The Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research was convened in 1999 to implement WHA Resolution (WHA52.10). The Advisory Committee is composed of members from all WHO regions and advised by scientific academic experts from areas such as public health, fundamental applied research and regulatory agencies to oversee:
- all research using live variola virus
- biosafety and biosecurity inspections of the 2 repository sites
- sequencing the viral genome from variola virus isolates
- distribution of live variola virus DNA to other researchers under specific rules.
The Advisory Committee meeting reports are submitted to the World Health Assembly annually and are available online here.
The Advisory Committee has by consensus advised WHO that variola virus should be retained safely and securely to continue the research agenda and advance further public health benefit for smallpox preparedness and mpox prevention and response. The Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly (2024) endorsed the continuing retention of variola virus for this purpose. A review by the Health Assembly is planned for 2029 or sooner as needed.
Meeting reports
All →
WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research: report of the 26th meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 13-14...
WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research: report of the 26th meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 13-14 November 2024
WHO advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research: report of the 25th meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 25-26...
The World Health Organization (WHO) Advisory Committee on variola virus Research (ACVVR), held its twenty-fifth meeting on 25-26 October 2023. The recommendations...
WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research: report of the 24th meeting, Geneva, 29–30 November...
The World Health Organization (WHO) Advisory Committee on variola virus Research (ACVVR), held its twenty-fourth meeting on 29-30 November 2022 at WHO...
WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research: report of the 23rd meeting, virtual meeting, 3-4 November...
The Committee discussed the implications for preparedness for smallpox-like events reflected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee noted how...
WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research, report of the 22nd meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 4-5...
WHO advisory committee on variola virus research: report of the twenty-second meeting, Geneva, 4-5 November 2020. World Health Organization.
WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research, report of the 21st meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 30...
The Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research (ACVVR) held its Twenty first meeting on 30 October - 1 November 2019 at WHO Headquarters in Geneva.
WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research, report of the 20th Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 26-27...
The Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research (ACVVR) held its Twentieth meeting on 26 and 27 September 2018 at WHO Headquarters in Geneva.
WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research, report of the 19th meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 1-2...
The Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research (ACVVR) held its Nineteenth meeting on 1 and 2 November 2017 at WHO Headquarters in Geneva.
Related activities
Contact
WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research
World Health Organization
Avenue Appia 20
1211 Geneva
Switzerland
Email: smallpoxsecretariat@who.int