Data integration and synthesis for pandemic and epidemic intelligence

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted substantial obstacles in real-time data generation and management needed for clinical research and epidemiological analysis. Three years after the pandemic, reflection on the difficulties of data integration offers potential to improve emergency preparednes...

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Main Authors: Barbara Tornimbene, Zoila Beatriz Leiva Rioja, Manoel Barral-Netto, Carlos Castillo-Salgado, Irena Djordjevic, Moritz Kraemer, Martina McMenamin, Oliver Morgan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Proceedings
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12919-025-00321-9
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author Barbara Tornimbene
Zoila Beatriz Leiva Rioja
Manoel Barral-Netto
Carlos Castillo-Salgado
Irena Djordjevic
Moritz Kraemer
Martina McMenamin
Oliver Morgan
author_facet Barbara Tornimbene
Zoila Beatriz Leiva Rioja
Manoel Barral-Netto
Carlos Castillo-Salgado
Irena Djordjevic
Moritz Kraemer
Martina McMenamin
Oliver Morgan
author_sort Barbara Tornimbene
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted substantial obstacles in real-time data generation and management needed for clinical research and epidemiological analysis. Three years after the pandemic, reflection on the difficulties of data integration offers potential to improve emergency preparedness. The fourth session of the WHO Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence Forum sought to report the experiences of key global institutions in data integration and synthesis, with the aim of identifying solutions for effective integration. Data integration, defined as the combination of heterogeneous sources into a cohesive system, allows for combining epidemiological data with contextual elements such as socioeconomic determinants to create a more complete picture of disease patterns. The approach is critical for predicting outbreaks, determining disease burden, and evaluating interventions. The use of contextual information improves real-time intelligence and risk assessments, allowing for faster outbreak responses. This report captures the growing acknowledgment of data integration importance in boosting public health intelligence and readiness and show examples of how global institutions are strengthening initiatives to respond to this need. However, obstacles persist, including interoperability, data standardization, and ethical considerations. The success of future data integration efforts will be determined by the development of a common technical and legal framework, the promotion of global collaboration, and the protection of sensitive data. Ultimately, effective data integration can potentially transform public health intelligence and our way to successfully respond to future pandemics.
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spelling doaj-art-fd9958927bde4293932287ef3c2aba212025-08-20T02:30:20ZengBMCBMC Proceedings1753-65612025-04-0119S41810.1186/s12919-025-00321-9Data integration and synthesis for pandemic and epidemic intelligenceBarbara Tornimbene0Zoila Beatriz Leiva Rioja1Manoel Barral-Netto2Carlos Castillo-Salgado3Irena Djordjevic4Moritz Kraemer5Martina McMenamin6Oliver Morgan7World Health Organization Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic IntelligenceCPC AnalyticsOswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ)Johns Hopkins University (JHU)World Health Organization Head QuarterUniversity of OxfordWorld Health Organization Head QuarterWorld Health Organization Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic IntelligenceAbstract The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted substantial obstacles in real-time data generation and management needed for clinical research and epidemiological analysis. Three years after the pandemic, reflection on the difficulties of data integration offers potential to improve emergency preparedness. The fourth session of the WHO Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence Forum sought to report the experiences of key global institutions in data integration and synthesis, with the aim of identifying solutions for effective integration. Data integration, defined as the combination of heterogeneous sources into a cohesive system, allows for combining epidemiological data with contextual elements such as socioeconomic determinants to create a more complete picture of disease patterns. The approach is critical for predicting outbreaks, determining disease burden, and evaluating interventions. The use of contextual information improves real-time intelligence and risk assessments, allowing for faster outbreak responses. This report captures the growing acknowledgment of data integration importance in boosting public health intelligence and readiness and show examples of how global institutions are strengthening initiatives to respond to this need. However, obstacles persist, including interoperability, data standardization, and ethical considerations. The success of future data integration efforts will be determined by the development of a common technical and legal framework, the promotion of global collaboration, and the protection of sensitive data. Ultimately, effective data integration can potentially transform public health intelligence and our way to successfully respond to future pandemics.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12919-025-00321-9Data integrationPandemic intelligenceEpidemic preparednessPublic health surveillanceData interoperabilityHealth informatics
spellingShingle Barbara Tornimbene
Zoila Beatriz Leiva Rioja
Manoel Barral-Netto
Carlos Castillo-Salgado
Irena Djordjevic
Moritz Kraemer
Martina McMenamin
Oliver Morgan
Data integration and synthesis for pandemic and epidemic intelligence
BMC Proceedings
Data integration
Pandemic intelligence
Epidemic preparedness
Public health surveillance
Data interoperability
Health informatics
title Data integration and synthesis for pandemic and epidemic intelligence
title_full Data integration and synthesis for pandemic and epidemic intelligence
title_fullStr Data integration and synthesis for pandemic and epidemic intelligence
title_full_unstemmed Data integration and synthesis for pandemic and epidemic intelligence
title_short Data integration and synthesis for pandemic and epidemic intelligence
title_sort data integration and synthesis for pandemic and epidemic intelligence
topic Data integration
Pandemic intelligence
Epidemic preparedness
Public health surveillance
Data interoperability
Health informatics
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12919-025-00321-9
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