The challenges of data in future pandemics

Nigel Shadbolt; Alys Brett; Min Chen; Glenn Marion; Iain J McKendrick; Jasmina Panovska-Griffiths; Lorenzo Pellis; Richard Reeve; Ben Swallow

doi:10.1016/j.epidem.2022.100612

The challenges of data in future pandemics

Epidemics. 2022 Sep:40:100612. doi: 10.1016/j.epidem.2022.100612. Epub 2022 Jul 20.

Authors

Nigel Shadbolt¹, Alys Brett², Min Chen³, Glenn Marion⁴, Iain J McKendrick⁴, Jasmina Panovska-Griffiths⁵, Lorenzo Pellis⁶, Richard Reeve⁷, Ben Swallow⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, UK; The Open Data Institute, London, UK. Electronic address: nigel.shadbolt@cs.ox.ac.uk.
² UKAEA Software Engineering Group, UK; Scottish COVID-19 Response Consortium, UK.
³ Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, UK; Scottish COVID-19 Response Consortium, UK.
⁴ Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, Edinburgh, UK; Scottish COVID-19 Response Consortium, UK.
⁵ The Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, UK; The Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology, University of Oxford, UK; The Queen's College, University of Oxford, UK.
⁶ Department of Mathematics, University of Manchester, UK; The Alan Turing Institute, London, UK.
⁷ Scottish COVID-19 Response Consortium, UK; Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, UK.
⁸ Scottish COVID-19 Response Consortium, UK; School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Glasgow, UK.

Abstract

The use of data has been essential throughout the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic. We have needed it to populate our models, inform our understanding, and shape our responses to the disease. However, data has not always been easy to find and access, it has varied in quality and coverage, been difficult to reuse or repurpose. This paper reviews these and other challenges and recommends steps to develop a data ecosystem better able to deal with future pandemics by better supporting preparedness, prevention, detection and response.

Keywords: COVID-19; Data and models; Data ecosystem; Data lifecycles; FAIR data; Pandemic preparedness.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Ecosystem
Forecasting
Humans
Pandemics* / prevention & control

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding