History of the Forum
The potential for genomics to transform health in LMICs first gained widespread recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of the first named SARS-CoV-2 variants in late 2020 and early 2021, and the need for global genomic surveillance of the virus. Funders started convening informally in 2021 to discuss how they might more effectively share information to increase the impact of their investments and to avoid redundancy, duplication, and fragmentation. This led to studies in 2022 and 2023 funded by the Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust into the feasibility and desirability of establishing a funders forum. In late 2024, the Gates Foundation issued a grant to the Task Force for Global Health to work with the Science for Africa Foundation to establish the forum.
Why Pathogen Genomics
Rapid advancements in nucleic acid (i.e., DNA and RNA) sequencing in the early 2000s revolutionized what could be accomplished with the technology, enabling for the first time the rapid, inexpensive, benchtop whole-genome sequencing of pathogens. This has already transformed infectious disease public health in high-income countries and has equal promise in LMICs.
Potential LMIC uses of pathogen genomic sequencing include: improving tuberculosis treatment with faster, DNA sequence-based drug susceptibility testing; monitoring the effectiveness of antimalarial drugs and rapid diagnostic tests through “malaria molecular surveillance”; investigating and responding to outbreaks of infectious disease; and much more. Genomic sequencing has utility across most or all of the spectrum of infectious diseases of public health importance.