Advancing integrated scientific advice in pandemic preparedness

Abstract Background Infectious disease outbreaks demand rapid and actionable policy advice. Scientific advisory bodies for pandemics often underrepresent social and behavioral sciences, limiting the range of response or mitigation strategies. This ongoing study explores how simulation exercises can support multidisciplinary collaboration to deliver integrated policy advice. Key questions include: (1) Is timely, integrated, and actionable multi-disciplinary advice feasible during outbreaks? (2) Which scientific components are best delivered integrated versus in parallel? Methods Three simulation exercises are conducted involving Disease X, a zoonotic pathogen spreading to humans. We incorporated insights from previous research and simulations. Policymakers develop advice questions and participate in interdepartmental policy tables to evaluate the advice. Experts from biomedical, behavioral and social sciences and humanities collaborate under conditions of optimal preparedness: real-time behavioral data, transmission models, and resilience strategies. Multidisciplinary teams develop policy advice with the WHO-INTEGRATE framework. Sessions are recorded and analyzed, followed by surveys and interviews. Results Preliminary findings show that integrated advice is feasible and valuable when preparedness infrastructure is in place. Integration is most effective for measures requiring public engagement, while economic impact and long-term considerations are better handled in parallel. Success factors include shared terminology, knowledge exchange, collaborative experience, and structured deliberation frameworks. Conclusions Our findings suggest that structured pandemic simulations enable the development of integrated policy advice. Integration is most effective when preparedness infrastructure supports cross-disciplinary interpretation of data. These insights inform future outbreak preparedness, providing actionable guidance on organizing multidisciplinary advisory bodies. Key messages • Integrated interdisciplinary advice during outbreaks is feasible when supported by structured collaboration and preparedness infrastructure. • Simulations help distinguish which types of evidence are best integrated versus delivered in parallel, enhancing actionable pandemic response.