The Foundation for Influenza Epidemiology
The GIHSN is supported by a dedicated fund, the Foundation for Influenza Epidemiology.
The Foundation for Influenza Epidemiology was created in September 2015 by Sanofi under the auspices of Fondation de France to formalize several years of commitment to epidemiological research on severe influenza.
This funding mechanism was established to facilitate additional funding from other donors for this world-scale active surveillance project.
3 new donors have joined the Board in addition to Sanofi: Illumina, Seqirus and IFPMA/IVS
All donations collected through this foundation are dedicated to epidemiological research in the field of severe influenza and other respiratory viral diseases.
GOVERNANCE OF THE FOUNDATION
The governance of the Foundation for Influenza Epidemiology is ensured by an Executive Committee (EC). The Executive Committee is the decision maker, in charge of the strategic directions related to the project. Based on pre-established criteria, the Executive Committee selects applicant sites for funding allocation each year. The Executive Committee is composed of donors representatives and three independent experts.
Scientific oversight is ensured by an Independent Scientific Committee involving some of the world’s top flu epidemiology/virology/policy experts including representatives from US CDC and WHO.
Coordination of the network and operational implementation, including data collection & hosting, is supported by an independent organization: Impact Healthcare.
Members of the Scientific Committee
Independent Experts:
- Bruno LINA, University of Lyon, France (Chair)
- John PAGET, Nivel, Netherlands
- Justin ORTIZ, University of Maryland, USA
- John McCAULEY, Crick Institute London, UK
- Arnaud FONTANET, Institut Pasteur, France
- Christian HAPPI, Harvard Medical School, USA
- Joe BRESEE, US CDC, USA
- Wenqing ZHANG, Head of GIP, WHO, Geneva (Observer)
- Sandra CHAVES, Foundation for Influenza Epidemiology (Observer)
Site Representatives:
- Melissa K ANDREW, Canadian Serious Outcomes Surveillance Network, Halifax, Canada
- Elena BURTSEVA, FSBI « N.F. Gamaleya NRCEM », Moscow, Russia
- Marta NUNES, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
COOPERATIONS
A constructive dialog with WHO Global Infuenza Program has been developed:
- Provision of data for the annual vaccine strain selection (NGS + clinical data)
- Potential use of the GIHSN to generate COVID-19 data
The Foundation is partner of Ready2Respond.
