Title: Northeastern University to Lead National Network for Pandemic Forecasting
Subtitle: CDC awards $17.5 million to Northeastern University for the establishment of “EPISTORM: The Center for Advanced Epidemic Analytics and Predictive Modeling Technology”
Date: [Insert Date]
Northeastern University has been chosen as a pivotal player in a new nationwide initiative aimed at improving the prediction and containment of future pandemics. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Tuesday an award of $17.5 million over the next five years to Northeastern University, enabling the development of a center focused on detecting and preparing for the next outbreak of infectious diseases, particularly in rural areas.
The project, titled “EPISTORM: The Center for Advanced Epidemic Analytics and Predictive Modeling Technology,” will be spearheaded by Alessandro Vespignani, director of Northeastern’s Network Science Institute. Northeastern University is among the 13 centers selected for the CDC’s new outbreak response network.
Vespignani expressed his excitement about the funding, stating that the CDC’s Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics aims to create a “National Weather Service for epidemic threats.” He will lead a consortium consisting of 10 research institutions, healthcare systems, and private companies, which will contribute innovation, tools, and technologies to enhance the endeavor.
The primary objective of the center will be to develop algorithms capable of utilizing various data sources, such as hospital admissions, wastewater surveillance, social media, and travel patterns, to forecast the spread and pace of infections.
Northeastern University researchers have already been actively engaged in disease modeling for some time, even advising the White House on the potential impact of social distancing measures during the early days of the pandemic. Their expertise and experience make Northeastern University an ideal institution to house the innovation center.
Mauricio Santillana, director of Northeastern’s Machine Intelligence Group for the betterment of Health and the Environment at the Network Science Institute, explained, “We are expected to basically design the most innovative ways we can be better prepared for epidemics and ongoing diseases.”
Samuel Scarpino, director of artificial intelligence and life sciences, who is also involved in the project, highlighted that the innovation center will leverage artificial intelligence and network science to incorporate data from wastewater, genomics, and mobility into forecasting models.
While the CDC provided minimal information about the nationwide network, it was revealed that Boston University will also play a role in the initiative. However, no further details were available at the time of the press release.
In a related development, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security announced on Tuesday that it received a five-year, $23.5 million award to participate in the project. Caitlin Rivers, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, emphasized the importance of this initiative in bolstering the nation’s defenses against future epidemics.
The allocation of substantial funding from the CDC to Northeastern University and other esteemed institutions signals a significant investment in preparing the country to effectively respond to future outbreaks. With collaboration and advanced analytics at its core, this national network aims to revolutionize epidemic forecasting and safeguard public health for years to come.
For media inquiries, please contact Felice J. Freyer at [email protected].