Environmental Surveillance for Assessing Pathogen Emergence (ESCAPE)

Pandemic ESCAPE will design and deploy environmental surveillance systems that function everywhere and for everyone. It will enable reliable detection and tracking of emerging and re-emerging pathogens by removing the technical and social barriers that have limited surveillance uptake in low-resource and remote settings. The Center will connect molecular data to population-level action by integrating genomics, community engagement, and practical workforce support across scales.RationalePandemics cross borders and communities. Surveillance that only covers well-resourced regions misses the hotspots where early emergence and spread are most likely. To be effective as a prevention tool, environmental surveillance must be simple, inclusive, and accessible so that detection can occur regardless of infrastructure or location.Core Objectives1. Create simplified tools for pathogen monitoring2. Train the next generation of environmental surveillance professionals3. Accelerate adoption of environmental surveillance as a prevention strategy4. Communicate data effectively, efficiently, and inclusively5. Empower communities to build local capacity6. Advocate for evidence-driven detection and response strategiesExpected ImpactBy aligning technology design with community needs and workforce development, Pandemic ESCAPE will expand environmental surveillance coverage into underrepresented regions. Simple, field-ready tools combined with local training and clear communication pathways will improve early detection, enable timely public health action, and help prevent local outbreaks from becoming global threats.