rig-cohesa.qmd

---
title: The Research Information Gateway
subtitle: A tool to link research, expertise, and surveillance for One Health in Africa
author: EcoHealth Alliance 
institute: ""
date: "4 September 2024"
title-slide-attributes:
  data-background-image: ""
---

## Outline

<br/>

* Purpose

* Structure and interface

* Technology

* Use cases

## Research Information Gateway

<br/>

* Prototype database designed as new module for Africa CDC Knowledge Hub

* A detailed, searchable, and visual database of One Health research projects

* Directory of subject matter experts for public health practitioners

* Visual and functional dashboard and interfaces for ease of use

## Research Information Gateway in a One Health Community of Practice

<br/>

:::: {.columns}

::: {.column width="50%"}
#### CoP goals and functions

* Link subject matter experts with surveillance

* Share resources in outbreak response

* Improved awareness of research activities

* Informed strategic research agenda planning

:::

::: {.column width="50%"}
#### Enabling technology

* Searchable, up-to-date directory of researchers

* Track on-the-ground capacity

* Map ongoing research and surveillance projects

* Analyse gaps and priorities in current research

:::

::::

## A One Health Scope

<br/>

* A focus on zoonotic diseases based on Africa CDC’s Framework for One Health Practice in National Public Health Institutes (2020), and Event Based Surveillance Framework (2018)

    - **Activities**, **Researchers**, and **Topics** that are

    - Related to **zoonotic disease**: infectious diseases that can be spread between animals and humans; can be spread by food, water, fomites or vectors
    
    - In or related to **African countries**

## Data sources and flow

<br/>

```{mermaid}
%%| out.width: 300px
%%| fig.align: center

flowchart LR
  input1(["Research Funder\nand\nInstitution data"])
  input2(["Web\nscraping"])
  input3(["Literature\nSearch"])
  input4(["Expert Surveys\n(planned)"])

  action[/"Curation\nCross-linking\nValidation"/]

  output1[("On-the-ground\nactivities")]
  output2[("Experts\nand\nresearchers")]
  output3[("Funders")]

  input1 ==> action
  input2 ==> action
  input3 ==> action
  input4 ==> action
  action ==> output1
  action ==> output2
  action ==> output3
```

## Development pathway

<br/>

```{mermaid}
%%| out.width: 300px
%%| fig.align: center

flowchart TD

  airtable[Airtable]
  airtable_interface[/Airtable Interfaces/]
  dolt[dolt]
  dolthub[dolthub]
  khub("Knowledge\nHub")
  dashboard(Dashboard)
  research("Research\nworkflow")
  api[/API/]

  airtable --> dolt -->|powers|dolthub
  airtable -->|feeds|airtable_interface
  dolthub <--> api <--> khub
  dolthub <--> api <--> dashboard
  dolthub <--> api <--> research
```

## Development updates

<br/>

* Africa CDC colleagues are integrating the database to the Knowledge Hub

* Updating database with new sources and funders then will add activities and researchers

    * search for new funders led to Pandemic PACT initiative - lots of overlap with database and has more records (9000+)
    
* Streamlining of fields in the main tables for **Activities** and **Researchers**