Towards Epidemic Preparedness: Enhancing Public Health Infrastructure and Incorporating Data-Driven Tools - Project Abstract Summary: Towards Epidemic Preparedness: Enhancing Public Health Infrastructure and Incorporating Data-Driven Tools for CDC-RFA-FT-23-0069 This application is for the Mandatory Component 1, Optional Component 4, and Optional Component 5 (Coordinator of the Outbreak Analytics and Disease Modeling Network). BACKGROUND Our Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security (JHCHS) proposal has several distinguishing features: Public health professionals are not the only decision-makers during emergencies: This proposal integrates modeling and analytics into public health decision-making for elected leaders, state public health departments, large employers, and the public. Modeling will not be useful if it is not communicated effectively: Models will not be useful to or used by public health agencies if their results are not understood and trusted. We have built communication into every facet of our proposal, including support for other funded centers. This network of funded centers must be valuable between emergencies: We will focus on building systems, processes, and relationships needed to integrate modeling and analytics both into the management of routine and seasonal respiratory viruses and public health emergencies. Scaling modeling and analytics effectively requires process improvement: Every activity in this proposal is an opportunity to build foundational processes and resources for the modeling and public health communities. APPROACH Purpose Component 1: We propose to serve as the communication arm of the network of funded centers. We will produce and share situation reports, assist in developing strategies for communicating model results, and provide direct support to decision-makers to assist with integrating model results during public health emergencies Component 4/Strategy 6: We propose to use routine and seasonal outbreaks, such as RSV and seasonal influenza, to implement and refine modeling capacities at state public health agencies, with political leaders, in the private sector, and with the public. Component 4/Strategy 7: We propose to develop two series of courses to “up-skill” both public health professionals and modelers. Component 5: We propose to coordinate CDC CFA and funded modeling centers to facilitate the creation of the Outbreak Analytics and Disease Modeling Network. Outcomes Component 1: Outcomes for Component 1 will include: Established SOPs, MOUs, data sharing agreements, and other tools for rapid collaboration across the network of modeling centers; Newly created standards for data collection, analysis and reporting Development, maintenance, and exercise of operational plans for emergency response Establishment of a systematic approach to risk assessment and mitigation analysis Developed templates for epidemic situation reports, briefings, and other communications Component 4/Strategy 6: Outcomes for Component 4, Strategy 6 will include: Identified high-priority questions, knowledge gaps, and operational needs of decision-makers that epidemic models can address. Established epidemic modeling and analytics capacity to support state public health with response related to routine and seasonal respiratory viruses. Developed strategies, protocols, and tools to integrate modeling and analytics into decision-making for public health, the private sector, political leaders, and the public during public health emergencies. Evaluated the ability to leverage respiratory virus season modeling and analytics for public health emergencies Integrated modeling and analytic resources into private sector decisions during respiratory virus season. Improved public communication about respiratory virus season. Component 4/Strategy 7: Outcomes for Component 4, Strategy 7 will include: A series of training courses for infectious disease modelers and public health professionals to improve integration of modeling and analytics in response to outbreak
