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Bartlow AW, Middlebrook EA, Dichosa AEK, Kayiwa J, Nassuna CA, Kiggundu G, Fair JM. Ongoing Cooperative Engagement Facilitates Agile Pandemic and Outbreak Response: Lessons Learned Through Cooperative Engagement Between Uganda and the United States. Health Secur 2024; 22:223-234. [PMID: 38407830 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2023.0069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Pathogens threaten human lives and disrupt economies around the world. This has been clearly illustrated by the current COVID-19 pandemic and outbreaks in livestock and food crops. To manage pathogen emergence and spread, cooperative engagement programs develop and strengthen biosafety, biosecurity, and biosurveillance capabilities among local researchers to detect pathogens. In this case study, we describe the efforts of a collaboration between the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Uganda Virus Research Institute, the primary viral diagnostic laboratory in Uganda, to implement and ensure the sustainability of sequencing for biosurveillance. We describe the process of establishing this capability along with the lessons learned from both sides of the partnership to inform future cooperative engagement efforts in low- and middle-income countries. We found that by strengthening sequencing capabilities at the Uganda Virus Research Institute before the COVID-19 pandemic, the institute was able to successfully sequence SARS-CoV-2 samples and provide data to the scientific community. We highlight the need to strengthen and sustain capabilities through in-country training, collaborative research projects, and trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W Bartlow
- Andrew W. Bartlow, PhD, is Scientists, Genomics and Bioanalytics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
| | - Earl A Middlebrook
- Earl A. Middlebrook, PhD, is Scientists, Genomics and Bioanalytics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
| | - Armand E K Dichosa
- Armand E. K. Dichosa, PhD, is Scientists, Genomics and Bioanalytics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
| | - John Kayiwa
- John Kayiwa, PhD, is a Senior Laboratory Manager, Department of Arbovirology, Emerging and Re-emerging Viral Diseases, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Charity A Nassuna
- Charity A. Nassuna is Laboratory Technologists, Department of Arbovirology, Emerging and Re-emerging Viral Diseases, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Gladys Kiggundu
- Gladys Kiggundu is Laboratory Technologists, Department of Arbovirology, Emerging and Re-emerging Viral Diseases, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Jeanne M Fair
- Jeanne M. Fair, PhD, is Scientists, Genomics and Bioanalytics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
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Yeh KB, Parekh FK, Tabynov K, Tabynov K, Hewson R, Fair JM, Essbauer S, Hay J. Operationalizing Cooperative Research for Infectious Disease Surveillance: Lessons Learned and Ways Forward. Front Public Health 2021; 9:659695. [PMID: 34568249 PMCID: PMC8460863 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.659695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The current COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the need for urgent and on-demand solutions to provide diagnostics, treatment and preventative measures for infectious disease outbreaks. Once solutions are developed, meeting capacities depends on the ability to mitigate technical, logistical and production issues. While it is difficult to predict the next outbreak, augmenting investments in preparedness, such as infectious disease surveillance, is far more effective than mustering last-minute response funds. Bringing research outputs into practice sooner rather than later is part of an agile approach to pivot and deliver solutions. Cooperative multi- country research programs, especially those funded by global biosecurity programs, develop capacity that can be applied to infectious disease surveillance and research that enhances detection, identification, and response to emerging and re-emerging pathogens with epidemic or pandemic potential. Moreover, these programs enhance trust building among partners, which is essential because setting expectation and commitment are required for successful research and training. Measuring research outputs, evaluating outcomes and justifying continual investments are essential but not straightforward. Lessons learned include those related to reducing biological threats and maturing capabilities for national laboratory diagnostics strategy and related health systems. Challenges, such as growing networks, promoting scientific transparency, data and material sharing, sustaining funds and developing research strategies remain to be fully resolved. Here, experiences from several programs highlight successful partnerships that provide ways forward to address the next outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kairat Tabynov
- International Center for Vaccinology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Kaissar Tabynov
- International Center for Vaccinology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Roger Hewson
- Public Health England, Salisbury, United Kingdom
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jeanne M. Fair
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | | | - John Hay
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, United States
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Bartlow AW, Machalaba C, Karesh WB, Fair JM. Biodiversity and Global Health: Intersection of Health, Security, and the Environment. Health Secur 2021; 19:214-222. [PMID: 33733864 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2020.0112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W Bartlow
- Andrew W. Bartlow, PhD, and Jeanne M. Fair, PhD, are Scientists; both in Biosecurity and Public Health, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM. Catherine Machalaba, PhD, MPH, is Senior Policy Advisor and Senior Research Scientist and William B. Karesh, DVM, is Executive Vice President for Health and Policy; both at EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY
| | - Catherine Machalaba
