Pathogen genomic surveillance is a powerful tool for detecting emerging threats, tracking disease transmission and pathogen evolution, and guiding public health responses. Unlocking the full potential of pathogen genomic surveillance requires effectively integrating insights derived from genomic data into public health actions. This demands robust diagnostic systems, sustained national capacities, cross-sector and cross-border collaboration, and resilient data architectures to ensure scalability and impact at the country level.
Speaker Series Session N°10, co-hosted with the Charité Center for Global Health, will explore key enablers for strengthening genomic surveillance, emphasizing the role of genomic data as a foundation for effective public health actions.The session will showcase innovative tools and collaborations through initiatives like the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN). Country perspectives will also be featured, sharing good practices and lessons learned to enhance accessibility, build capacity, and ultimately support evidence-based decision-making for emergency preparedness and response.
(Please contact pandemichub@who.int in case you run into technical difficulties registering or have questions.)
Participants can join the event either in person in Berlin or online via WHO YouTube Livestream.
Due to space limitation in the event venue, on-site registration is on a first come, first served basis. You are encouraged to register for the event at your earliest convenience.
We look forward to rich and engaging conversations with you!
Sepaker introduction
Prof Dr Christian Drosten | Keynote Speaker
Director of Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin
Christian Drosten studied medicine in Frankfurt am Main/Germany. He received his doctoral degree in 2003 with a thesis on high-throughput testing of blood donors for HBV and HIV-1. From June 2000, Drosten joined the virology department at Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Hamburg. His group focused on virus discovery and molecular diagnostics of tropical viral diseases. From 2007, Drosten became full professor and chair at the Institute of Virology at University of Bonn Medical Center. In 2017, he moved to the Charité-Universitätsmedizin in Berlin, where he is currently the Director of the Institute of Virology. He was a member of the German Ministry of Health’s International Advisory Board on Global Health from 2017-2019.
Drosten co-discovered the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV), for which he developed the first diagnostic tests in 2003. He worked on Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) for which he resolved many aspects of the natural history of disease in humans and animals. In January 2020, his team developed the first SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test that was approved by the WHO and globally applied. His subsequent work focused on characterizing essential disease traits and diagnostic approaches in COVID-19. During the pandemic, he has been advising German federal and state authorities and was appointed to the European Commission's advisory panel on Covid-19.
Mr John Sillitoe | Keynote Speaker
Director of the Genomic Surveillance Unit at the Wellcome Sanger Institute
John Sillitoe is the Director of the Genomic Surveillance Unit (GSU) at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, leading efforts to translate and integrate genomics into global public health strategies. Under his leadership, the GSU works to fill gaps and enhance disease surveillance by equipping public health partners with genomic insights that drive evidence-based decision-making and targeted interventions.
Focusing currently on genomic surveillance for infectious diseases, the GSU collaborates with international health agencies to strengthen pathogen tracking, outbreak response, and long-term disease control efforts—particularly in regions with limited genomic capacity. The unit’s work spans malaria parasites and vectors, respiratory pathogens and emerging infectious threats and their vectors, ensuring genomic data is integrated and embedded within public health frameworks.
John joined Sanger in 2018 to expand the institute’s role in global health, building genomic capacity worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led the UK’s national genomic surveillance response, ensuring timely pathogen intelligence informed public health policies. His background spans systems leadership roles across health, local government, research, engineering, and defence, with a commitment to translating genomic innovation into impactful and timely public health solutions.
Prof Dr Nada M. Melhem | Keynote Speaker
Professor of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Director of the Division of Health Professions, Coordinator of the Medical Laboratory Sciences Program, American University of Beirut
Melhem is a tenured Professor of Virology and Immunology at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), American University of Beirut. Melhem is the Director of the Division of Health Professions and the Chair of the Medical Laboratory Sciences Program at FHS. Melhem’s research program focuses on pathogen genomics of viral diarrheal diseases and SARS-CoV-2 in biological and environmental samples. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Melhem led the SARS-CoV-2 National Surveillance Genomic Program for healthcare workers and hospitalized patients.
Melhem is an elected council member of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, a member of the International Pathogen Surveillance Network, the WHO Virus Evolution TAG, the National Committee for Communicable Diseases and serves as the National Polio Containment Coordinator in Lebanon.
Dr Sofonias Tessema | Keynote Speaker
Program Lead, Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
Sofonias Tessema is a public health genomic epidemiologist with extensive expertise in molecular diagnostics, genome sequencing, and bioinformatics.
