Sylvie Briand is Director in the Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention (EPP), WHO Emergencies Programme, in Geneva, Switzerland. The EPP department advances global efforts to prevent and control existing and emerging infectious diseases by increasing access to evidence-based interventions; fostering impactful innovation; and leveraging technical, operational and strategic partnerships. The scope of EPP includes COVID-19 but also other dangerous pathogens such as pandemic influenza, plague, Nipah virus, smallpox and other pox viruses and arboviruses (Zika and Chikungunya). Since 2001, Dr. Briand has been actively involved in the detection, preparedness and response to global threats, leading the scientific and strategic component of the WHO response (avian and pandemic influenza, Ebola, Zika, Plague, yellow fever, cholera, MERS). Before joining WHO, Dr. Briand worked as public health project director for different global health agencies in various geographic regions.