This blog post is part two of 'Inside the MOOD Project' with Soushieta Jagadesh, a consultant supporting the International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) on the MOOD Project (Monitoring Outbreaks for Disease Surveillance). You can read her first blog post here.
The MOOD project is a European Commission funded project that began in January 2020 with the goal of enhancing Europe's ability to monitor, predict, and respond to outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases. Whether these diseases are of known or unknown origin or caused by antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, the aim of MOOD is to provide tools for rapid response. One of the key products of this project is the MOOD platform, an innovative online interface that allows users to visualize and download relevant data on the environmental, socio-economic, and demographic factors influencing disease emergence. ISID is one of 25 partner organizations involved in the MOOD project.
In October 2024, I had the privilege of attending the final workshop of the MOOD project, hosted at the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp’s historic Rochus campus, a former abbey transformed into a hub of public health innovation. Against this inspiring backdrop, the workshop provided an invaluable opportunity to witness the MOOD platform in action and delve into discussions that are shaping the future of epidemic intelligence.
The demonstration of the MOOD platform highlighted the project's incredible progress toward developing user-friendly tools for disease risk visualization. Features like interactive dashboards, disease alert tracking using the PADI-web tool, and detailed data layers allow decision-makers to visualize and respond to threats by accessing critical insights on the environmental and demographic drivers of disease spread.
As a disease profile writer in the MOOD project, this workshop offered a unique perspective on how our efforts in gathering and analyzing environmental and socio-economic drivers of disease play a direct role in shaping the platform. It was rewarding to see the data we've meticulously compiled presented in a way that is actionable for decision-makers, fulfilling the platform’s mission of translating complex data into intuitive and effective insights. Participants, ranging from public health officials to data scientists and disease surveillance experts, were introduced to the platform’s diverse functionalities. From interactive dashboards to visualizing data layers demonstrating the disease trends across time periods, the MOOD platform has been designed with user needs at its core.
The final session of the workshop was a brainstorming session dedicated to assessing the status of epidemic intelligence. Participants examined existing challenges and explored ways to improve epidemic intelligence tools and practices. It was inspiring to see diverse voices from the field contributing to the discussion, emphasizing the importance of standardized data collection protocols and the integration of inter-disciplinary information in detecting outbreak signals and alerts.
Following this session, a few participated in a focus group that tackled "Gender Considerations in the Epidemic Intelligence Process." This thought-provoking discussion opened new perspectives on how gender dynamics impact every phase of epidemic intelligence, from data collection to decision-making. By acknowledging these considerations, we’re building a more equitable approach to public health that aims to serve all populations effectively.
Leaving the workshop, I felt grateful to be part of a project that not only advances scientific understanding but also embodies a collaborative commitment to global health security and preparedness. The MOOD platform’s journey continues, I’m excited to see how the insights from this workshop will shape the future of epidemic intelligence.