Email

Mkhwanazi I SAMRC @mrc.ac.za>; @usaid.gov; Wood, Gretchen (NIH/OD) [E] @od.nih.gov> Subject: Proposed structure of NIH-Gates Foundation panel on Omicron variant Dear colleagues, On behalf of Dr. Francis Collins, attached is a proposed structure for the panel you are joining on December 15, to open the 8th Annual National Institutes of Health/Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation workshop. We are very grateful for your participation on what promises to be an outstanding session. As you might anticipate, the focus of the panel has pivoted to the deeply topical subject of the Omicron variant and landscape of variants. Francis would welcome your comments on the proposed session structure. The audience will be compromised of some 260 senior scientists from the NIH and the Gates Foundation, as well as several HHS officials. These include Janet Woodcock, Acting Commissioner at the FDA; Peter Marks, Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at FDA; and Gary Disbrow, Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). As noted, Bill Gates will attend, and immediately prior to the panel, deliver a talk on the need to "focus scientific inquiry on two important sides of the research agenda - survive and thrive - looking past the pandemic to achieving further progress on human health and development, with equity in mind from the outset." I also attach the agenda for the full meeting, which presents an annual opportunity for various NIH-Gates Foundation established working groups to discuss status of present joint activities and future plans. Please don't hesitate to have your office contact me with any questions or needed clarifications. Again, many thanks for your willingness to join this important discussion, and your global leadership in the Covid-19 response. Best regards,