Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID)

This is a great new development. Veterinary virologist Ilaria Capua has emerged as the latest hero in the fight against bird flu.

Genetic sequences of samples of H5N1 taken from infected people and chickens have been keep private, so that researchers would be sure to get credit for their work. The only way to access many sequences has been restricted to the 15 flu laboratories working with the United Nations World Health Organisation WHO.

This is understandable, and they should get credit. However, keeping these sequences locked up has prevented anybody from getting a full, big picture of how the virus is changing over time . . . which could indicate where and when it's on the verge of becoming highly infectious.

Ms. Capua of the Vialle dell'Universita in Padova, Italy started rebelling against this in March this year -- she began posted flu sequences to GenBank, where it's publicly available.

Thanks to her example and pressure on the rest of the research community, many leading avian influenza scientists have tentatively agreed to share data. They have agreed to set up the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID). The letter outlining the agreement is signed by 70 scientists and health officials, including six Nobel laureates.

They'll all still get credit for their contributions, as they obviously should, but we'll all benefit by this sharing of H5N1 genetic sequences.

bird flu genetic database will be set up





Bird Flu Genetic Database
Bird Flu Genetic Database