Launch of UCL's dPHE Centre as a WHO Collaborating Centre

The Launch of UCL Centre for Digital Public Health in Emergencies (dPHE) as WHO Collaborating Centre for Digital Public Health and Pandemic Preparedness

Pandemic preparedness and health emergencies – the digital frontiers

Pandemic preparedness and response, and successful control of antimicrobial resistance are pillars of global health security. Digital technologies, big data powered AI predictive models, Internet of Things sensing and mobile tools are essential for effective disease surveillance, outbreak detection and response, as well as providing evidence-based information to patients and assisting public health professionals to diagnose and manage conditions. However, with public resources for research and health services cut, AI tools increasingly becoming a double-edge sword and international cooperation and health equity a challenge – Europe has a unique opportunity to support sovereign digital technology and AI, multilateral collaboration and capacity building to protect health and safety of citizens at national and international levels.

UCL dPHE Centre have conducted outstanding research investigating One Health mobile and IoT surveillance in Brazil and Madeira, gamified apps for maternal health in Nepal and antibiotic stewardship (AMS) to combat antibiotic resistance (AMR) in Nigeria and the NHS. During the COVID-19 emergency, UCL dPHE lead an award winning project My Lockdown Journal and longitudinal analysis of our lifestyle changes ‘Zoom or Not to Zoom’. UCL dPHE won the Team of the Year 2020 Award by Computing Rising Stars Awards for the COVID-19 innovations. UCL dPHE also established a leading international conference on Digital Public Health - the 11th DPH 2026 will take place in Barcelona in June 2026 www.dphconf.org

Join us to celebrate the official WHO designation of UCL Centre for Digital Public Health in Emergencies (dPHE) as a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Digital Public Health and Pandemic Preparedness in recognition of the Centre’s leading role in advancing digital public health research, innovation, and policy at national and international levels. WHO EURO delegation will be led by the Director of the WHO Regional Emergency and the team responsible for health emergencies preparedness and response across the European Region working towards keeping Europeans healthy and safe in an increasingly challenging geo-political times.

The event is aimed to bring together colleagues and partners from across University College London and universities, WHO, UKHSA, APHA, NHS and wider public health community to mark this important milestone, and discuss the opportunities this collaboration will create for research, capacity building, and knowledge exchange in the UK and internationally.

AGENDA

✍️ 17:00 | Registration opens

💬 17:30 - 19:00 | Launch of WHO CC

• 17:30: Welcome address
• 17:35-18:00: dPHE & WHO CC - Collaboration presentation
• 18:00-19:00: Strategic panel
  "Pandemic preparedness and health emergencies – the digital frontiers"

🥂 19:00 - 21:00 | Networking Reception
Join us for a celebratory drinks reception in the Hub area, featuring a poster exhibition showcasing current projects and initiatives of the UCL Centre for Digital Public Health in Emergencies (dPHE).

Our confirmed speakers so far include:

• Ihor Perehinets – Health Security and Regional Emergency Director, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe
• Aron Aregay – Public Health Intelligence Officer, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe
• Prof Patty Kostkova – Director, UCL Centre for Digital Public Health in Emergencies (dPHE), University College London; Head, WHO Collaborating Centre for Digital Public Health and Pandemic Preparedness
• Dr Chris Lewis – Director of Global Health Protection, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
• Dr Nick Johnson – Head of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)

Info: "Pandemic preparedness and health emergencies - the digital frontiers"

Info: Join us for a celebratory reception in the Hub area, featuring a poster exhibition showcasing current projects and initiatives of the UCL Centre for Digital Public Health in Emergencies (dPHE).

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Bentham House, LG26 Lecture Room, Endsleigh Gardens, London, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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