At Africa CDC, Dr Tessema drives the continental vision to improve outbreak detection and reporting through advanced molecular and genomic tools. Dr Tessema leads the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI) that is catalyzing genomics and bioinformatics capacity building in Africa.
Dr Tessema is deeply committed to advancing innovative approaches, promoting technology transfer and capacity building in translational genomics and bioinformatics in Africa. Dr Tessema is also a champion to strengthen public-private partnerships to translate scientific advancements into impactful public health outcomes in Africa.
Dr Sabrina Weiss | Panelist
Head of Public Health Laboratory Support, Centre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute (RKI)
Dr Sabrina Weiss is a Virologist and Public Health Microbiologist, specialized in capacity development for molecular diagnostics in low- and middle-income countries with a focus on sub-Sahara Africa.
Currently, Sabrina heads the unit for "Public Health Laboratory Support" within the Centre for International Health Protection of the Robert Koch Institute.
She is also leading a joint project between RKI and the WHO Berlin Hub on Strengthening Integrated Genomic Surveillance through Greater Capacities in Public Health Agencies.
Prof Dr Beate Kampmann | Welcome Remarks
Scientific Director of the Charité Center for Global Health
Beate Kampmann, holds a W3 Professorship in Global Health at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, where she leads the Charité Center for Global Health since 2023.
She is also Professor of Paediatric Infection & Immunity at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She directed the vaccine research at the MRC Unit in The Gambia for over 10 years and has led research groups at Imperial College and LSHTM prior to relocating to Berlin.
As a clinician-scientist in pediatric infectious diseases, she studied medicine in Cologne and completed advanced training in paediatric infectious diseases with membership at the Royal College of Physicians in London. Her research career includes fellowships and leadership roles supported by the Wellcome Trust and UKRI, with work spanning the UK, the US, France, South Africa, and The Gambia.
Prof Kampmann has contributed extensively to pediatric infection, immunity, and maternal immunization research with over 300 publications. She continues to direct the IMPRINT network for maternal and infant immunization. Beate is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health and the West African College of Physicians.
Ms Sara Hersey | Session Moderator
Director of Collaborative Intelligence at the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence
Sara Hersey is an infectious disease epidemiologist who has served in global public health leadership roles over the past two decades with the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Bank, and Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL). Her professional experience spans more 50 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean where she has led efforts in surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, infectious disease prevention and treatment, strategic planning, policy, financing and program management.
Sara joined WHO in 2023 as the Director of Collaborative Intelligence in the WHO Health Emergencies Programme. In this role, she is based in Berlin with the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence where she leads external partnerships, collaborations, and networks.
Dr Josefina Campos I Panel Moderator
Unit Head, Emerging Pathogen Intelligence Platforms, WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence
Josefina Campos served as the Director of the National Genomics and Bioinformatics Center at ANLIS Malbrán, Ministry of Health in Argentina. In this capacity, she worked on a national level to integrate genomics into the surveillance system for both infectious and non-communicable diseases, utilizing a One Health approach. She also took on the responsibility of coordinating national and international projects focused on integrated surveillance to better understand the dynamics and evolution of diseases with significant public health implications. She played a key role in establishing the National Genomics Network in Argentina. On a regional scale, Josefina provided guidance and expertise in genomics through her involvement with networks such as PulseNet LAC, Genome Trakr, and Relavra.
At the global level, she contributed her insights to the PH4GE initiative within the Data Structure working group, the Global Biodata Consortium and the Global Typhoid Genomics Consortium. Additionally, she has taken the lead in organizing numerous genomics courses in Argentina and the Latin American region. She has an extensive publication record, with numerous articles in highly respected scientific journals that highlight the utility of genomics in public health.
She was a Senior technical Advisor for IPSN until she joined the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, part of the Health Emergency Preparedness & Response Programme as Unit Head of Emerging pathogen intelligence platforms (EPT) in 2024.
Watch previous Speaker Series sessions
- Speaker Series N°1 - Securing Human, Animal and Environmental Health
- Speaker Series N°2 - Exploring Insights from the Social SciencesSpeaker Series N°3 - Leveraging Innovative Technologies
- Speaker Series N°4 - Working towards Data Preparedness
- Speaker Series N°5 - Embracing Open Source Solutions for Health Emergencies
- Speaker Series N°6 - Confronting climate-sensitive infectious diseases
- Speaker Series N°7 - A Laboratory for Collaboration: Leveraging Diversity for Better Decision-Making
- Speaker Series N°8 - Harnessing Contextual Insights for Better Public Health Intelligence
- Speaker Series N°9 – The Role of Research in Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence