RRML Rapid Response Mobile Laboratory Community of Practice

06/09/2024

🦠🚑 In times of crisis, rapid and reliable diagnostics can save lives. WHO/Europe is enhancing national diagnostic surge capacities with Rapid Response Mobile Laboratories (RRMLs), bringing cutting-edge technology directly to the frontlines of emergencies.

Discover how these mobile labs are strengthening health systems and ensuring swift response to outbreaks and health emergencies across the region. 🌍🔬

Learn more about this vital initiative ⬇️

WHO is strengthening diagnostic surge capacities to support countries in both preparedness and response to emergencies.Reliable and timely diagnostic services are critical during infectious disease outbreaks, migrant and refugee crises, and natural disasters, and for fortifying national public healt...

03/07/2024

🚨📢 During the First Hybrid Meeting of the GOARN Strategic Group for Diagnostic Surge Capacities (SG-DiSC) over 60 experts from all over the globe met to discuss and plan the transition of the Rapid Response Mobile Laboratories (RRMLs) initiative to the global SG-DiSC, as agreed during the 35th GOARN Steering Committee meeting in May 2024🧬🌍

Hosted by the Robert Koch Institut in Germany and co-organized by the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, the event was supported by the WHO Health Emergency Programme at the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Participants deliberated and reached consensus on several key points:
🔹 Agreement on a general structure of a typology for RRMLs as a basis to design the scope of the GOARN SG-DiSC.
🔹 Establishment and adaptation of Terms of References for the GOARN SG-DiSC coordination board.
🔹 Development of priorities and action plans for the GOARN SG-DiSC.

These strategic discussions are vital for enhancing our global response capabilities to health emergencies 🤝

08/04/2024

📢 WHO/Europe is looking for the Consultant: Technical Writing of WHO Publications.
👉 WHO seeks a technical writing expert to incorporate feedback received during a three-phase Interregional Field Exercises (IFX) and from the evidence review into the draft Minimum Operational Standards (MOS) and prepare a final draft document ready to be published as a WHO normative product.

Read more and apply 🔗

Click the link provided to see the complete job description.

16/02/2024

🌐 IFX.02 Spotlight: Shaping the Future of RRML Initiative! 🚀

Welcome to the Interregional Coordination Group Meeting for RRML Initiative (ICG/RRML) at IFX.02! 🤝 Organized by WHO and supported by the Ministry of Health for Georgia, the meeting aims to establish a strategic roadmap for RRML up to 2030.

The RRML stakeholders worked together to

🌐 provide an overview of RRML Initiative development.

🤝 Foster consensus on vision, mission, and goals.

🏗️ Identify the process for establishing ICG/RRML structure.

Let's pave the way for a future-ready RRML Initiative! 💪🏥

16/02/2024

🌎 Meet the IFX.02 participants: The Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory 🔬

🔬 The NML’s Health Security and Response Division (HSRD) focus:
▫️ Leading Canada’s response for high-consequence infectious diseases
▫️ Specialized testing for rare, novel, and emerging pathogens
▫️ Operating containment level 2, 3, and 4 labs, including Canada’s only CL4 lab for human pathogens
💼 Program activities:
▫️ Advanced laboratory services for pathogen detection, identification, and characterization
▫️ Applied and discovery research supporting national security investigations
▫️ Mobile Response Teams with scalable, state-of-the-art labs for global deployment
🚀 In the IFX.02, HSRD mobilize a Type II RRML, showcasing commitment to public health crisis response.
🌐 MERT (Microbiological Emergency Response Team):
▫️ Conducts emergency and security deployments, including high-profile events
▫️ Utilizes best practices for microbial forensic investigations
▫️ Part of Canada’s National Security contingent
🦠 SPDR (Special Pathogens Diagnostics Response Team):
▫️ Rich history in responding to viral haemorrhagic fevers with WHO GOARN and MSF
▫️ Deployed directly to outbreak-affected countries for mobile lab diagnostic support
🤝 MERT and SPDR collaboration:
▫️ Ensuring subject matter expertise and world-class response capabilities
▫️ Rapid response to infectious disease outbreaks and biological events of national security concern

Join us in applauding these dedicated teams for over 15 years of robust capacity, enhancing our ability to respond to global health challenges! 🌍👏

15/02/2024

🌐 Exciting News!

