparedness across ASEAN and beyond. Coordinated by the University of Tübingen and the Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research (VG-CARE), PACE-UP Phase II unites 11 core partner institutions across Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Germany, along with 25 strategic cooperation partners from 14 countries.

Phase II pursues four key objectives: (1) enhancing epidemic preparedness through robust regional and in-country collaboration; (2) reinforcing diagnostics and surveillance infrastructure, including mobile laboratories and AI-driven tools; (3) building sustainable research and public health capacity through structured PhD and master’s programs, internships, expert seminars, and South–South/North–South exchange platforms; and (4) promoting knowledge exchange, especially among Global South countries.

PACE-UP adopts a One Health approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health and prioritizes gender equity, diversity, and inclusion. Activities include expert-led biosafety training, mobile outbreak simulation exercises, and next-generation sequencing workshops. A strong digital infrastructure anchored by platforms like the PACE-UP StudyMap and secure data-sharing systems will support real-time data exchange, study mapping, and rapid policy integration.

A comprehensive academic program will support new cohorts of PhD and master’s students from Vietnam and Indonesia, fostering a new generation of regional experts equipped to tackle emerging infectious diseases. Tailored internships, co-supervision across institutions, and integrated research projects will ensure continuity and capacity building. PACE-UP Phase II aims to address systemic weaknesses in early detection and outbreak response across ASEAN and to strengthen regional academic leadership, and foster multisectoral cooperation with government bodies, civil society, and private sector stakeholders.

The initiative is anchored by strategic coordination hubs in Hanoi and Tübingen, which oversee governance, project execution, and partner engagement. Long-term sustainability is built into the project through co-leadership structures, diversified funding sources, and academic reintegration mechanisms. VG-CARE and the University of Tübingen jointly lead the PACE-UP Global Health Hub, ensuring continuity and institutional commitment. Through sustained collaboration with ministries, academia, civil society, and private-sector stakeholders, PACE-UP Phase II is designed to create scalable, locally embedded solutions that extend beyond the duration of DAAD funding.

In summary, PACE-UP aims for a forward-looking, interdisciplinary, and inclusive model for epidemic preparedness, firmly grounded in scientific excellence, regional cooperation, and real-world impact.