Better response to infectious diseases and pandemics through data

The Leibniz Institute DSMZ is now a partner in the global consortium for the development of the ‘Pathogen Data Network’.

The US National Institute of Health (NIH) has funded the development of a global ‘Pathogen Data Network’ coordinated by the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB). The Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH is one of twelve internationally renowned institutes and universities that join forces in the Pathogen Data Network. Under the leadership of the SIB and in collaboration with the European Institute of Bioinformatics and other global partners, the network aims to build an infrastructure and provide tools, training, outreach and support for the fair exchange and use of data on infectious diseases. The kick-off meeting of the three Bioinformatics Resource Centres took place on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland.

Aiming to better combat pandemics

Building on and expanding the successful COVID-19 data platform, the ‘Pathogen Data Network’ will include data on highly relevant microorganisms that can be dangerous to humans. This data network will provide researchers and health authorities with data on such pathogens in the future. It is intended to improve the response to pandemics and the monitoring of infectious disease outbreaks on a global scale. “The NIH grant is a long-term investment to prepare for pandemic preparedness in the area of pathogen data. The DSMZ brings its international policy expertise to the project,” explains Dr Amber Hartman Scholz, Head of Science Policy and Internationalisation at the Leibniz Institute DSMZ. “We are linking the project results and outreach with international developments within the European Union and at the WHO so that the technical advances reach decision-makers at the same time,” Scholz continues.

Expanding local data management and global data sharing

The project is funded by the Bioinformatics Resource Program of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Health Institute and includes the piloting of local data portals for partner countries or regions with the ‘Pathogens Portal’ serving as a comprehensive central interface.

The members of the ‘Pathogen Data Network’ consortium are

– Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB) – Switzerland
– EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EBML-EBI) – United Kingdom
– Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) – USA
– Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH – Germany
– Georgetown University, Washington D.C. – USA
– Uppsala University – Sweden
– South African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI) – South Africa
– National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII) – Spain
– The Arctic University of Norway (UiT) – Norway
– Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) – Hungary
– Technical University of Denmark (DTU) – Denmark
– Erasmus University Medical Center (EMC) – The Netherlands

Press contact:
PhDr. Sven-David Müller, Head of Public Relations, Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH
Phone: ++49 (0)531/2616-300
Mail: press@dsmz.de

About the Leibniz Institute DSMZ
The Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures is the world’s most diverse collection of biological resources (bacteria, archaea, protists, yeasts, fungi, bacteriophages, plant viruses, genomic bacterial DNA as well as human and animal cell lines). Microorganisms and cell cultures are collected, investigated and archived at the DSMZ. As an institution of the Leibniz Association, the DSMZ with its extensive scientific services and biological resources has been a global partner for research, science and industry since 1969. The DSMZ was the first registered collection in Europe (Regulation (EU) No. 511/2014) and is certified according to the quality standard ISO 9001:2015. As a patent depository, it offers the only possibility in Germany to deposit biological material in accordance with the requirements of the Budapest Treaty. In addition to scientific services, research is the second pillar of the DSMZ. The institute, located on the Science Campus Braunschweig-Süd, accommodates more than 89,000 bioresources and has almost 230 employees. www.dsmz.de

The Leibniz Association
The Leibniz Association connects 96 independent research institutions that range in focus from natural, engineering and environmental sciences to economics, spatial and social sciences and the humanities. Leibniz Institutes address issues of social, economic and ecological relevance. They conduct basic and applied research, including in the interdisciplinary Leibniz Research Alliances, maintain scientific infrastructure, and provide research-based services. The Leibniz Association identifies focus areas for knowledge transfer, particularly with the Leibniz research museums. It advises and informs policymakers, science, industry and the general public. Leibniz institutions collaborate intensively with universities – including in the form of Leibniz ScienceCampi – as well as with industry and other partners at home and abroad. They are subject to a transparent, independent evaluation procedure. Because of their importance for the country as a whole, the Leibniz Association Institutes are funded jointly by Germany’s central and regional governments. The Leibniz Institutes employ around 21,300 people, including 12,200 researchers. The financial volume amounts to 2,2 billion euros. www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de