🚀 Today marks the commencement of IFX.02, the Full-Scale Interregional Field Simulation Exercise for Rapid Response Mobile Laboratories ( ), in Kachreti, Georgia.

🎯This exercise, the third phase in the RRML Simulation Exercise series, brings together 6 mobile lab teams serving people affected by worldwide. The goal is to test minimum operation standards and interoperability of RRMLs in emergencies, enhancing global preparedness for crises.

👉Follow us for more news 🔗https://bit.ly/WHORRML



London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
UK Health Security Agency
Department of Health and Social Care - DHSC
Agence de la santé publique du Canada

15/02/2024

We're thrilled to share the Full-Scale Interregional Field Simulation Exercise (IFX.02) kickoff. The IFX.02 concludes the World Health Organization's Simulation Exercise series for Rapid Response Mobile Laboratories (RRMLs).

We are grateful to the Ministry of Health of Georgia and NCDC&PH for being fantastic hosts.

Hats off to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the National Red Cross Society in Georgia for their incredible support and contributions.

🌐Teamwork makes the dream work!🌐

14/02/2024

🌐 Meet the IFX.02 participants 🌐 UTMB-GNL - University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston National Laboratory

As a proud partner of GOARN, UTMB's Galveston National Laboratory stands out as one of only two U.S. university campus-based laboratories equipped with Biosafety Level 4 (BSL4) capabilities and extensive BSL3 capabilities.

🔬 Leaders in Research:
The GNL is a cutting-edge research facility and an ideal hub for education and training. As a leader in academic research, it focuses on developing medical countermeasures such as vaccines and therapeutics against high-consequence pathogens.

🚀 Inception and Initiative:
Launched in 2021, the Rapid Response Mobile Laboratory (RRML) at UTMB-GNL is the brainchild of Dr. Gary Kobinger, a lifelong initiative supported by the One Health group at UTMB.

🌐 Global Outreach:
The UTMB-GNL RRML operates under a "Type II" category, responding to invitations from countries or institutions seeking assistance. Its compact design allows for swift transportation and setup, making it adaptable for deployment anywhere in the world.

👩‍🔬 Expert Team:
The RRML team comprises skilled microbiologists and virologists who specialize in human diagnostics and have extensive experience in low- to middle-income countries during disease outbreaks. The team is committed to promoting biosafety practices throughout its operations.

🌍 Deployment History:
Though recently established, the UTMB-GNL RRML has already made a significant impact. In 2021, it supported the National Laboratory in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the Ebola virus outbreak, providing critical assistance in differential diagnostics. The team's members bring a wealth of experience from various viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks and have actively supported local authorities during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

🤝 One Health Approach:
The UTMB-GNL RRML operates under the One Health umbrella, ensuring seamless collaboration between microbiologists, virologists, clinicians, epidemiologists, and veterinarians, all working together for the greater good.

🌟 We applaud UTMB-GNL for their dedication to global health and their impactful contributions in the fight against high-consequence pathogens. 👏

13/02/2024

🔍 Wondering what's in store for the Full-Scale Interregional Field Simulation Exercise (IFX.02)? 🤔
Scheduled for 15-17 February 2024, it's all about evaluating RRML Minimum Operational Standards, focusing on coordination and interoperability in the field. Building on previous phases, this exercise reflects a global commitment to improving RRML preparedness.
Stay tuned! 🌍💙

09/02/2024

Let's throw it back to the remarkable IFX.01 held in Istanbul in July 2023! Here are some standout moments that made it unforgettable:

🌎 32 Countries United: 32 countries participated, showcasing the power of international cooperation in tackling health emergencies.

