A guideline to improve health emergency systems with the help of scientific and technological advancements has been released in efforts to make Shanghai one of the world’s safest cities in public health by 2025.

The guideline, drafted by authorities in science, health and other areas, features 18 major tasks, aiming to create unified and authoritative leadership, rapid and efficient responses, and scientific and coordinated public health emergency management systems.

Under the guideline, Shanghai plans to launch a science and technology project for biosafety, establish a research institute in biosafety and major infectious diseases and develop core technologies in preventing and controlling infectious diseases.

Also, Shanghai plans to strengthen the development of technologies related to pathogen identification and the treatment of emerging infectious diseases as well as accelerate the application of traditional Chinese medicine in emergency treatment.

Shanghai has made progress in developing mRNA vaccine and neutralizing antibody treatment, according to the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission.

Also, Shanghai plans to have a state-level a bioinformatics database and build a pathogenic microorganism laboratory.

“A bioinformatics database will allow us to discover unknown viruses by comparing them to previous ones,” said Wu Fan, deputy director of Fudan University’s medical college and a leading expert from Shanghai’s COVID-19 medical team. Studying pathogens, we can know its bioinformatics and can further develop vaccines and treatments. They are very previous research resources.”

According to the guideline, more key labs, clinical research institutions, technological innovation centers are expected to be based Shanghai, while current major scientific facilities such as the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility will open “green channels” for the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

Another highlight of the guideline is  deeper international cooperation.

Shanghai plans to build more joint labs and research institutes, attract the world’s leading health and science organizations to build regional headquarters and absorb overseas talent in local work against infectious diseases to promote the city’s influence on the global stage.