USF Pandemic Response Research Network (USF-PRRN): A Highly Integrative Basic and Responsive Research Approach to Covid-19

Abstract

Pandemics represent significant threats to global health and impact all aspects of human life including physical and mental health, global economics, education, public policy and commu- nication. The diversity of impacts associated with global pandemics as well as the speed of the resulting disease spread require multidisciplinary timely approaches to address the complex interplay of factors required for pandemic mitigation. Universities provide a critical national asset for addressing pandemic mitigation as these institutions possess broad intellectual capital that can be leveraged to guide national and global responses. Universities across the United States have approached the pandemic with a variety of strategies to link disciplinary expertise to target differing aspects of the problem. The University of South Florida adapted a rapid response research network approach that essentially integrates HIBAR principles (Highly Integrative Basic and Responsive research) to address wide ranging aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This description of the USF Pandemic Response Research Network (USF-PRRN) highlights the HIBAR features of the network and how the USF-PRRN concept can be applied to other global sustainability challenges.