Abstract for: Preventing Future Pandemics: Insights from Group Model Building on the Journey of Boundary Objects and System Insights

Viral spillovers have been at the center of recent pandemics including SARS, COVID, H1N1, and Mpox as viruses jump species and gain function through multiple species interactions. This paper describes the use of group model building to facilitate a meeting of a Lacent commission in June 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa focused on transdisciplinary action to limit future spillovers and mitigate the frequency of future global pandemics. Results highlight the role of shifts in the boundary objects to collaboratively develop system insights and identify policy framing of interventions categorized by potential leverage points using Meadow’s framework.