The Centre for Pandemics and One-health Research (P1H) aims to conduct a series of interviews, “P1H Coffee Break”, with researchers to raise understanding and awareness regarding the field of pandemics and One-health.
What motivated you to do research on this topic?
When I lived in Singapore and worked on a private aid initiative in Cambodia, I realized that there is a huge lack of access to health care. I started a private project on developing a knowledge-based decision support model for medicine. One of the main points was how can people of the world tell about symptoms and signs, so that early prevention of pandemics and even stopping epidemics is possible. Then Covid-19 hit and the PhD- project about digitalization of infectious disease surveillance and management in Norway was created, I thought: that is my project. With that project, I would have the ability to do research on what is needed, for example on dataflow, so that we may prevent and stop diseases from spreading all over the world. That was my motivation.
What is the aim of the research?
The main aim is centered on digital innovation during a crisis. How can we efficiently innovate during a crisis? I looked at how the Norwegian municipalities digitalized contact tracing during Covid-19. I also looked at how the interdisciplinary work and the ability to make decisions even if it is usually made above pay grade worked. When I say interdisciplinary that means breaking down silo structures in the municipality, to work across different fields and different units.
The second aim is how do we develop health information systems that work during normal times as well as during a crisis. Health information systems mean different things. It is a social part: People that are working and using the system, and the ones working with the processes and routines. Then there is the technical part: the digital technologies that are used and the integrations etc. To be able to use the system in a crisis, you need to know how to use it during normal times. This can be referenced to, for example, our defense, and also in hospitals, where we conduct exercises on a crisis, which you may be called in for participation. My aim is to make us aware that what we are building for the health sector, has to be able to be used also during a crisis.
Why is this topic important?
This topic is important because preparedness is important. How can we be prepared when a crisis occurs?
When we talk about interdisciplinary work and developing health information systems in the health sector, we could also go broader. We can for example look at what they have done in finance to protect money transfers, and illegal transfers, or look at how the defense industry works towards preparedness. We can broaden and work across these sectors to learn from each of them. The topic is also important for innovation during normal times. How can we learn from this type of innovation during a crisis? Can we do the same interdisciplinary work when the crisis is over?
How are studies on pandemics or One-health related to your field of research?
My research is related to One-Health through, for example, how viruses transfer. To then register that and share this data across disciplines and across countries. It is important to not just involve healthcare personnel but individuals as well. How can we build systems where symptoms could be registered anonymously?
How would you describe a research in three words?
To describe my research I would say interdisciplinary digital innovation. Then I would say sustainability and resilience. All these are tied together with preparedness.
Thank you to Ragnhild for participating in this interview. Check out our Instagram at @unioslo_cp1h to see snippets of the interview.