PRECISE is a collaborative research network dedicated to strengthening pandemic preparedness through the development and validation of novel diagnostics. We bring together academia, healthcare facilities, and Canadian industry to enhance Canada’s readiness for emerging pathogens and future pandemics.
COVID-19 has highlighted critical gaps in the Canadian pandemic preparedness strategy, especially in the biomanufacturing sector, including diagnostics. Operationally, the lack of a Canadian diagnostic strategy limited our ability to efficiently detect, track and trace COVID-19 early in the pandemic, hence hampering our onward response.
This was partly caused by the lack of the following critical elements:
The PRECISE clinical network includes 21 pediatric and adult research sites and hospitals across Ontario, primarily in Southern Ontario, a key entry point for emerging pathogens. The network will develop a modular study protocol, complete with necessary REB approvals, to facilitate rapid specimen and data collection. This protocol can be quickly activated during emerging threats, with pre-arranged ethics approvals and agreements expediting the detection of both endemic and emerging pathogens in local communities.
Our viral isolation and genomics core will use whole genome sequencing, and meta-transcriptomics to identify novel pathogens and variants of concern that may pose a threat to human and animal health in Canada. This will support the rapid generation of well-characterized pathogen stocks and reagents, enabling the development of in vitro and in vivo models of infection. These models will enhance our understanding of circulating pathogens and accelerate the development of diagnostic tests. Our team will also profile host immune responses (e.g., humoral and cellular immunity) and other health biomarkers to identify correlates of protection. This knowledge will be integrated with industry partnerships to identify optimal approaches for developing host- or pathogen- focused diagnostic strategies.
PRECISE-LEAP (Prepare, REact, Collect, Innovate, Share, and Engage – Laboratory Engagement for Accelerated Pathogen testing) brings together a network of 10 clinical academic microbiology laboratories, cutting edge research teams and Canadian manufacturers to enhance preparedness, coordination, and rapid implementation of diagnostics for emerging infectious diseases. PRECISE- LEAP is developing cross-cutting diagnostic tests to ensure network-wide readiness for emerging pandemic threats, leveraging shared expertise, standardized validation protocols, and collaborative evaluation. In addition to assay development and validation, PRECISE-LEAP supports next-generation research projects focused on pathogen-agnostic metatranscriptomics to advance pathogen detection and neutralization assays to characterize immune response. The initiative also emphasizes real-time data sharing, communication, and knowledge mobilization to strengthen Canada’s diagnostic response capacity.
The PRECISE-ENGAGE team works to build an equitable, trust-based engagement platform that ensures that communities, patients, clinicians, researchers, and decision- makers are meaningfully involved before and during a pandemic. Using avian influenza as a case study and drawing on lessons learned from previous outbreaks, it follows a co-creation approach with some of the groups who are not always engaged in pandemic preparation. Through actor and ecosystem mapping, and the development of a cocreation process and methods that include a multi-phased implementation, we will establish rapid and inclusive engagement processes, advance co-creation science, and embed community voices into diagnostics research and policy planning. This will help strengthen equity and trust in Canada’s pandemic responses.
