Activities of the GloPID-R WG on data sharing for public health emergencies

Katherine Littler, Chair of the GloPID-R Data Sharing Working Group, outlines the WG’s aim and scope, action plan and activities, plus a key piece of work, the Public Health Emergency (PHE) Decision Tool. Data sharing in global health emergencies is critical in order to respond to outbreaks in a coordinated and effective manner.

A mandate for change in PHEs was initiated in September 2015 by the WHO consensus meeting, which developed global norms and started to push forward the data sharing agenda. The aim of the Data Sharing WG is to develop a system for data sharing in PHEs which can support the scientific research response, including a common framework, common tools, processes and principles which can be embedded in research practice. This work will be relevant to a broad group of stakeholders, spanning humanitarian responders to vaccine developers.