Predictive Intelligence for Pandemic Prevention initiative of the US National Science Foundation
The UT Center for Pandemic Decision Science (CPDS) was established via an NSF PIPP grant to bring together experts across various fields to better prepare the world for future pandemic threats. The center aims to tackle critical challenges, including anticipating novel pathogens, forecasting human and governmental responses, and integrating science into decision-making. As part of the CPDS, CAPTRS developed the Command, Control, Coordination and Communication (C3C) Game proof-of-concept to help public agencies improve their strategies and readiness for the next crisis.
CDC Insight Net
Insight Net was established by the CDC in the wake of the COVID pandemic to accelerate the development of forecasting and decision-support analytics for outbreak detection and response. Insight Net has awarded over $100M to 13 teams, which include experts from over 100 universities, companies, and public health departments across the US. As part of epiENGAGE — one of the networks of Insight Net — CAPTRS is developing games to ensure nimble and effective scientific responses to future pathogen threats and improved communication and coordination between scientists and public health organizations. As part of this project CAPTRS developed the Activate Game and the Reliability Game - Dengue.
7-1-7 Alliance and WHO 7-1-7 Strategy Game Project
CAPTRS collaborated with the 7-1-7 Alliance and the WHO to create an innovative game to improve outbreak detection, notification and response. The 7-1-7 target calls for detecting a suspected outbreak within seven days, notifying public health authorities within one day, and mounting an effective response within seven days. The game was developed to be used as a plan optimization tool to prioritize activities that directly improve bottlenecks and was piloted with a group of WHO leaders in Geneva in February of 2026.
Universe of Threats
Using a combination of human creativity and AI storytelling, CAPTRS is building a vast catalog of threat scenarios, each of which describes a real or hypothetical pathogen, as well as cascading sociological, environmental, and geopolitical events. The universe will serve as an engine for global preparedness efforts that will help to ensure that our playbooks, stockpiles and decision makers are equipped to combat the unknown and complex threats of tomorrow.