Deadline Extension - This call for experts has been reopened to encourage further applications from under-represented geographical regions, in particular those of WPRO and AMRO/PAHO, with an updated deadline of 15th November 2024.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members of the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Laboratory Services, Systems and Diagnostics in Health Emergencies (TAG-LAB). This “Call for experts” provides information about the advisory group in question, the expert profiles being sought, the process to express interest, and the process of selection.
Background
Well-functioning and sustainable laboratory services, systems and diagnostics, operating according to international principles of equity, quality and safety, are essential to implement the International Health Regulations (2005)1 and achieve global health security. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published the health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR) framework, describing the critical role of the laboratory to implement Collaborative Surveillance.
Laboratories also provide essential data to guide clinical care and inform coordination operations, as well as public health and social measures, in a range of emergency situations including outbreaks of pandemic and epidemic prone pathogens and humanitarian settings involving conflict, protracted crises and natural or man-made disasters. Considering this, a global strategy focused on laboratory services, systems and diagnostics for health emergencies is needed to address all of these contexts.
This strategy will connect global efforts and advance implementation of the laboratory components of the HEPR framework and World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution 74.7 on strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies that called for countries to “strengthen laboratory-based detection capacities”.
In this context, WHO is establishing a Technical advisory group on laboratory, services, systems and diagnostics for health emergencies (“TAG-LAB”). The TAG-LAB will act as an advisory body to WHO in this field.
Functions of the Technical Advisory Group on Laboratory Services, Systems and Diagnostics in Health Emergencies
In its capacity as an advisory body to WHO, the TAG-LAB has the following functions:
- To provide independent advice on the scientific and technical aspects of the development and implementation of a global strategy for laboratory services, systems and diagnostics in health emergencies;
- To recommend priorities regarding laboratory services, systems and diagnostics activities and innovations, for emergency preparedness, readiness, response and resilience;
- To advise WHO on opportunities, international initiatives and partnerships appropriate to the WHO Health Emergencies programme, related to laboratory, services, systems and diagnostics in emergencies; and
- To review and make recommendations to WHO on laboratory services, systems and diagnostics in the context of specific health emergencies, as requested by WHO.
The Terms of Reference for the TAG-LAB can be found in annex to this open call.
Operations of the Technical Advisory Group on Services, Systems and Diagnostics in Health Emergencies
The TAG-LAB will be convened virtually on a quarterly basis for one to two hours, but additional meetings may be held depending on needs of acute or protracted health emergencies. At each meeting, Members will be asked to review information, evidence and interpretation of data relevant to public health events in the areas of laboratory services, systems and diagnostics . Observers with additional subject-matter expertise may be invited to comment. Based on these assessments, the TAG-LAB may issue recommendations to WHO. The working language of the group is English.
Who can express interest?
The TAG-LAB is multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to virus evolution. Up to 25 Members may be selected. WHO welcomes expressions of interest from experts in laboratory services, systems or diagnostics, clinical scientists, academic researchers, healthcare professionals, or others with expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Laboratory Systems
- Laboratory Services
- Diagnostics
- National and International Policy, Regulation and Guidance
- Biosafety
- Biosecurity
- Bioinformatics
- Clinical Management
- Outbreak Preparedness, Response and Resilience
- Emergency response in humanitarian settings involving conflict, protracted crises and natural or man-made disasters
- Academic Research
- Public Health
- Virology, Microbiology, Mycology, and Emerging or Re-emerging diseases
Applicants should have experience applying their expertise in these fields to support public health decision making.
Submitting your expression of interest
To register your interest in being considered for the TAG-LAB, please submit the following documents by 23:59 CEST on 15 November 2024 to phlabs@who.int using the subject line “Expression of interest for the Technical Advisory Group on Laboratory Services and Systems in Health Emergencies”:
- A cover letter, indicating your motivation to apply and how you satisfy the selection criteria. Please note that, if selected, membership will be in a personal capacity. Therefore, do not use the letterhead or other identification of your employer;
- Your curriculum vitae; and
- A signed and completed Declaration of Interests (DOI) form for WHO Experts, available at https://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest.
After submission, your expression of interest will be reviewed by WHO. Due to an expected high volume of interest, only selected individuals will be informed.
Important information about the selection processes and conditions of appointment
Members of WHO advisory groups (AGs) must be free of any real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest. To this end, applicants are required to complete the WHO Declaration of Interests for WHO Experts, and the selection as a member of a AG is, amongst other things, dependent on WHO determining that there is no conflict of interest or that any identified conflicts could be appropriately managed (in addition to WHO’s evaluation of an applicant’s experience, expertise and motivation and other criteria).
All AG members will serve in their individual expert capacity and shall not represent any governments, any commercial industries or entities, any research, academic or civil society organizations, or any other bodies, entities, institutions or organizations. They are expected to fully comply with the Code of Conduct for WHO Experts (https://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest). AG members will be expected to sign and return a completed confidentiality undertaking prior to the beginning of the first meeting.
At any point during the selection process, telephone interviews may be scheduled between an applicant and the WHO Secretariat to enable WHO to ask questions relating to the applicant’s experience and expertise and/or to assess whether the applicant meets the criteria for membership in the relevant AG.
The selection of members of the AGs will be made by WHO in its sole discretion, taking into account the following (non-exclusive) criteria: relevant technical expertise; experience in international and country policy work; communication skills; and ability to work constructively with people from different cultural backgrounds and orientations .The selection of AG members will also take account of the need for diverse perspectives from different regions, especially from low and middle-income countries, and for gender balance.
If selected by WHO, proposed members will be sent an invitation letter and a Memorandum of Agreement. Appointment as a member of a AG will be subject to the proposed member returning to WHO the countersigned copy of these two documents.
WHO reserves the right to accept or reject any expression of interest, to annul the open call process and reject all expressions of interest at any time without incurring any liability to the affected applicant or applicants and without any obligation to inform the affected applicant or applicants of the grounds for WHO's action. WHO may also decide, at any time, not to proceed with the establishment of the AG, disband an existing TAG or modify the work of the AG.
WHO shall not in any way be obliged to reveal, or discuss with any applicant, how an expression of interest was assessed, or to provide any other information relating to the evaluation/selection process or to state the reasons for not choosing a member.
WHO may publish the names and a short biography of the selected individuals on the WHO internet.
AG members will not be remunerated for their services in relation to the AG or otherwise. Travel and accommodation expenses of AG members to participate in AG meetings will be covered by WHO in accordance with its applicable policies, rules and procedures.
The appointment will be limited in time as indicated in the letter of appointment.
If you have any questions about this “Call for experts”, please write to phlabs@who.int well before the applicable deadline.
Annex: