WHO Funds Projects to Advance Pathogen Surveillance

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced 10 groundbreaking projects to receive nearly USD 2 million (approximately PHP 113 million) in grants from the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) to improve global pathogen genomic surveillance capacities.

The catalytic grant fund, hosted by the United Nations Foundation and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Wellcome, aims to bolster efforts in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to track, analyze, and respond to infectious diseases.

Pathogen genomic surveillance uses genetic analysis of viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens to understand their spread, severity, and evolution. This data informs the development of vaccines, treatments, and effective public health strategies.

“The IPSN catalytic grant fund has incredible potential to expand pathogen genomic surveillance for all,” said Sara Hersey, Director of Collaborative Intelligence at the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence.

“This work plays a key role in pandemic and epidemic prevention worldwide,” she added.

Grantees include institutions from various regions tackling localized challenges with global implications.

The American University of Beirut will use wastewater surveillance to study disease spread among refugee populations, ensuring vulnerable groups in migration settings can access timely care.

In Southeast Asia, the Pasteur Institute of Laos will track avian flu in live-bird markets, a critical but often overlooked setting essential to livelihoods and food security worldwide.

“If we are to protect vulnerable populations from the devastating impacts of disease, we first need to better understand how these pathogens spread, evolve, and cause illness,” said Titus Divala, Interim Head of Epidemics and Epidemiology at Wellcome.

“These projects, developed in-country and tailored to local priorities, will generate insights that help track global pathogen trends and inform evidence-based interventions,” Divala added.

The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil will develop an open-source bioinformatics tool for offline genomic analysis, providing a scalable solution for low-resource settings.

“Pandemics and epidemics continue to be a global threat, further amplified by climate change,” noted Manisha Bhinge, Vice President of the Health Initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation.

“There is urgent need for equitable access to these tools and capabilities to protect lives in vulnerable communities,” she added.

The IPSN Global Partners Forum, held in Bangkok from November 21–22, co-hosted by WHO regional offices and Australia’s Doherty Institute, marked the announcement of these grants.

A second round of IPSN catalytic grants is set to open in 2025, further supporting efforts to scale genomic surveillance in LMICs and foster global collaboration in epidemic and pandemic preparedness.

“SARS-CoV-2 and subsequent regional disease outbreaks have underscored the importance of access to genomic surveillance tools in all countries,” said Simon Harris of the Gates Foundation.

“These catalytic investments will generate data and methods crucial for scaling up in low- and middle-income settings,” he added.

The initiative reflects a global commitment to harnessing cutting-edge science to address infectious disease threats, empowering vulnerable populations with data-driven solutions for a safer future.