Project
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the landscape of public health priorities and flagged the need for a global pandemic preparedness plan to address the current and upcoming health emergencies. Besides, the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that cross-border collaboration benefits to public health measures, especially regarding laboratory diagnosis and surveillance systems. Additionally, with the vast genomic surveillance data generated, it highlighted the importance of digital transformation of such surveillance systems to improve the exchange of health data at a global level and initiate an appropriate public health response.
Co-funded by the European Union, PANDOMIC (short for “Implementation of Pandemic Preparedness Plan using Integrated Genomic Surveillance Programs”) is a 24-month project initiated by the Laboratoire national de santé (LNS, Luxembourg), the Institutul Național de Sănătate Publică (INSP, Romania) and the Institutul Național de Cercetare-Dezvoltare Medico-Militară Cantacuzino (IC, Romania).
Motivated by the common goal to enhance pandemic preparedness and response at both national and international levels, this cross-border collaboration fosters the sharing of knowledge in terms of laboratory diagnostics and surveillance.
PANDOMIC will contribute to a more comprehensive and effective microbial genomic surveillance to strengthening the responsiveness of health systems to protect people in the EU from serious cross-border threats.
Objectives of the project
PANDOMIC general objectives are to:
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01
Build Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) capacities for SARS-CoV-2 and expand to other pathogens of pandemic potential, such as Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in foodborne pathogens;
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02
Establish a data management structure for sample collection and data reporting;
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03
Create partnerships to complement existing networks.
In the long term
PANDOMIC will contribute to an improved genomic surveillance and preparedness to timely and efficiently address future cross-border outbreaks of infectious diseases and pandemics. In addition, PANDOMIC will contribute to strengthening the health security coordination within the European Union (EU) during preparedness and crisis response time, while collaborating with interested countries to share expertise and build a forum for exchanging data and updates on cross-border pathogens.
Expected outcomes
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Expansion of microbial WGS capacity in the national public health microbiology laboratories to SARS-CoV-2, other respiratory viruses and AMR in foodborne pathogens
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Improved genomic surveillance with improved data management system
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Sharing and exchanging knowledge in networks