A Multisectoral Approach to Identify Innovative Solutions to Strengthen Capacity Building for Pandemic Risk Management
Jim Duggan, Conor Hayes, Musfira Jilani, Judith Würmel, Máire A Connolly · International Journal of Infectious Diseases · 2016
Purpose: With the convergence of risk factors driving disease emergence, amplification and dissemination of pandemic prone pathogens, emerging diseases pose a greater threat to mankind now than ever before. In response to this threat, the EU has funded the PANDEM project in order to identify viable innovative concepts to strengthen capacity building for pandemic risk management in the EU. This research will also support the EU and Member States in implementation of EU Decision I082, which provides new legislation to streamline and strengthen EU capacities to respond effectively to serious cross border threats to health. Methods & Materials: The overall project methodology is framed through a multisectoral initiative involving experts from public health, security, communication, governance and information systems. This interdisciplinary framework uses a systems perspective to identify gaps in pandemic risk management, and explore opportunities to design solutions to enhance preparedness, control, mitigation, response and recovery. A multi-method approach is used, comprising: systematic literature reviews, expert workshops in public health surveillance and solutions, in-depth interviews with domain experts, and survey-based methods with stakeholders. Results: To date systematic literature reviews and workshops have been conducted in three key areas: surveillance, including threat analysis, scenario development, tools and systems; communication, involving stakeholder mapping, and relevant EU and global initiatives; and governance, encompassing policy and legal frameworks, ethics and human rights. Initial results have highlighted opportunities for building capacity in key sectors, through training with serious gaming, virtual reality, and simulation. Further opportunities have been identified in the emerging field of digital epidemiology, through the use of big data for real-time surveillance, and enhanced methods of visualization and decision support. An expert workshop will be held in September to prioritise high-potential innovative solutions for capacity strengthening, efficient use of resources and better integration. Conclusion: The project goal is identify and describe demonstration concepts and future research and development to strengthen capacity building for pandemic risk management. The project's valuable multisectoral approach has facilitated the gathering of future requirements across surveillance, communication, and governance, and these ideas will provide for an informed discussion at the upcoming IMED 2016 conference in Vienna.