
The PDPC Academy
The PDPC Academy aims to catalyse, connect and share the PDPC expertise and philosophy through knowledge transfer and education, and an academic workplace.
Knowledge transfer and education
The PDPC Academy aims to facilitate postgraduate students working on theses on one of the key PDPC topics. Students will receive education and supervision in addition to their study programmes. We are exploring several education methods, such as interdisciplinary case-based learning and possibilities for post-academic knowledge transfer. You can find the first results here: the PDPC webinars.
Academic Workplace: policy, practice and research
With its academic workplace, the PDPC fulfills a deficiency by providing short-term knowledge on pandemics and disasters. External parties and PDPC researchers, can suggest research questions to the PDPC workplace. The short-term research projects will result in a knowledge agenda that leads to in-depth scientific research. Within the PDPC Academy framework, we work closely with stakeholders, such as the Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs), the Port of Rotterdam and ministries. The Academic workplace unites questions and answers and strives to share them widely in an open-source format.
The academic workplace is intended for applied research that combines three key pillars: policy, practice and research. Examples of short-term research projects are listed below.
Integrated Science for Policy
How can we ensure better decision-making during pandemic outbreaks? The Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Center has been working on integrated advisory approaches to improve crisis response. Our research highlights the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration—combining biomedical, social, and economic perspectives—to prevent fragmented decision-making.
In 2024, PDPC organized simulation exercises on Avian Influenza, exploring how interdisciplinary teams can develop integrated advice. Key findings show that open dialogue and diverse expertise are crucial for effective crisis management. Building on this, we are launching Disease X simulation exercises in 2025, expanding participation to policymakers and decision-makers.
By refining frameworks for integrated advisory, PDPC aims to enhance pandemic preparedness. Learn more by clicking the button below and explore our reports, conference presentations, and upcoming workshops.

Underserved groups
The disease burden of COVID-19 infection, morbidity, and mortality is unevenly distributed across different population subgroups. A one-size-fits-all approach may not reach all groups. Identifying barriers and drivers that influence people’s behaviour towards COVID-19 public health and social measures (PHSM) (i.e. vaccination, testing and other measures) is a crucial step when designing tailored interventions.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed the Tailoring Health Programmes (THP) approach to assist countries in diagnosing barriers and drivers to health protective behaviours. We present the findings of the situation analysis, phase 1 of the THP approach. The aim was threefold: 1) to identify the population subgroups with a lower uptake and adherence to COVID-19 PHSM, 2) gain an overview the previously identified barriers and drivers of the general population and population subgroups, and 3) to obtain an overview of interventions and research initiated by various stakeholders in the Netherlands.

Get in touch!
If you have any questions regarding the Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Center, please contact us.