Last Update: Jan 2025
Determining the origin of a pandemic is of paramount importance for preventing and preparing for future outbreaks. Five years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the scientific debate regarding the origins of the virus remains unresolved, despite the critical importance of this question. The origins of the outbreak continue to be a subject of investigation, with two primary hypotheses under consideration, a classical zoonotic spillover or an accidental release from a virology laboratory in Wuhan.
This recurrent international workshop aims at fostering an open discussion between specialists of different disciplines in order to address the question of the origins of SARS-CoV-2. It is held by videoconference on Zoom. This workshop gathers several dozens of scientists from all around the world, interested in finding out the proximal origin of SARS-CoV-2. This workshop is open to scientists and investigators on invitation, and not to journalists. All the hypotheses are evaluated with scientific criticism. So far, 29 sessions have occurred since January 2021.
The goals of this Workshop are four-fold:
1. Elucidate the origins of SARS-CoV-2
2. Foster discussions and collaborations between researchers from various relevant fields (virology, modelling, bioinformatics, ecology, social sciences, etc.) working on the origin of SARS-CoV-2.
3. Have a general overview of the different types of evidences and approaches currently undertaken to investigate the origin of the virus.
4. Apply an evidence-based analysis to evaluate the different hypotheses about the origin of the virus.
The following rules are given in the invitation letter to participants and they are reiterated at the beginning of each session.
Commitments of the Participants (1)
Adopt an open attitude to alternative hypotheses.
Distinguish clearly facts from interpretations and opinions.
Focus on facts and scientific debate.
Avoid personal attacks (during and after the workshop).
Avoid self-interest biasing the participation.
Commitments of the Participants (2)
Do not divulge video/sound/picture recordings to others outside of the workshop (without explicit consent of the persons involved).
Do not record the talks without agreement of the speaker.
Do not record the discussions without agreement of all participants.
Do not divulge without agreement of the participants.
Do not take a public position involving the group of participants.
Workshop Committee
The Workshop Committee is composed of members of French research institutions.
Scientific Committee
Bruno Canard, molecular virologist, AFMB CNRS, Université Aix-Marseille, France
Etienne Decroly, molecular virologist, AFMB CNRS, Université Aix-Marseille, France
Jacques van Helden, bioinformatics, biostatistics, genome analysis, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
Organising Committee
Virginie Courtier-Orgogozo, evolutionary geneticist, Institut Jacques Monod, Université de Paris, France
François Graner, biophysicist, MSC CNRS, Université de Paris, France
José Halloy, biophysicist, LIED CNRS, Université de Paris, France
Introduction slides
In what has now become a tradition, during the first 5-10min of the workshop, V. Courtier usually presents the major events relative to COVID-19 proximal origin that have occurred since the last workshop (scientific publications, reports, news articles, etc.). The slides of these introduction are available here:
2024
19 Sep-16 May 2024
19 Jan 2024-15 May 2024
2023
20 Oct 2023-18 Jan 2024
20 Jul-19 Oct 2023
20 Apr-19 Jul 2023
Not available
18 Nov 2022-19 Jan 2023
2022
21 Oct-17 Nov 2022
16 Sep-20 Oct 2022
22 Jul-15 Sep 2022
17 Jun-21 Jul 2022
20 May-16 Jun 2022
22 Apr-19 May 2022
18 Mar-21 Apr 2022
18 Feb-17 Mar 2022
21 Jan-17 Feb 2022
17 Dec 2021-20 Jan 2022
2021
18 Nov-15 Dec 2021
21 Oct-17 Nov 2021
16 Sept-20 Oct 2021
20 Aug-16 Sept 2021
16 Jul-19 Aug 2021
18 Jun-15 Jul 2021
21 May-17 Jun 2021
16 Apr-20 May 2021
19 Mar-15 Apr 2021
19 Feb-18 Mar 2021
2020
Feb 2019-Jul 2020
Events
On 14 September 2021 the Workshop Committee organized a webinar entitled “What is the origin of COVID-19 pandemic? What we know, don’t know, need to know and need to do”. This event aimed at reviewing and explaining, without preconceptions, principal elements pointing towards alternative hypotheses. It was designed for the general public to help understand the scientific debate. This webinar does not try to make a definite conclusion, and rather opens perspectives for further discussions. The speakers were: Dr José Halloy, Dr Alina Chan, Dr Sudhir Kumar, Dr Virginie Courtier, Dr Filippa Lentzos and Dr Richard Ebright. Videos of the various presentations are available on Youtube.
The “Paris Group” label
The workshop is not intended to become a formalized group for adopting common public positions. While some participants have independently chosen to organize themselves to express shared public positions, this does not reflect the purpose of the scientific meetings. Participation in the workshop does not imply agreement with the ideas discussed during the sessions.
It is worth noting that some individuals, primarily in the United States, have referred to these meetings as the “Paris Group,” without it being clear whether this term refers to the organizers or the entirety of the participants. Since the meetings are international and held online, this designation may reference the organizing team, which consists of researchers based in Paris and Marseilles.
We reaffirm that these meetings do not constitute a formal group but rather a gathering of scientists who maintain their intellectual independence, including the right to diverge and disagree.