Official launch of the ReSViNET Foundation

ZEIST, THE NETHERLANDS, 15 May 2018 – Today, we proudly announce the official launch of the ReSViNET Foundation as a registered not-for-profit entity under Dutch law. After 4 years of building and shaping the network and months of preparation, the ReSViNET Foundation has officially been founded.  

​So far, the network has been part of Julius Clinical and we express deep gratitude towards Julius Clinical that supported the initial effort to set up the network from the beginning. Without their active support, ReSViNET would not exist as it does today. 

As a foundation ReSViNET is now a financially and otherwise independent regulated entity which represents a major milestone for the entire ReSViNET project. Since the inception of ReSViNET network in 2014, we have continuously been working to fulfil our Vision and Mission: to decrease the global burden of RSV infection through the advancement of research; providing scientific input; involvement in clinical trials; and organising conferences and offering platforms to share the latest developments and  reports on groundbreaking studies and in this way helping to move the field forward.
 
We are exceptionally proud to be the first official Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) foundation and aim to foster global collaboration among researchers, the health sector, governments, international statutory bodies, non-profit organisations and the wider civil society in an effort to coordinate actions and raise awareness about RSV infection and to tackle the challenge of RSV infection prevention and treatment. RSV acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) is one of our most significant global healthcare challenges, not only in infants, but also in older adults and no vaccine is licensed for prevention. It is already affecting 33.1 million children under 5 years worldwide.  
 
We have a lot to share so far – we have published influential scientific  papers, we have designed and/or participated in various clinical trials, we were on the basis of the formation of RSV Consortium in Europe (RESCEU), have developed the mobile application ReSViNET Scale App for parents and organised successful conferences for all stakeholders involved in RSV field.  
 
As the ReSViNET Foundation is now standing on solid legal pillars, this milestone represents a vital growth spurt in the ReSViNET project’s maturity. From the start of ReSViNET's inception, we wanted this to be a valuable platform for all RSV community members and believe in the vision, the growth and success of this enterprise. The ReSViNET foundation will keep working hard towards its Mission and Vision as we have done until now. We assure and maintain transparency in our relationships within the foundation and with our partners and collaborators.
 
It will take a concerted global effort to tackle RSV and we are looking forward to continue and advance our collaborations and partnerships with global leaders, WHO, BMGF, RSV society (ISIRV), PATH, EMA, FDA, pharmaceutical companies, patients and other parties within the RSV community to stimulate development of new therapeutics.
 
The foundation is thankful to all its partners without whom we would not have reached this milestone.
  
Yours sincerely,
Louis J. Bont, chair and expert board member
Aize J. Smink, treasurer/deputy chair
Leyla Kragten-Tabatabaie, secretary