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The Wuhan outbreak of COVID-19 is the most recent pandemic in a long list of animal-borne viruses that leave mounting death tolls and disruption in their wake. In recognition of this outbreak, we have made all recommendations on COVID-19 free to access on F1000Prime.

The past weeks of media coverage on this outbreak has highlighted past and present research, leaving scientists and policymakers inundated with papers. It’s important – now more than ever – that the relevant and cutting-edge research is highlighted to ensure efficient and effective research outcomes. We asked our expert Faculty to comb through the current and ever-expanding amount of literature on the Coronavirus and here, we have included their recommendations on the top papers which are most relevant and have the most potential to incite changes in policy and protocol.

Animal-borne viruses have been the cause of several pandemics in the last decade, including the Asian SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak in 2003, the H5N1 avian flu outbreak in 2005, the Democratic Republic of Congo Ebola outbreak in 2015, which resulted in 28,600 cases and 11,325 deaths and most recently the Wuhan COVID-19 outbreak this year.

Global bodies, including WHO, are pushing for an acceleration of research into the Coronavirus; Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director of WHO said on encouraging increased research efforts; “Harnessing the power of science is critical for bringing this outbreak under control. There are questions we need answers to, and tools we need developed as quickly as possible.” And this request has been answered; Nature reported that 50 research papers have been published on the Coronavirus in just 20 days.