COVID-19 and beyond: a call for action and audacious solidarity to all the citizens and nations, it is humanity’s fight
Authors: Auffray Charles , Balling Rudi , Blomberg Niklas , Bonaldo Myrna C. , Boutron Bertrand , Brahmachari Samir , Bréchot Christian , Cesario Alfredo , Chen Sai-Juan , Clément Karine , Danilenko Daria , Di Meglio Alberto , Gelemanović Andrea , Goble Carole , Gojobori Takashi , Goldman Jason D. , Goldman Michel , Guo Yi-Ke , Heath James , Hood Leroy , Hunter Peter , Jin Li , Kitano Hiroaki , Knoppers Bartha , Lancet Doron , Larue Catherine , Lathrop Mark , Laville Martine , Lindner Ariel B. , Magnan Antoine , Metspalu Andres , Morin Edgar , Ng Lisa F.P. , Nicod Laurent , Noble Denis , Nottale Laurent , Nowotny Helga , Ochoa Theresa , Okeke Iruka N. , Oni Tolu , Openshaw Peter , Oztürk Mehmet , Palkonen Susanna , Paweska Janusz T. , Pison Christophe , Polymeropoulos Mihael H. , Pristipino Christian , Protzer Ulrike , Roca Josep , Rozman Damjana , Santolini Marc , Sanz Ferran , Scambia Giovanni , Segal Eran , Serageldin Ismail , Soares Marcelo Bento , Sterk Peter , Sugano Sumio , Superti-Furga Giulio , Supple David , Tegner Jesper , Uhlen Mathias , Urbani Andrea , Valencia Alfonso , Valentini Vincenzo , van der Werf Sylvie , Vinciguerra Manlio , Wolkenhauer Olaf , Wouters Emiel 
Published: September 2020

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) belongs to a subgroup of coronaviruses rampant in bats for centuries. It caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Most patients recover, but a minority of severe cases experience acute respiratory distress or an inflammatory storm devastating many organs that can lead to patient death. The spread of SARS-CoV-2 was facilitated by the increasing intensity of air travel, urban congestion and human contact during the past decades. Until therapies and vaccines are available, tests for virus exposure, confinement and distancing measures have helped curb the pandemic.

Vision: The COVID-19 pandemic calls for safeguards and remediation measures through a systemic response. Self-organizing initiatives by scientists and citizens are developing an advanced collective intelligence response to the coronavirus crisis. Their integration forms Olympiads of Solidarity and Health. Their ability to optimize our response to COVID-19 could serve as a model to trigger a global metamorphosis of our societies with far-reaching consequences for attacking fundamental challenges facing humanity in the 21st century.

Mission: For COVID-19 and these other challenges, there is no alternative but action. Meeting in Paris in 2003, we set out to "rethink research to understand life and improve health." We have formed an international coalition of academia and industry ecosystems taking a systems medicine approach to understanding COVID-19 by thoroughly characterizing viruses, patients and populations during the pandemic, using openly shared tools. All results will be publicly available with no initial claims for intellectual property rights. This World Alliance for Health and Wellbeing will catalyze the creation of medical and health products such as diagnostic tests, drugs and vaccines that become common goods accessible to all, while seeking further alliances with civil society to bridge with socio-ecological and technological approaches that characterise urban systems, for a collective response to future health emergencies.