WHO’s International Pathogen Surveillance Network Launches Communities of Practice to Advance Genomic Surveillance
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence has taken a major step forward in strengthening global health preparedness through the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN). As part of its mission to harness the power of genomics for public health, the IPSN has established three Communities of Practice (CoPs), each focused on solving distinct challenges in pathogen genomic surveillance.
These specialized CoPs provide a collaborative framework to accelerate progress in leveraging genomic data for public health, improving emergency responses, and advancing wastewater and environmental surveillance. Together, they are helping lay the foundation for a more effective and equitable global surveillance system.
1. CoP on Pathogen Genomics Data: Building a Scalable Bioinformatics Ecosystem
The growing integration of genomic sequencing in public health laboratories has highlighted the need for robust bioinformatics infrastructure—systems capable of storing, processing, sharing, and interpreting data effectively. The CoP on Pathogen Genomics Data, also referred to as ‘CoP Data,’ was established to meet this need.
Bringing together 60 experts from across all WHO regions, this community is working to develop a scalable and sustainable bioinformatics architecture that ensures equitable access to pathogen genomic surveillance tools and data. Since its formation in 2024, CoP Data has served as a vital forum for identifying gaps in current data systems and exploring solutions.
Key areas of discussion have included:
- Obstacles to data sharing during public health emergencies,
- Infrastructure disparities that limit equitable access to computational resources,
- The development of guiding principles for data-sharing platforms to optimize public health utility.
The CoP has also supported the creation of a guidance document outlining the core attributes that genomic data-sharing platforms should uphold to serve public health goals. Central to these efforts is the belief that optimized data architecture—both locally and globally—is essential for timely and informed decision-making during health crises.
2. CoP on Specialized Surveillance for Emergency Response: Rapid Action in Crisis
Genomic surveillance plays a critical role in understanding how pathogens evolve, spread, and impact populations—insights that are vital during public health emergencies. The CoP on Specialized Surveillance for Emergency Response (SSER) was launched in response to this need, particularly following the 2024 upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries.
Declared a public health emergency of international concern by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the mpox outbreak prompted swift action. The SSER CoP was established to coordinate efforts among genomic surveillance stakeholders and support emergency preparedness and response.
This CoP focuses on two key workstreams:
a. Genomic Surveillance Workstream:
Members have prioritized harmonizing bioinformatics pipelines for the analysis of mpox virus (MPXV) genomes, ensuring consistency and quality across countries. The group is also developing analytical guidance to support effective genomic surveillance of MPXV.
b. Wastewater Surveillance Workstream:
Experts from 30 countries have convened over multiple sessions to assess the feasibility of mpox detection in wastewater, both from sewered and unsewered environments. These discussions addressed current adoption rates, regulatory and technical barriers, and the role of wastewater surveillance (WES) in emergency response.
These efforts have underscored the urgent need for a cohesive and reliable wastewater surveillance framework, capable of supporting rapid response during disease outbreaks.
3. CoP on Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance: Unlocking New Avenues in Genomic Monitoring
The most recent addition to the IPSN’s CoPs, the Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance (WES) CoP, was launched in June 2025 to elevate the role of genomics in environmental surveillance.
Genomics WES offers enormous promise—providing early warning signals, tracking pathogen transmission, and offering population-level insights into emerging variants. However, the field remains relatively underdeveloped, with several persistent challenges:
- Lack of standardization and best practices,
- Fragmented technical knowledge,
- Limited clarity on how WES genomic data can best serve public health decision-making.
The WES CoP was formed to address these issues through structured collaboration and continuous knowledge exchange. It aims to:
- Boost confidence in the use of WES for genomic surveillance,
- Reduce duplication of efforts by building on existing initiatives,
- Generate new evidence, tools, and models to meet critical gaps in practice and policy.
By curating scientific insights, facilitating expert collaboration, and developing new resources, the WES CoP is helping to position genomic WES as a mainstream component of global surveillance systems.
Strengthening Global Collaboration for Future Readiness
The launch of these three Communities of Practice under the IPSN represents a strategic effort by WHO to enhance the collective capacity of countries to monitor and respond to infectious disease threats. Each CoP provides a platform for global experts to share knowledge, co-develop practical tools, and align efforts across regions and disciplines.
These communities are more than discussion forums—they are engines of action, driving innovation and coordination in pathogen genomics. As the world continues to face new and re-emerging health threats, the IPSN’s commitment to collaborative surveillance will remain a cornerstone of international preparedness.
