SARS and Swine Flu are two recent examples of diseases that have jumped from the animal world to humans. And as both examples demonstrated, such diseases can have a heavy impact on human health, precisely because the diseases are new to us.In fact, there are now nearly 40 infectious diseases in humans that were not known a generation ago. Many known infectious diseases that were thought to be under control have re-emerged. A more effective approach to new viral epidemics is hence essential, now more than ever.EMPERIE answers that urgent need as it brings together international experts of different disciplines in an efficient and decisive collaborative network. “To be able to control an emerging new disease in a couple of weeks”, that is the ultimate aim of the EMPERIE project.