Experts Convene in Kenya to Enhance Genomic Data Sharing for Outbreak Response
From April 15th to 17th, 2024, an insightful workshop took place at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya, bringing together global health and genomic data experts. This event, in collaboration with Oxford University, aimed at advancing the federated analysis of genomic data for public health, particularly focusing on enhancing rapid data sharing and analysis capabilities during the initial stages of outbreaks and epidemics.
The workshop fostered in-depth discussions on developing collaborative tools and strategies to address the challenges associated with the early sharing of pathogen genomes. A key proposal emerged for creating shareable, end-to-end phylogenetic pipelines to enable effective and federated genomic analysis.
Dr. Houriiyah Tegally, Head of Data Science at the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), presented the work done within the CLIMADE network and highlighted the crucial role of data integration in understanding and responding to climate-amplified diseases and epidemics in Africa.
“This event was important to strengthen our collaboration with Oxford University, the IPSN, and partners in Kenya", Dr. Tegally emphasized. "The discussions and plans developed during this meeting will enhance the capacity of African countries to manage their own epidemics and pandemics, through the availability of tools and resources for real-time genomic epidemiology analysis, aligning with CERI’s mission”. The workshop also served as a platform for sharing experiences and insights on genomic surveillance from different regions. Participants reviewed ongoing surveillance efforts of respiratory pathogens and arboviruses, comparing strategies and outcomes across continents. Dr. Tegally shared her insights from SARS-CoV-2 surveillance efforts in South Africa, highlighting the benefits of international collaboration.
This event is part of a broader initiative to strengthen collaboration among international health entities such as CERI, Oxford University, the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN), and local partners in Kenya. The outcomes of this workshop are expected to significantly enhance the capabilities of African countries and global health systems in managing epidemics and pandemics through real-time genomic epidemiology analysis.
News date: 2024-05-02
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