European project with the participation of the University of Athens for the effective detection, monitoring, and response to emerging global health threats

The Collaborative Surveillance Network (CSN) project aims to address the urgent need for the development of robust, interconnected, and collaborative surveillance systems that enable timely detection, monitoring, and response to emerging global health threats. The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) participates in the CSN project through the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications and the Department of History and Philosophy of Science. NKUA leads the design for the integration of heterogeneous health data sources and the development of the project’s Data Lake, while also actively contributing to the training program and the overall technical coordination.

By emphasizing collaborative surveillance, the project seeks to strengthen data sharing and interoperability across different sectors, promoting a One Health approach that links human, animal, and environmental health. Addressing the challenges of multiple data sources and interoperability gaps, CSN aims to establish a coherent framework for effective data integration to support evidence-based decision-making.

The project is fully aligned with the European call targeting the enhancement of national surveillance systems and the improvement of preparedness and response capacity in public health emergencies.

Main Objectives and Activities:

• Comprehensive mapping of surveillance activities across sectors and information system infrastructures.
• Establishment of protocols and memoranda of understanding to enable cross-sectoral data exchange.
• Upgrading information systems to strengthen collaborative surveillance through enhanced sharing of laboratory data.
• Development of a One Health Laboratory Surveillance Network for the monitoring and detection of microbial strains affecting human, animal, and environmental health.
• Development of surveillance and response protocols for invasive mosquito species and points of entry (ports and airports).
• Capacity building for public health professionals in surveillance activities through the creation of a targeted training framework.

A key component of this effort is the introduction of the Greek Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP), implemented in collaboration with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET).

Through these initiatives, the CSN project aims to make a significant contribution to collective European efforts to strengthen health security in Greece and across all EU/EEA Member States.