Background
Following from the WHO guiding principles for pathogen genome data sharing published in 2022, this new document describes desired attributes and principles for genomic data-sharing platforms supporting surveillance of pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential.
The document is targeted at pathogen genomic data generators who seek to share these data to maximize their utility to prevent and control infectious-disease threats, as well as at platform developers and donors.
The document was produced by the WHO Emergency Zoonotic Diseases Unit and the Genomics and Analytics Unit. A small external expert group was convened to develop a landscape analysis and propose critical features for pathogen genomic data sharing platforms (PGDSPs) to meet public health needs. The document was then consulted with a larger external expert group.
Objective of the public consultation
The next step to finalize this document is to gather feedback from diverse stakeholders. Comments are invited in particular on overall clarity, any gaps in the attributes and principles included, and any errors of fact or missing data.
Guidance of providing comments
The public consultation will be open from 15 January 2025 to 12 February 2025 2025, 23.59 CET.
By participating, you consent to providing your personal information and to the WHO to contact you, if needed. Submissions cannot be made anonymously. In order to make a submission, you will be required to provide valid responses to questions that ask your full name, your organizational affiliation (if any), your role (job title), your country of residence, your personal email address or your organizational email address (if submitting on behalf of an organization). Submissions that are not accompanied by valid responses to these questions may not be accepted for consideration.
All comments will be carefully reviewed. We might share a summary of key points raised in the public consultation with the participants’ demographics and their representation of stakeholder groups on the WHO website. We will not reveal any individual participants’ information or affiliations. We do not intend to publish the ‘raw information’ from the individual responses.
For any query related to the consultation, please contact ipsn-secretariat@who.int with subject "Pathogen genomic data sharing platforms consultation".