Written by Jacobs and FasterCures, a center of the Milken Institute, this report highlights the deficiencies exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic in responding to public health crises and encourages decision makers and policymakers to apply the lessons learned to prepare for future threats. The report urges health decision-makers to prioritize and build out public-private academic partnerships, involve communities in the dialogue, maintain ongoing learning, and support financial mechanisms for emergency preparedness. It recommends an intentional design approach to incorporate lessons learned in future pandemic preparedness roadmaps and frameworks at the international, national/federal, and regional/state levels.