Building the theory, data, and practice of preventive governance
The Prevention Lab is an independent research initiative advancing the theory, measurement, and practice of preventive governance. We study how governments, international organizations, and technology companies can anticipate emerging risks, strengthen public goods, and build the institutions, incentives, and communication systems needed to act before crises become inevitable.
Our purpose
Most governance systems are built to respond, not to anticipate. By the time a risk is undeniable, the window for the most effective and least costly intervention has often closed. The Prevention Lab exists to understand why that happens — and to help institutions change it.
We work across preventive governance, strategic foresight, public goods, AI and information integrity, climate and forest governance, and institutional resilience. Our output spans frameworks, working papers, and flagship indices designed to be cited, debated, and improved.
The Lab is deliberately built as an institution rather than a personal platform — a place that can grow beyond its founder, attract collaborators and fellows, and become a reference point for the institutions it serves.
Founder
The Prevention Lab is founded by John Narayan Parajuli, PhD.
How we work
Institution, not personal brand
The Lab is built to grow beyond its founder — to host fellows, publish flagship data products, and become a citation rather than a name.
Anticipation over reaction
We study the structural reasons institutions act late, and how decision systems can be redesigned around acting early.
Research that is useful
Rigorous and citable, but always built to feed real budget, policy, and risk decisions — not to sit on a shelf.
Public goods first
Our work centers the goods that benefit everyone and are chronically undersupplied, including the preventive goods whose value is averted harm.
Collaborate with the Lab
We work with institutions and individuals who share a commitment to anticipation over reaction. Reach out to discuss research, advisory, or partnership.