A practitioner-driven research agenda for syndromic surveillance

Abstract

ObjectiveTo obtain feedback and seek future directions for an ISDS initiativeto establish and update research questions in Informatics, Analytics,Communications, and Systems Research with the greatest perceivedimpact for improving surveillance practice.IntroductionOver the past fifteen years, syndromic surveillance (SyS) hasevolved from a set ofad hocmethods used mostly in post-disastersettings, then expanded with broad support and development becauseof bioterrorism concerns, and subsequently evolved to a maturetechnology that runs continuously to detect and monitor a widerange of health issues. Continued enhancements needed to meetthe challenges of novel health threats with increasingly complexinformation sources will require technical advances focused onday-to-day public health needs.Since its formation in 2005, the International Society for DiseaseSurveillance (ISDS) has sought to clarify and coordinate globalpriorities in surveillance research. As part of a practitioner-driveninitiative to identify current research priorities in SyS, ISDS polledits members about capabilities needed by SyS practitioners that couldbe improved as a result of research efforts. A taskforce of the ISDSResearch Committee, consisting of national and global subject matterexperts (SMEs) in SyS and ISDS professional staff, carried out theproject. This panel will discuss the results and the preferred means todetermine and communicate priorities in the future.