- Andrew W. Bartlow, PhD, and Jeanne M. Fair, PhD, are Scientists; both in Biosecurity and Public Health, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM. Catherine Machalaba, PhD, MPH, is Senior Policy Advisor and Senior Research Scientist and William B. Karesh, DVM, is Executive Vice President for Health and Policy; both at EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY
| | - William B Karesh
- Andrew W. Bartlow, PhD, and Jeanne M. Fair, PhD, are Scientists; both in Biosecurity and Public Health, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM. Catherine Machalaba, PhD, MPH, is Senior Policy Advisor and Senior Research Scientist and William B. Karesh, DVM, is Executive Vice President for Health and Policy; both at EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY
| | - Jeanne M Fair
- Andrew W. Bartlow, PhD, and Jeanne M. Fair, PhD, are Scientists; both in Biosecurity and Public Health, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM. Catherine Machalaba, PhD, MPH, is Senior Policy Advisor and Senior Research Scientist and William B. Karesh, DVM, is Executive Vice President for Health and Policy; both at EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY
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Bartlow AW, Middlebrook EA, Romero AT, Fair JM. How Cooperative Engagement Programs Strengthen Sequencing Capabilities for Biosurveillance and Outbreak Response. Front Public Health 2021; 9:648424. [PMID: 33732679 PMCID: PMC7956948 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.648424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The threat of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases continues to be a challenge to public and global health security. Cooperative biological engagement programs act to build partnerships and collaborations between scientists and health professionals to strengthen capabilities in biosurveillance. Biosurveillance is the systematic process of detecting, reporting, and responding to especially dangerous pathogens and pathogens of pandemic potential before they become outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics. One important tool in biosurveillance is next generation sequencing. Expensive sequencing machines, reagents, and supplies make it difficult for countries to adopt this technology. Cooperative engagement programs help by providing funding for technical assistance to strengthen sequencing capabilities. Through workshops and training, countries are able to learn sequencing and bioinformatics, and implement these tools in their biosurveillance programs. Cooperative programs have an important role in building and sustaining collaborations among institutions and countries. One of the most important pieces in fostering these collaborations is trust. Trust provides the confidence that a successful collaboration will benefit all parties involved. With sequencing, this enables the sharing of pathogen samples and sequences. Obtaining global sequencing data helps to identify unknown etiological agents, track pathogen evolution and infer transmission networks throughout the duration of a pandemic. Having sequencing technology in place for biosurveillance generates the capacity to provide real-time data to understand and respond to pandemics. We highlight the need for these programs to continue to strengthen sequencing in biosurveillance. By working together to strengthen sequencing capabilities, trust can be formed, benefitting global health in the face of biological threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W. Bartlow
- Biosecurity and Public Health, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
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Ambrosiano J, Sims B, Bartlow AW, Rosenberger W, Ressler M, Fair JM. Ontology-Based Graphs of Research Communities: A Tool for Understanding Threat Reduction Networks. Front Res Metr Anal 2020; 5:3. [PMID: 33870041 PMCID: PMC8028387 DOI: 10.3389/frma.2020.00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Scientific research communities can be represented as heterogeneous or multidimensional networks encompassing multiple types of entities and relationships. These networks might include researchers, institutions, meetings, and publications, connected by relationships like authorship, employment, and attendance. We describe a method for efficiently and flexibly capturing, storing, and extracting information from multidimensional scientific networks using a graph database. The database structure is based on an ontology that captures allowable types of entities and relationships. This allows us to construct a variety of projections of the underlying multidimensional graph through database queries to answer specific research questions. We demonstrate this process through a study of the U.S. Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP), which seeks to develop Threat Reduction Networks to build and strengthen a sustainable international community of biosecurity, biosafety, and biosurveillance experts to address shared biological threat reduction challenges. Networks like these create connectional intelligence among researchers and institutions around the world, and are central to the concept of cooperative threat reduction. Our analysis focuses on a series of seven BTRP genome sequencing training workshops, showing how they created a growing network of participants and countries over time, which is also reflected in coauthorship relationships among attendees. By capturing concept and relationship hierarchies, our ontology-based approach allows us to pose general or specific questions about networks within the same framework. This approach can be applied to other research communities or multidimensional social networks to capture, analyze, and visualize different types of interactions and how they change over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Ambrosiano
- Information Systems and Modeling, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Benjamin Sims
- Statistical Sciences, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Andrew W Bartlow
- Biosecurity and Public Health, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - William Rosenberger
- Information Systems and Modeling, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Mark Ressler
- Information Systems and Modeling, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Jeanne M Fair
- Biosecurity and Public Health, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
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