The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a groundbreaking initiative to strengthen global pathogen genomic surveillance, aiming to enhance detection and monitoring of infectious diseases worldwide.
Through the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN), the program will allocate $2 million in grants to support 10 innovative projects, primarily in low- and middle-income countries. By integrating genomic data into public health systems, this initiative is set to revolutionize how countries track and respond to emerging health threats.
The IPSN catalytic grant fund, hosted by the United Nations Foundation and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Wellcome, seeks to empower vulnerable regions with cutting-edge pathogen genomic analysis tools.
World Health Organization emphasizes that genomic surveillance, analyzing the genetic material of pathogens like viruses and bacteria, provides critical insights into how diseases spread, evolve, and cause illness.
Sara Hersey, Director of Collaborative Intelligence at World Health Organization’s Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence Hub, described the initiative as transformative for global health:
“The IPSN catalytic grant fund has incredible potential to expand pathogen genomic surveillance for all, which we are already seeing through the first round of grantmaking.”
Low- and middle-income countries face disproportionate challenges in detecting and responding to disease outbreaks. This initiative directly addresses these disparities by funding innovative projects such as wastewater surveillance in refugee populations by the American University of Beirut and avian flu tracking in live-bird markets by the Pasteur Institute of Laos.
Manisha Bhinge, Vice President of the Health Initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation, highlighted the urgency of equitable access to genomic surveillance tools amidst global health threats exacerbated by climate change.
She emphasized:
“There is an urgent need for equitable access to these tools and capabilities to protect lives in vulnerable communities.”
During the IPSN Global Partners Forum held in Bangkok, Thailand, from November 21–22, World Health Organization unveiled plans for a second round of grants in 2025, reinforcing its commitment to advancing pathogen genomic surveillance. Projects funded in this initial phase are expected to generate valuable data, enabling more effective vaccine and treatment development and better preparedness for future health crises.
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