ISARIC

What ISARIC does

ISARIC (International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium) is a global, non-profit federation of investigator-led clinical research networks, established in 2011 and hosted within the Pandemic Sciences Institute at the University of Oxford. The consortium brings together over 80 member networks across 140 countries to conduct coordinated clinical research on outbreak-prone infectious diseases, including COVID-19, dengue, Ebola, Lassa fever, Nipah, mpox, bubonic plague, and H5Nx avian influenza. Its core technology platform consists of the Clinical Characterisation Protocol (CCP) — a standardized observational study framework co-developed with WHO — supported by disease-specific Case Report Forms (CRFs), a Clinical Epidemiology Platform for data management, and the COVID-19 Data Platform holding approximately 1 million patient records. Regional hubs in Ghana, Brazil, Pakistan, the Philippines, and a dedicated Data Management Centre and Pregnancy & Paediatric Hub provide localized coordination.

ISARIC's business model is grant-funded rather than commercial. The consortium was awarded up to £16.5 million over five years (2024) from Wellcome, UK International Development (FCDO), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate clinical research on outbreak-prone infectious diseases. Protocols, CRFs, and analytic tools are provided free of charge to member institutions, and member networks contribute expertise, data, and research capacity in exchange for access to ISARIC's Global Support Centre, training programmes (including the 2025 ISARIC Leadership Programme for Scientists), and participation in ISARIC-led studies. Strategic partnerships with WHO, CEPI, Global.health, Fiocruz, and PUC-Rio anchor ISARIC's position in the global outbreak research ecosystem, and outputs are published in top-tier journals including the New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Recent operational milestones include the IMASOY bubonic plague randomized controlled trial (450 patients enrolled across Madagascar, published in NEJM in 2025), the launch of disease-specific protocols for dengue and H5Nx, and the development of the RAPID Stigma Scales — the first validated tool to measure stigma across multiple infectious disease outbreaks. ISARIC does not generate commercial revenue, has no equity ownership structure, and operates as an academic research consortium under the University of Oxford's legal entity.

Name

ISARIC

Legal name

The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Oxford

Website

https://isaric.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

10,001+ employees

Short description

ISARIC is a non-profit global federation of over 80 clinical research networks across 140 countries, hosted at the University of Oxford, that conducts coordinated clinical research on outbreak-prone infectious diseases using standardized protocols and data platforms funded by global health grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Research Coordination

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAJABAE

Outbreak Investigation & Incident Management (EOC/ICS)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Disease Surveillance, Epidemiology & Outbreak Response

SECONDARYHLAJAGAB

Disaster Response Coordination & Incident Command (EOC/ICS)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Response & EMS Coordination

SECONDARYHLAGACAL

Site Data Management Support (EDC/Source/SDV Readiness)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Life Science Tools & Services (CRO/CDMO/Lab Services)/Clinical Trial Services & Site Management (SMO)

SECONDARYHLACAOAA

Electronic Data Capture (EDC) Platforms

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Digital Health & Health IT/Clinical Trials & Research Informatics (eCOA/ePRO/EDC)

Keywords

• Clinical research coordination
• Infectious disease research
• Outbreak response protocols
• Clinical data platform
• Epidemic preparedness

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: ISARIC operates as a non-profit research consortium funded primarily through grants from major global health funders including Wellcome, UK International Development (FCDO), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The consortium was awarded up to £16.5 million over five years to accelerate implementation of clinical research studies of outbreak-prone infectious diseases.
2. Membership Contributions: Member networks contribute expertise, data, and research capacity to the federation. Membership provides access to ISARIC tools, protocols, and coordination while members contribute to the global research effort through their clinical research activities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ISARIC provides standardized clinical research protocols and data infrastructure for investigating epidemic-prone infectious diseases. Its core offering is the Clinical Characterisation Protocol (CCP) framework co-developed with WHO, supported by the Clinical Epidemiology Platform for data management and the COVID-19 Data Platform hosting ~1 million patient records. Member networks gain access to protocols, Case Report Forms, training, and coordination via the Global Support Centre at the University of Oxford.

Product overview

ISARIC is a global federation of clinical research networks offering a coordinated research platform for epidemic-prone infectious diseases. The core offering consists of the Clinical Characterisation Protocol (CCP) framework, the ISARIC Clinical Epidemiology Platform for data management, and the COVID-19 Data Platform. Additional products include disease-specific Case Report Forms (CRFs), the Dengue Core Outcome Set (DEN-CORE), and RAPID Stigma Scales. Services include membership in the global research network and support from the Global Support Centre at the University of Oxford. Tools are made available via open-source GitHub repositories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ISARIC: International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium - a global federation of investigator-led clinical research networks

Products and services

• Clinical Characterisation Protocol (CCP) A standardised observational study framework designed to rapidly characterise the clinical epidemiology and pathogenesis of epidemic-prone infectious diseases to inform patient care and public health action. Provides template study documents, data management, database hosting, analytic tools, global coordination, and operational support for outbreak research. Implemented for Ebola, SARS-CoV-2, Zika, MERS-CoV, mpox, severe dengue, and acute encephalitis syndrome.
• ISARIC Clinical Epidemiology Platform A platform supporting clinical data collection, processing, and analysis across ISARIC's international studies. Manages data collected globally and contributes to development of tools for efficient, high-quality data collection and aggregation on emerging infectious diseases.
• COVID-19 Data Platform The world's largest international collection of accessible data on individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, with approximately 1 million patient records. Generated evidence that informed treatment and response policy, clinical trial designs, and drug development.
• Dengue Core Outcome Set (DEN-CORE) An international consensus study to develop a standardised set of outcomes (core outcome set) to be used by all future dengue treatment trials. Includes seven critical outcomes for hospitalised individuals and four additional outcomes for early dengue stage trials.
• RAPID Stigma Scales First validated tool to measure stigma during multiple infectious disease outbreaks. Developed with communities affected by mpox, Ebola, and Nipah. Includes Community Stigma Scale and Self Stigma Scale for real-time assessment.
• ISARIC Membership Network Global federation of over 80 clinical research networks providing access to research studies, training programmes, Global Support Centre expertise, and capacity building opportunities for member networks working on epidemic-prone infectious diseases.
• Global Support Centre (GSC) Technical and administrative support hub based at the University of Oxford providing scientific support, network portfolio management, and coordination services to ISARIC members.
• ISARIC Leadership Programme for Scientists (ILPS) Training programme launched in partnership with Universidad de La Sabana, offering mid-career researchers from Low- and Middle-Income Countries skills to become independent research leaders in clinical research.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million COVID-19 patient records collected and analyzed globally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and significant.

• CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEPI and ISARIC launched a trial collaboration to accelerate defenses against viral outbreaks. Areas of collaboration include Nipah virus and meningoencephalitis, clinical trials and evidence generation, and outbreak response. Both organizations aim to prevent illness and deaths from infectious disease outbreaks.
• Global.healthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive-year partnership for rapid ingestion, processing, standardization, and secure sharing of global clinical data. Global.health provides software engineering support and multi-modal data integration experience.
• Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for rapid clinical data sharing. Fiocruz, Brazil's leading public health institute, applies expertise in data processing and supports research sites to develop reusable analytic pipelines addressing local health priorities.
• PUC-Rio (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Center for Healthcare Operations and Intelligence (NOIS) for data science and health outcomes research. PUC-Rio brings expertise in health, data science, engineering, and community engagement.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISARIC developed the Clinical Characterisation Protocol jointly with WHO. The protocol is a standardized framework for rapid and coordinated clinical investigation of infections of public health interest.
• Institut Pasteur MadagascarmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator in IMASOY trial for bubonic plague treatment. Institut Pasteur Madagascar contributed to the world's first rigorous clinical trial of treatments for bubonic plague in Madagascar.
• London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator in IMASOY bubonic plague trial alongside ISARIC, University of Oxford, Institut Pasteur Madagascar, and Madagascar's health services.
• WALIMU (World Alliance for Lung and Intensive Care Medicine, Uganda)significantStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on developing tools to better understand stigma associated with emerging infectious diseases. WALIMU is co-developing stigma assessment tools and piloting them in Uganda.
• icddr,b (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh)significantStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on stigma assessment tools development. icddr,b is co-developing and piloting stigma measurement tools in Bangladesh, working with communities affected by Nipah virus.
• Pandemic Sciences Institute (PSI), University of OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISARIC Global Support Centre is hosted by PSI. PSI is an interdisciplinary research institute at Oxford with mission to discover and enable science-driven solutions to infectious disease threats.
• Over 80 member networks worldwidecoreOthersMember networks form the core of ISARIC's federation. Each network consists of clinical researchers with access to three or more clinical research sites specializing in epidemic-prone infectious diseases.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG): ACTG is one of the world's largest HIV clinical trials networks, operating as a federated investigator-led network across multiple countries with standardized protocols and CRFs. ACTG's network-of-networks model, multi-site coordination, and focus on infectious disease clinical research make it structurally comparable to ISARIC's federation approach.
• Pandemic Sciences Institute (PSI), University of Oxford: PSI is the host institution for ISARIC's Global Support Centre and shares the same University of Oxford base, Director (Peter Horby), and mission of addressing infectious disease threats through interdisciplinary science. While a host rather than competitor, PSI represents the most directly comparable organizational structure and operational footprint.
• Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi): DNDi is a non-profit product development partnership focused on clinical research for neglected and outbreak-prone diseases, sharing ISARIC's grant-funded model, LMIC focus, and emphasis on delivering clinical evidence to address unmet medical needs. Both organizations operate multi-country research networks with global health funder backing.
• CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations): CEPI is a direct peer and active co-development partner of ISARIC, with both organizations focused on accelerating clinical research and vaccine development for epidemic-prone infectious diseases. They have launched joint trial collaborations on Nipah virus and meningoencephalitis, sharing overlapping funder bases (Wellcome, Gates Foundation) and operating globally.
• Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO): IDDO is a direct peer focused on clinical data platform infrastructure for infectious diseases, with significant overlap in data standardization, harmonization, and sharing methodologies. ISARIC's Head of Data Laura Merson co-founded IDDO before joining ISARIC, and both organizations operate global data platforms supporting outbreak and tropical disease research.

Regional players

• MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL: MRC CTU at UCL is a leading UK-based clinical trials methodology center with comparable expertise in trial design, data management, and clinical research infrastructure for infectious diseases. While UK-focused rather than global, MRC CTU shares ISARIC's evidence-generation mission, standardized protocol approach, and academic research base.

Others

• NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research): NIHR is a UK government-funded health research funder and infrastructure provider that supports clinical research capacity, including outbreak-related studies. While not directly competitive, NIHR represents a comparable ecosystem of publicly funded clinical research support and capacity building for the UK research community.

Broad incumbents

• Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND): FIND is a global health non-profit focused on diagnostics development and access for outbreak-prone and neglected diseases, sharing ISARIC's grant-funded model, LMIC capacity-building focus, and global health mission. While focused on diagnostics rather than clinical research, FIND operates a comparable federated model and serves similar global health stakeholders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ISARIC1
• GitHubgithub.com/ISARICResearch
• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/isaric-the-international-severe-acute-respiratory-infection-consortium

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ISARIC