DEFEAT PANDEMIcs

understanding

Improve understanding of COVID-19 pathophysiology through rapid harmonization, structuring, and pooling of existing and future autopsy data and samples.
structures

structures

Establish a structure for rapid response to future pandemics. This structure follows high-quality standards and recommendations established and tested in the current COVID-19 pandemic

RESEARCH

Establish the network as a structure for nationwide autopsy-based projects for sample collection, provision, and analysis for biomedical research, and broad national coverage of autopsy-based research

PILOT PROJECTS

Conduct pilot projects with innovative and alternative approaches to practical performance of infectious autopsies and establish quality standards

PREVIOUS PROJECT

DEFEAT PANDEMIcs (German Research Network Autopsies in Pandemics) originated in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and was expanded and continued in 2022 as NATON (National Autopsy Network). The network has since represented a globally unique approach to the systematic and collaborative use of autopsies to understand the pathophysiology of emerging diseases.

Within the DEFEAT PANDEMIcs consortium, knowledge on the emergence and spread of pandemics has been gathered, expertise pooled and shared, and thus the management and control of pandemics improved.

In doing so, DEFEAT PANDEMIcs provided a valuable contribution to the management of the current COVID-19 pandemic and should enable rapid responses in the event of future epidemics and pandemics. Browse our publications →