The resulting tragedy vividly illustrated why our country must adopt a disciplined approach to preparing for homeland security threats,and that these preparations must include creating a health system capable of responding quickly and effectively to such events.

This will be a significant challenge. In its response to Katrina, the government at all levels failed to meet 21st century standards of effectiveness. It is impossible for the current governing systems, bureaucratic cultures, and patterns of silo-focus and process orientation to keep pace with the challenges, technologies, complexities and speed of the modern world.

Our country now has ample warning of the grave danger posed by pandemic influenza, and other natural and deliberate threats. The mission of the Pandemic Influenza project is to not only encourage the nation’s preparation to face a potential pandemic, but more generally to spur the creation of a 21st century intelligent health system with the intelligence, speed, and resilience to serve us well in the midst of future crises.

Project Goals

• Form the hub of a network of government, business, and health system leaders collaborating to create a 21st Century Intelligent Health System capable of responding effectively to future disasters.
• Help define the preparedness criteria by which federal, state, and local organizations can assess their readiness to respond to crises and effectively manage their operations in the midst of such situations.
• Ensure that the federal government makes sustained investments to prepare for pandemic influenza and other risks, primarily by investing in dual-use technologies and capabilities.
• Create a robust system for countermeasure development that engages the private sector, with an early emphasis on vaccine and antibiotic development.