The Foundation encourages submission of research projects leveraging on the GIHSN database. Projects are reviewed by the Independent Scientific Committee of the GIHSN and the Foundation. If project is approved, the research team can perform analyses on the data. Data access (anonymised and/or aggregated data only) is granted through a dedicated interface. The data catalogue is available on the platform, together with sites description. This provides a high-level fingerprinting of the GIHSN database and allows researchers to assess the feasibility of their research question. GIHSN sites are informed upfront of any analysis, and they have the possibility to opt out.
On-going research activities associated with the GIHSN include the following:
Experience of older adults hospitalized with influenza and acute respiratory illness in relation to function in Activities of Daily Living: a report from the GIHSN. Project submitted by: Melissa K Andrew, Canadian Serious Outcomes Surveillance Network, Halifax, Canada. 2023
Guidelines for handling missing data in the GIHSN dataset. Project submitted by: Marta Nunes, Center of Excellence in respiratory Pathogens (CERP), University of Lyon I, France. 2024
Analysis of RSV-confirm cases submitted to GIHSN from 2012 to 2023. Project submitted by: Marta Nunes, Center of Excellence in respiratory Pathogens (CERP), University of Lyon I, France. 2024
GISAID FluCluster-AI – Innovations in virus transmission cluster analysis. Project submitted by: Sebastian Maurer-Stroh, GISAID. 2024
Influenza severity in young, hospitalized children by country income level. Project submitted by: Cécile Viboud, National Institutes of Health, US. 2024
Trends in influenza antiviral use among hospitalized influenza cases: real-world evidence from a global perspective. Project submitted by: Sandra S Chaves, The Foundation for Influenza Epidemiology. 2024 Early antiviral treatment can reduce influenza-associated complications including lower respiratory tract infections and death in hospitalized patients. In the US, antivirals are recommended for all hospitalized patients with suspected or confirmed influenza. Recommendation policies for other parts of the world may differ slightly from that in the US but mostly support the use of antivirals, and clinicians can consider treatment for people at higher risk of severe disease from influenza empirically. This data should serve as a benchmark and could provide insight on the use of influenza antivirals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) retrospective analysis leveraging GIHSN platform. Project submitted by: Miranda Delahoy, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2024 The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working with GIHSN sites that have information on EV-D68 cases from the years before the COVID-19 pandemic for a retrospective investigation on epidemiological and clinical characteristics of cases. This initiative may set up the stage for a possible prospective surveillance of this viruses to be included in the network.