October 16, 2024
The Center for Transformational Health Law at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University Law Center has been named as one of the lead partners in the newly-formed Pathogen Data Network (PDN).
Our work during COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with the COVID-19 Law Lab underscored the critical importance of accessible, coordinated data in managing global health crises.” – Sam Halabi
“Our work during COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with the COVID-19 Law Lab underscored the critical importance of accessible, coordinated data in managing global health crises,” said Sam Halabi, director of the Center for Transformational Health Law.
Funded by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), PDN aims to enhance data sharing on infectious diseases to better combat outbreaks and pandemics. It will provide infrastructure, tools, and training to ensure the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) use of pathogen data, including host and pathogen genomics, imaging, and cohort information.
Participation in PDN will reinforce the Center’s work to strengthen global legal preparedness for health emergencies, bolster legal frameworks, and advance policies that improve the global response to outbreaks and pandemics. The PDN plans to introduce localized data portals for countries to manage and share data on pathogens affecting humans and their ecosystems.
“Through our work with the PDN, we can help ensure the accessibility of pathogen data for countries and health organizations to foster a coordinated global response and ensure health systems across the world have the tools they need to respond quickly and effectively,” – Sam Halabi
“Through our work with the PDN, we can help ensure the accessibility of pathogen data for countries and health organizations to foster a coordinated global response and ensure health systems across the world have the tools they need to respond quickly and effectively,” added Halabi.
The global consortium is coordinated by the SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, and includes partners such as EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and Uppsala University, among others.
To learn more about the global Pathogen Data Network, visit: https://www.sib.swiss/news/nih-funding-to-develop-a-global-pathogen-data-network