As Canada reflects on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, a new initiative at McGill University is taking proactive steps to ensure the nation is better equipped for future crises. The Pandemic and Emergency Readiness Lab (PERL) officially launched on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, marking a significant milestone nearly six years after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
Bridging Academia and Practice for Real-World Impact
Directed by Dr. Joanne Liu, former international president of Doctors Without Borders, PERL aims to transform academic research into actionable policies that can save lives during emergencies. The lab operates on three fundamental pillars: advancing cutting-edge research, promoting crisis-ready leadership, and building strategic partnerships across sectors.
"We are very excited about the lab because while crises will inevitably come, we're not doomed," said Dr. Liu, whose extensive experience in humanitarian medicine informs PERL's mission. "We want to create a laboratory that prepares us better, assesses risks systematically, and delivers clear, actionable solutions."
Five Research Streams Addressing Critical Gaps
PERL has established five comprehensive research streams designed to address the most pressing challenges in emergency preparedness:
- Pandemic prevention and risk anticipation
- Policy, governance and crisis infrastructure
- Data and systems innovation
- Equity and community resilience
- Trust, communication and crisis leadership
One of the lab's flagship projects focuses on developing strategies to combat misinformation and disinformation through front-line healthcare providers. Dr. Prativa Baral, PERL's deputy director and assistant professor in McGill's Department of Global and Public Health, emphasized the importance of this work.
"Our front-line providers are the first to encounter misinformation during outbreaks," Dr. Baral explained. "We need coherent strategies for how they can effectively counter false information while managing actual health emergencies."
Building Local Capacity Beyond Military Dependence
Another significant project examines how civilian resources can be better utilized during emergencies, reducing reliance on military intervention for non-military tasks. Dr. Baral noted that while military personnel have provided essential support during past crises, their specialized training should be reserved for situations requiring their unique expertise.
"Military personnel shouldn't be providing care in long-term care homes during emergencies," she stated. "They do it beautifully when called upon, but we're working to build surge capacity models at the local level so communities can respond effectively without depending on military resources for tasks that civilian systems should handle."
Expert Insights on Inevitable Future Pandemics
Dr. Michael Osterholm, one of the world's leading infectious disease experts and author of The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics, delivered the keynote address at PERL's launch event. He stressed that accepting the inevitability of future pandemics is the first crucial step toward better preparedness.
"Once we went through the previous pandemic, people wanted to believe it was done and never to come back," Dr. Osterholm observed. "The challenge is that to get better prepared for future pandemics, you have to believe they're actually going to happen."
While uncertain about what specific pathogen might cause the next pandemic, Dr. Osterholm suggested another coronavirus or influenza virus as likely candidates. He emphasized that when vaccines and drugs aren't immediately available, the priority must be maintaining healthcare systems capable of providing quality medical care.
Multi-Dimensional Expertise and Funding
PERL has received funding from PAX sapiens, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing predictable global catastrophes through improved systems of collective coordination. Dr. Osterholm praised PERL's leadership and multi-dimensional expertise, noting that Dr. Liu's extensive experience with global crises makes her particularly qualified to direct the lab's efforts.
"There's nothing she hasn't seen," Dr. Osterholm said of Dr. Liu. "That's an example of great leadership. This is the kind of place where understanding what needs to be done for future pandemics is really at its very best."
The launch event featured expert panels addressing critical themes including responding to human crises in a fractured world, the politics of preparedness, and confronting the dangers of misinformation and disinformation.
A Collaborative Approach to Emergency Preparedness
Dr. Baral reported that PERL has already generated significant interest from both academic institutions and public sector organizations. She emphasized that emergencies affect everyone individually and collectively, making collaboration essential.
"This is a really great opportunity for us to work together," Dr. Baral concluded. "By pooling our knowledge and resources, we can ensure we're better prepared for the next big crisis, whatever form it might take."
As Canada continues to navigate the aftermath of COVID-19 while anticipating future emergencies, PERL represents a proactive investment in the nation's resilience. By bridging research and practice, the lab aims to transform lessons from past crises into actionable strategies that could save lives when the next pandemic inevitably arrives.
