GloPID-R Roadmap for Data Sharing in PHEs | Page 19

TIMELY: CHALLENGES &
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS
THRESHOLDS FOR
RAPID DATA SHARING
Pathogen Genetic Sequence Data and associat-
ed metadata for all outbreaks (prior to PHE).
A potential bottleneck has been identified in
the GloPID-R funders’ policies through linking
the trigger for their rapid data sharing policies
to the WHO definitions of a PHE or even PHEIC.
What constitutes a PHE may not be clear. There
are also many outbreaks or epidemics and
even inter-epidemic periods (for epidemic prone
pathogens that are of public health interest)
where rapid data sharing of early research con-
ducted may enable a response which ultimately
prevents a PHE or PHEIC.
Discrete thresholds for enhanced data sharing
need to be developed for research on certain
epidemic prone pathogens. Rapid data sharing
requirements for all research on outbreaks of
novel/ emerging pathogens and pathogens with
high epidemic potential could be considered
(potentially linked to the WHO R&D blueprint
priority pathogen list 23 ) whether or not there is
currently a PHE. The WHO has already pro-
vided guidance on the importance of sharing
COMPLEXITY OF
DATA SHARING
The useful data during a PHE can be highly
complex. There is heterogeneity in the nature
of the data being collected (e.g. epidemiological,
clinical, and genetic) and varying format and
content across these. There are also varying
purposes of data collection (public health and
research) and distinct data needs from different
users. Harmonising data across these domains,
formats and contents requires significant invest-
ment, which delays the utility of shared data.
Standardised data collection tools will further
support consensus on which data should be
prioritised for collection and ensure that key
outcomes are measured to enable cross-analy-
sis. Further development of and use of generic
meta-data standards (such as those devel-
oped through the Clinical Data Interchange
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