International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN)

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About International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN):

It is a public health network to prevent and detect infectious disease threats before they become epidemics or pandemics.
The IPSN, with a Secretariat hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, brings together experts worldwide at the cutting-edge of genomics and data analytics, from governments, philanthropic foundations, multilateral organizations, civil society, academia, and the private sector.
- All share a common goal: to detect and respond to disease threats before they become epidemics and pandemics, and to optimize routine disease surveillance.
IPSN will rely on insights generated from pathogen genomics, which helps analyze the genetic material of viruses, bacteria, and other disease-causing micro-organisms to determine how they spread and how infectious or deadly they may be.
- Using these data, researchers can identify and track diseases to improve outbreak prevention, response, and treatments.
Members will work together in dedicated groups focusing on specific challenges, supported by funding through the IPSN to scale up ideas and projects in pathogen genomics.
By strengthening the pathogen genomic surveillance ecosystem, the IPSN enables faster detection of new pathogens and enhanced tracking of the spread and evolution of diseases.

Q1: What is the World Health Organization (WHO)?

WHO, established in 1948, is a specialized agency of the United Nations that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. WHO currently has 194 member states. World Health Assembly (WHA) is the highest decision-making body of WHO and comprises representatives from all member States.

News: International pathogen surveillance network announces first round of grants towards understanding disease threats