The forthcoming Independent Panel for Evidence for Action against Antimicrobial Resistance (IPEA) offers a critical opportunity to strengthen global coordination and accelerate action on AMR. Limited systematic analysis of existing health-related panels constrains the ability to draw lessons that could inform its optimal design, something this paper aimed to address. Seventeen panels from an initial list of 30 were identified, selecting six diverse examples for in-depth review. Data from academic and grey literature was extracted and structured across seven analytical categories. Findings suggest that IPEA’s success may rely less on structural design and more on strategic positioning within the global AMR and health landscape. Key to its effectiveness will be balancing independence with intergovernmental legitimacy, coordinating and leveraging existing bodies, and establishing credibility through high-impact science, innovative data use, timely, actionable synthesis of existing knowledge, closure of gaps, and inclusive, globally representative expertise. As other health panels adapt to shifting global realities, their experiences offer valuable insights for designing an IPEA that is independent, credible, and anchored—while also being future-proofed from the outset: lithe, inclusive, adaptable, and action-oriented.
