Global Virus Network Inc.

The Global Virus Network (GVN) is a non-profit global organization established in 2011, comprising an international coalition of medical virologists. Its core mission is to ensure and facilitate global pandemic preparedness for viral diseases that pose a threat to public health. The GVN achieves this by enhancing scientific research, advancing education and training, strengthening preparedness and response, and fostering a coordinated approach to combating viral diseases worldwide through collaboration with national and international scientific institutions and governmental organizations. The network's international headquarters officially opened on March 5, 2026, at the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa, Florida, having been selected to host it in July 2024.

GVN's services encompass a broad range of activities aimed at understanding, preventing, and eradicating viral disease threats. These include conducting international collaborative research, providing public education with credible information about viruses and vaccines, and advocating for sustained funding and partnerships in virology. The network also organizes specialized task forces dedicated to specific viral threats such as chikungunya, human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1), Zika, SARS-CoV-2, Dengue, and Long-COVID, facilitating joint grant applications, annual meetings, and maintaining a biobank.

Recent notable developments for GVN include the official opening of its International Headquarters at the University of South Florida in March 2026, solidifying its presence as a global hub for virology research. In October 2025, GVN expanded its reach by adding three new Centers of Excellence in the Americas, located at the USF Health Institute for Translational Virology and Innovation, the Federal University of São Paulo, and the Pathogen Research Centre at Western University. The organization also issued a statement in April 2026 regarding H5N1 bird flu, emphasizing the urgent need for strengthened pandemic preparedness and accelerated vaccine development. Dr. Sten Vermund was appointed President of the GVN in November 2023, joining co-founder Dr. Robert Gallo, who serves as International Scientific Director, and Executive Chairman Mathew L. Evins, in leading the network's global efforts.