🔬 In-Depth Analysis: IFX.01 focused on small and medium box-based units, diving deep into their testing and analysis capacities. 💡

👩‍⚕️👨🏽‍⚕️ Minimum Standards Tested: The exercise scenario was meticulously designed, allowing to test RRML capacities in various emergencies while ensuring adherence to RRML minimum standards. 🚑

🤝 Interoperability Tested: 4 international Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) and 1 Emergency Operation Center (EOC) joined to test RRMLs interoperability, emphasizing the importance of seamless collaboration during crises. 🤝

09/02/2024

🔬 Meet Participants: EMLab

🌐 Introducing EMLab: Outbreak Preparedness and Response with a Global Reach
As a consortium of distinguished research and public health institutions worldwide 🌍, managed by the Bernhard Nocht Institute (BNITM) in Hamburg, Germany🇩🇪, EMLab brings together a network of highly trained experts to combat infectious diseases globally. EMLab plays a pivotal role in the fight against infectious diseases, emphasizing the importance of preparedness, international collaboration, and rapid response to protect public health worldwide.

🔬About EMLab
The team comprises scientists, medical doctors, PhD students, and laboratory technicians prepared to deploy state-of-the-art mobile laboratory units and respond to outbreaks of high-risk pathogens like the Ebola, Lassa, and Marburg viruses🦠.
Originating from diagnostic, public health, and research institutions across Germany, Europe, and Africa, the EMLab experts specialize in the rapid field diagnostics of viral hemorrhagic fevers and other high-consequence pathogens with pandemic potential.

🔍 Diagnostic Expertise with a Global Impact
Equipped with two field-deployable laboratory units in Germany and one in Nigeria, EMLab collaborates closely with organizations like WHO-GOARN, WHO-EDPLN, and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) to ensure swift and effective responses to outbreaks and epidemics worldwide. Recently certified within the European Civil Protection Pool (ECPP), EMLab strengthens its global reach and enhances opportunities for deployments.

🏢 Training Excellence:
Experts undergo rigorous training at BNITM, acquiring skills to deploy mobile laboratories in various contexts. The hands-on training and cutting-edge curriculum focus on human diagnostics, running a mobile laboratory, and all necessary skills for safe fieldwork with EMLab and its partners. With over 100 trained experts in 20+ countries, our voluntary pool and extensive expert network ensure rapid deployment in response to emerging health crises with sustained operational capacity.

🚨 Emergency Response:
In times of crisis, countries overwhelmed by in-country diagnostic capacity can request our mobile labs through WHO/GOARN, EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), or direct bilateral requests. EMLab ensures swift responses tailored to the specific needs of each public health emergency.

07/02/2024

🔬 Meet Participants: B-LiFE - Biological Light Fieldable Laboratory 🔍
Introducing B-LiFE, a groundbreaking innovation in medical emergency response! 🚀

👩‍⚕️👨🏽‍⚕️ About B-LiFE:
B-LiFE, short for Biological Light Fieldable Laboratory for Emergencies, has been developed by the Belgian Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) under the ESA’s Space Solutions programme. This cutting-edge laboratory is a game-changer in the field of medical emergencies.
B-LiFE has already demonstrated its efficacy in critical situations. From 2014 to 2015, it played a pivotal role in Africa during the Ebola crisis, showcasing its resilience and adaptability. The laboratory continued to shine in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic and providing just-in-time training to local laboratory staff.

🛰️ Space Component
What sets B-LiFE apart is its integration of emerging telecommunication tools. This innovative approach allows B-LiFE operate autonomously, ensuring robust two-way communication with the rest of the world, independent of existing infrastructure on-site. By utilizing satellite communication, earth observation data, and geolocation, B-LiFE enhances workflow and efficiency, making it a standout solution for emergency response.

🌐 Global Impact:
B-LiFE's versatility and effectiveness transcend borders, making it a valuable asset for international collaborations. Its success in diverse and challenging scenarios underscores its significance in advancing global health preparedness.

Let's applaud the team behind B-LiFE for their remarkable contribution to emergency response and global health! 👏🌍