The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Swiss Confederation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to start the first WHO BioHub Facility which will facilitate rapid sharing of viruses and other pathogens between laboratories and partners on a global level.

The facility will be based in Spiez, Switzerland, and will be a center for the safe receipt, sequencing, storage and preparation of biological materials to be distributed to other laboratories, to help inform risk assessments, and assist with preparedness against these pathogens globally. At present, most pathogen sharing is carried out bilaterally between countries and on an ad hoc basis. This can be slow, and may leave some countries unable to access the benefits… (WHO, May 24, 2021)