title: The Global Virus Network: Challenging chikungunya.
abstract: The recent spread of chikungunya virus to the Western Hemisphere, together with the ongoing Ebola epidemic in West Africa, have highlighted the importance of international collaboration in the detection and management of disease outbreaks. In response to this need, the Global Virus Network (GVN) was formed in 2011. The GVN is a coalition of leading medical virologists in 34 affiliated laboratories in 24 countries, who collaborate to share their resources and expertise. The GVN supports research, promotes training for young scientists, serves as a technical resource for governments, businesses and international organizations, facilitates international scientific cooperation, and advocates for funding and evidence-based public policies. In response to the spread of chikungunya, the GVN formed a task force to identify research gaps and opportunities, including models of infection and disease, candidate vaccines and antivirals, epidemiology and vector control measures. Its members also serve as authoritative sources of information for the public, press, and policy-makers. This article forms part of a symposium in Antiviral Research on "Chikungunya discovers the New World".
authors.affiliation: Global Virus Network, 801 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: emcsweegan@gvn.org.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McSweegan
authors.affiliation: Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, Galveston National Laboratory Building, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0610, USA.
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.affiliation: Biology of Infection Unit, Institut Pasteur, 28, rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15; Inserm U1117; Paris Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, Institut Imagine, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lecuit
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frieman
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology & Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, 12800 E 19th Ave, Aurora, CO 80010, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.affiliation: Global Virus Network, 801 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hrynkow
mesh_terms: D065632:Chikungunya Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation
keywords: Arbovirus; Chikungunya; Emerging virus; Global Virus Network; Vector-borne