First initiative of the Asia-Pacific regional pole, the “Research-driven rESPonse to Acute Respiratory Infections”, with the acronym RESPARI is dedicated to research on acute respiratory disease. This large-scale regional programme was initiated after the directors of Pasteur institutes of Asia-Pacific region had met in Hong Kong in December 2004 (visit our photo albums' page).

RESPARI is designed to focus on problems related to laboratory diagnosis and surveillance of acute low respiratory infections (ALRIs) in children and adults, the epidemiology of these infections, their pathogenesis and immunology. Innovative research programmes will lead to advanced-technology tools for their microbiological diagnosis and to new strategies to combat respiratory viruses through vaccines and antiviral drugs.

RESPARI is aiming at giving a practical respond to the impending avian influenza pandemic threat and to the potential re-emergence of SARS disease. HKU-Pasteur Research Centre is part of a taskforce on the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 (RESPARI-Flu). HKU-PRC's efforts are concentrated on development of diagnostic tools, drug discovery and identification of host cell factors important for virus early and late stages of infection.