WHO Collaborating Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance in Foodborne Pathogens and Genomics
WHO collaborating centres are institutions such as research institutes, parts of universities or academies, which are designated by the Director-General to carry out activities in support of the Organization's programmes.
The Research Group for Global Capacity Building (GloCaB) at the DTU National Food Institute Food was designated as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre (WHO CC) in 2002. In this role, GloCaB provides WHO with the evidence it needs to guide Member States in making policies and formulating strategies to control AMR in foodborne diseases. It also helps build capacity to improve AMR surveillance in countries around the world.
The Collaborating Centre has supported WHO since 1999, with the inception of the WHO Global Foodborne Infections Network (GFN), formerly known as the Global Salm-Surv (GSS), through various capacity-building activities. These have included the development of laboratory protocols and guidance, and training activities to strengthen countries’ surveillance and response systems for foodborne diseases and AMR.
Additionally, the Centre supports WHO to improve the capacity of international, national and regional laboratories that participate in the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS).
While the WHO CC initially focused on antimicrobial resistance in foodborne pathogens, its focus expanded in 2016 to also cover genomics.
Current Goals of the WHO CC
In 2022, WHO released its Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022-2030.
In 2023, WHO updated its guidance on whole genome sequencing as a tool for surveillance and response for foodborne diseases.
The current goals of the WHO CC for the period 2023-2027 include:
- To provide technical inputs and support on antimicrobial resistance, whole genome sequencing and global surveillance of foodborne pathogens to WHO
- To support WHO’s capacity-building efforts in applying new technologies to detect antimicrobial resistance and foodborne diseases
- To provide technical support to WHO in proficiency testing of programs in the area of Foodborne Diseases and antimicrobial resistance surveillance
- To conduct operational research to support WHO’s work on antimicrobial resistance and foodborne surveillance implementation
Contact: Rene Hendriksen rshe@food.dtu.dk