Research should be integrated into the immediate public health and humanitarian response to any emerging threat. Samples and clinical observations must be collected under a defined protocol to ensure that findings can be accurately reported and shared. This section supports the rapid initiation of such research by providing resources to develop appropriate protocols.
If you are collecting samples or recording information from patients with the intent to share or publish the data, this constitutes research. As such, it requires informed consent and ethical approval. To obtain ethics approval for your study, you must have a research protocol in place.
Here, you will find guidance on the types of studies relevant to an immediate response, example research protocols, supporting documents, and access to training materials.
WHO Outbreak Toolkit
The Outbreak Toolkit is specifically designed for epidemiologists and field investigators operating at the frontline of complex emergencies and in resource-limited settings. It provides a comprehensive, up-to-date toolkit for investigating both infectious disease outbreaks and non-infectious events and hazards. By offering standardised tools, the Toolkit addresses the critical need for data consistency and facilitates effective data sharing across teams, locations, and timeframes. It serves as an essential asset for public health professionals confronting the unique challenges of outbreak response in demanding environments.
This online resource, specially crafted for complex emergencies and limited resource settings, offers epidemiologists and field investigators a wide range of up-to-date, comprehensive tools for investigating outbreaks of infectious and non-infectious diseases and hazards. It serves as a valuable asset in addressing public health challenges in challenging environments.
Detection Studies
The immediate question is whether a new threat has emerged or if an existing pathogen is escalating. This requires epidemiology studies through surveillance and case detection. There are many approaches that can be used. Here, you can find available example protocols, data capture tools, and guidance on surveillance, diagnostics, and detection. Please also share your experiences and example research tools and methods here: globaloutbreaksresearch@TGHN2.org
Disease Characterisation
Understanding how the pathogen impacts the host is the purpose of disease characterisation studies. Diseases can be characterised clinically, epidemiologically, genetically and using further subtypes to describe the disease. This section aims to offer standardised ways of conducting disease characterisation studies and examples.
The International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC) programme has a set of protocols and a standard tool that can be adapted by researchers interested in conducting these types of studies. Following standardised methodology can be important for data collection, pooling and sharing. The first version of the protocol was developed for MERS and has since been adapted to many other diseases. This section will share examples of these adaptations and different disease characterisation protocols, data management systems and other associated methods, tools and training.
Public Awareness, Perceptions and Behaviour Studies
An important unknown in the knowledge gaps is what communities understand and how behaviours, practices and perceptions are driving infection and could be changed to limit transmission. Therefore, these social science and behavioural studies are vital. This area will share examples, training and resources.
Community Engagement
Ahead of any study, where feasible in an emergency outbreak situation, there should be a process of comprehensive engagement with the community to explain the research and build trust and also facilitate full engagement with the design and operational planning and delivery.
Sequencing
In the context of outbreak research, sequencing plays a pivotal role in understanding the genetic makeup of pathogens responsible for outbreaks. By sequencing the genomes of viruses, bacteria, or other infectious agents, researchers can identify specific genetic markers, trace the transmission pathways of the outbreak, and monitor how the pathogen evolves over time. This information is crucial for developing targeted diagnostics, vaccines, and treatment strategies to control the outbreak effectively. With the advent of high-throughput sequencing technologies, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), researchers can rapidly sequence large numbers of pathogen genomes, providing real-time insights into the dynamics of outbreaks and informing public health responses.
Emergency Research Skills Training courses for your team
This is tailored instruction to equip your team with the essential skills needed to conduct research during crises and emergencies. These courses cover a range of topics, including rapid data collection methods, epidemiological analysis techniques, ethical considerations in emergency research, and effective communication strategies during high-pressure situations.
RESEARCH PROCESSES & METHODS | SOCIAL SCIENCE, ETHICS & COMMUNITIES | INFECTION, IMMUNITY & RESISTANCE | LABORATORY, VECTORS & DIAGNOSTICS
Resources for Outbreak Research
This section provides a comprehensive overview of tools and data sources essential for studying and mitigating outbreaks. From epidemiological databases to molecular analysis tools, this section outlines key resources and protocols used by researchers to understand the dynamics of infectious diseases, track their spread, and develop effective response strategies.