The European Research Infrastructure on Highly Pathogenic Agents (ERINHA) is a distributed Research Infrastructure dedicated to develop an adequate and coordinated effort to address the challenges posed by the emergence or re-emergence of highly dangerous human and animal micro-organisms infecting humans. ERINHA seeks to reinforce the European capacities for the study of Risk Group 4 pathogens, enhance the coordination of Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) activities and give access to BSL-4 and complementary facilities (e.g. BSL-3) with longstanding experience of research in the field of highly infectious diseases. Such a coordinated approach is vital in a context marked by frequent globalization of infectious diseases with high risk for public health, society and economy, as suggested by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Entered in the ESFRI Roadmap in 2008, ERINHA was established as an International non-profit Association under Belgian Law (AISBL) in 2017 and was acknowledged as ESFRI Landmark in 2018. ERINHA brings together Europe’s top high containment laboratories and focuses on highly pathogenic agents with no approved or widely available treatment or vaccine. ERINHA’s Central Coordinating Unit (CCU) located in Paris is the single point of access to the Infrastructure. It ensures ERINHA’s daily operations and provides functions for scientific project management, data management, advocacy & communication, legal and administrative matters. ERINHA member facilities foster research in their field of expertise and accelerate the development of countermeasures to keep the public safe.