The Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) is part of the European DETECTIVE project (Data driven Excellence in Training of Epidemiological, Clinical, Technological and Innovative Virus Experts), which will develop new data-driven methodologies to detect and respond to emerging and re-emerging viral threats more quickly than it can be done now.

The European Commission has awarded this initiative a total funding of €4.4 million within the framework of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) of the Horizon Europe programme. The project will train 14 predoctoral researchers through an integrated programme in virology, evolutionary genomics, epidemiology, diagnostics and analytical methods based on artificial intelligence, with the aim of transforming complex research and surveillance data into real-time evidence-based decision-making with direct clinical application.

“By establishing a unified, end-to-end epidemic-intelligence framework – and the expert workforce required to sustain it – DETECTIVE will strengthen European countries capacity to anticipate, detect, and respond to emerging viral threats, enhancing resilience and preparedness for future pandemics,” says Professor of Virology Heli Harvala, the DETECTIVE Consortium Lead, at the University of Turku.

Toward proactive epidemic intelligence

Emerging and re-emerging viral infections are straining healthcare systems, economies, and societies across Europe. The COVID-19 pandemic clearly highlighted the challenges associated with diagnosing, monitoring, and predicting epidemics: viral diagnostics, infection surveillance, and data analytics continue to work without being integrated into a single model, and cross-disciplinary expertise is lacking. Together, these factors limit Europe’s ability to anticipate, detect and manage new viral threats and result in a proactive approach.

DETECTIVE addresses this challenge by developing a comprehensive training and research programme that covers from clinical diagnosis, viral detection to risk assessment and support for public health and clinical decision-making.

The project utilises, among other things, next-generation sequencing, organoid and culture-based models, wastewater and blood-donor surveillance, and multi-omics data. These are combined and analysed with AI-based and epidemic models, which can be used to generate information that supports practical actions in rapidly changing epidemic situations.

“DETECTIVE’s mission is to train a new generation of scientists equipped to detect emerging pathogens earlier, understand who is most at risk, and translate the complex multi-source data into real-time, evidence-based decisions,” says Dr Kim Benschop, the DETECTIVE Training Lead from the Netherlands.

Vall d’Hebron’s significant role

The Microbiology research group at VHIR, with Dr. Andrés Antón and Dr. Cristina Andrés as principal investigators, will participate in three of the six proposed work packages, in which the selected doctoral candidates will be directly involved in carrying out their doctoral theses.

The first line of work will be dedicated to the development and improvement of new tools for the rapid detection of viruses and the identification of novel viral and host markers in severe respiratory infections, through the application of omics technologies. The objective will be to contribute to the standardisation of the different diagnostic protocols used among the various laboratories and, at the same time, to discover and validate biomarkers associated with severe respiratory infections.

In the second work package, the PhD candidate will have a more focused role in developing a genomic platform for securely, proactively and in real time-sharing data on a European scale, with the aim of facilitating the early detection of potential increases in the circulation of certain viruses. Furthermore, work will be undertaken to improve and harmonise the different bioinformatic analysis methods for genomic data at a European level.

To achieve these objectives, both PhD candidates will also undertake placements at research centres outside the country to acquire complementary knowledge and experience in various omics techniques and, respectively, in the integration of genomic data with digital methods for the study of viral transmission patterns.

"With these two doctoral theses, we will seek to take surveillance to a higher level by expanding genomic sequencing for viral detection and characterisation in samples from primary and hospital care, together with data from wastewater surveillance to be developed by other doctoral candidates in the network. In this way, it will contribute to a global surveillance system, within the framework of the One Health concept", explains DrAndrés Antón, head of the Respiratory Viruses Unit and the Virology and Molecular Biology Section at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, and Principal Investigator of the Microbiology research group at VHIR.

“Furthermore, the aim is also to integrate all this genomic data with clinical data using bioinformatics tools, as a system for monitoring the different viral variants and their impact, in order to facilitate their early detection and to be able to communicate it quickly to the competent public health authorities”, comments Dr. Cristina Andrés, head of the Molecular Extraction Unit at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and postdoctoral researcher at the Microbiology group at VHIR.

On the other hand, the researchers are also the leaders of Work Package 5, dedicated to the dissemination, communication and exploitation of the results obtained in the different work packages of the DETECTIVE proposal.

14 doctoral researchers in five countries: close collaboration between universities, government agencies, and industry

DETECTIVE is an interdisciplinary and intersectoral network involving 8 beneficiaries and 14 associated institutions across five European countries. The network will train a total of 14 doctoral researchers in five countries: Finland (5), the Netherlands (3), Denmark (1), Spain (2), and the United Kingdom (3).

In addition to the University of Turku as the consortium coordinator, DETECTIVE members include the University of Tampere in Finland, Nordsjallands Hospital in Hilleroed and University of Copenhagen, Denmark, Amsterdam University Medical Centre and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona, Spain, as well as the University of Glasgow and the University College London in the United Kingdom. Close collaboration with associated industrial, academic and non-academic partners will strengthen the intersectoral dimension of DETECTIVE consortium.

“DETECTIVE consortium continues to build from the European Non-Polio Enterovirus Network, ENPEN, founded 10 years by myself, Associate Professor Eeva Broberg and Professor of Virusepidemiology Thea Fischer from Denmark. This means the DETECTIVE is built on a solid foundation and I truly look forward to continuing from our long-standing collaborations further,” says Heli Harvala.

The programme will produce a new generation of virus experts who are able to bridge laboratory science, data analytics, and public health practices with skills needed for international collaborations. The goal is to develop new tools, standards, and decision-making frameworks that will strengthen Europe’s capacity to respond to new health threats quickly and in a coordinated manner.