Post on 14-Jan-2016
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FORESIGHT STUDY
Future Trends and Challenges in Pathogenomics
JUDITH SIMON & SVEN POMPE PROGRAMME GROUP MUT
• Overview on future trends and challenges in research on human-pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria & fungi)
– Developments in basic research
– Diagnostics & therapy
– Public health
– Research co-operations
– Technology transfer & market development
OBJECTIVES
• Methods– Literature & internet research– Preliminary assessment– Expert survey
• Results– Research foci
• Methods, diagnostics & therapeutics
– Challenges for research– Public health– Co-operations– Market development & technology transfer
• Recommendations• Discussion
STRUCTURE
• Triangulation: combination of literature and internet research with expert survey & interviews
• "Triangulation [...] reduces the risk of systematic distortions inherent in the use of only one method.“
METHODS
Maxwell 1998
• Databases– PubMed– Medline – Important scientific journals
• Keywords & combinations– pathogenomics, infectious disease, public health,
bacteria, fungi, bioweapons, bioterrorism and/or human-pathogenic
• Focus on reviews– Specialised articles on particular micro-organisms
were excluded
METHODS: Literature Research
• Internet research on national & international – Surveys– Experts– Institutions – Networks
METHODS: Internet Research
• Addressee: – 62 members of the ERA-NET PathoGenoMics
from 17 countries
• Questions– Contact partners and national institutions– National main foci in microbiological research– National newly emerging hot topics in
pathogenomics– Existing foresight studies on pathogenomics or
related subjects
METHODS: Preliminary Assessment
• Development and application of questionnaires with questions on– Basic research– Future prospects in diagnostics & therapy– Strengths and weaknesses in research– Important cooperations and projects– Technology transfer & market development– Public health
METHODS: Expert Survey
METHODS: Expert Survey
ERA-Net19%
International Scientists
48%
German Scientists
20%
Industry and Biotechnolgy
13%
Figure 1: Contacts
A total of 329 experts was selected and contacted.
METHODS: Expert Survey
Table 1: Reply & return rates
Contacted Replies Filled-out questionnaires
n n [%] n [%]
ERA-NET 62 15 24,19 9 14,52 International Scientists 158 22 13,92 16 10,13 German Scientists 66 20 30,30 14 21,21 Industry and Biotechnolgy 43 8 18,60 1 2,33 International/German 224 42 18,75 30 13,39 Total 329 65 19,76 40 12,16
RESULTS: Research Foci
Diagnostics Identification and Detection
Omic`s Pathogenese and Infection
Therapeutics Molecular Strategies
Methods Novel Technologies
Research Foci
RESULTS: Trends in Methodology
• Improvement of conventional methods– Microscopy– Serology
• Novel technologies– High-throughput analyses– Real time approaches– Bioinformatics– Omic‘s
RESULTS: Trends in Omic`s
• Systemic approach
Genomics
Proteomics
Transcriptomics
Metabolomics
RESULTS: Trends in Omic`s
GenomicsTranscriptomicsProteomicsMetabolomics
Understanding of:• Infection • Pathogenesis
RESULTS: Trends in Diagnostics
• Use of novel technologies– PCR– Sequence-based identification – Molecular strain typing
But tools need to be more ...– rapid– sensitive– specific– robust– affordable
RESULTS: Challenges for Therapeutics
• Extension of databases & discovery of molecular strategies
In order to ...– enable comprehensive statistical and comparative
analyses – standardise & validate diagnostics– find novel targets– develop new vaccines– innovate antibiotic intervention– individualise therapy
RESULTS: Challenges for Research
• Multidisciplinary research on
– Ecology & environment– Population dynamics– Evolution & taxonomy– Epidemiology– Risk assessment
RESULTS: Challenges for Research
• Basic research on infection & pathogenesis
– Analysis of host-pathogen-interaction – Identification of signaling pathways– Analysis of metabolic interactions– Identification of virulence factors– Target identification– ...
• Major risks are– Multidrug resistance (cf. tuberculosis)– Nosocomial infections– Bioterrorism
RESULTS: Public Health - Risks
„Infectious diseases account for [...] 25 % of global deaths (over 14 million deaths annually)“
(WHO 2000)
• Surveillance systems• Action plans for emergencies• Vaccination strategies• Rapid and early diagnostics
RESULTS: Public Health Measures
RESULTS: Co-operations
What are the most important research partners for scientists in pathogenomics?
Table 2: Co-operations and global players (N=30)
I. European Cooperation II. International Cooperation III. Future Global Player nation rate [%] nation rate [%] nation rate [%]
UK 56 USA 78 USA 74 France 52 Japan 37 UK 63 Germany 52 Canada 22 Germany 56 Sweden 22 China 15 France 44 Holland 19 Australia 7 Japan 26 EU 19 India 7 EU 19 Switzerland 15 Russia 7 China 19 Spain 11 EU 7 Spain 15
• Barriers– High R&D costs– Limited market size for
vaccines and antibiotic products compared to the market for diseases of civilisation
• Opportunities– Public-private
partnerships– Subcontracting with
SME`s for preclinical studies
– Public funding for orphan drugs
RESULTS: Market Development & Technology Transfer
1. Establish a European surveillance system2. Reduce the misuse of pesticides in
agriculture and animal technology3. Create a European Competence Center
for epidemiological research and modelling4. Create an R&D programme that is
specifically tailored to support public-private partnerships5. Create structures for early warning and rapid
response to emergencies
RECOMMENDATIONS
6. Develop comparative risk assessment strategies for setting national health priorities7. Reconsider work-sharing between research
institutes and universities8. Foster cooperations between microbiological
researchers and clinicians9. Foster inclusion of ecological aspects into
microbiology10. Improve transparency about the function of
different networks on pathogenomics11. Conduct a study on industrial research objectives
and economic interests
RECOMMENDATIONS
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
The complete report on FUTURE TRENDS AND CHALLENGES
IN PATHOGENOMICS will soon be available at
http://www.pathogenomics-era.net
1. Establish a European surveillance system2. Reduce the misuse of pesticides in agriculture and animal technology3. Create a European Competence Center for epidemiological research
and modelling4. Create an R&D programme that is specifically tailored to support
public-private partnerships5. Create structures for early warning and rapid response to emergencies6. Develop comparative risk assessment strategies for setting national
health priorities7. Reconsider work-sharing between research institutes and universities8. Foster cooperations between microbiological researchers and clinicians9. Foster inclusion of ecological aspects into microbiology10. Improve transparency about the function of different networks on
pathogenomics11. Conduct a study on industrial research objectives and economic
interests
RECOMMENDATIONS