Today, emerging diseases are generally detected once they are already entrenched in the human population, and response systems are often slow and uneven. This initiative supports the move from a reactive to a proactive response to emerging threats.

Google.org has just announced a $15m initiative entitled Predict & Prevent, the goal of which is to understand “the complex drivers that lead to emerging threats,” which in turn will “help communities anticipate surprises and reduce vulnerability.” The funds will be dispersed into six separate projects, all of which will work together toward the better understanding of every element involved in the process of disease transmission and spread.

Among these recipients is Global Viral Forecasting Initiative, a group dedicated to the early identification of harmful zoonotic pathogens in both human and animal populations, primarily through collection of blood samples.

With the research one-two of climate change and zoonoses, Google.org is certainly taking quite a holistic approach. I’ll keep my eye on this.