ASM Launches Detection to Protection Initiative
Washington, D.C.—ASM is launching the Detection to Protection (D2P) Initiative, bringing leading voices together to lay out a specific, expert-validated blueprint to address emerging infectious and zoonotic disease threats.
The initiative, led by ASM, in collaboration with partners, and chaired by Dan Jernigan, M.D., MPH, will develop a set of scientifically sound, actionable policy recommendations to strengthen the nation’s infectious disease detection, surveillance and response capabilities.
“This initiative answers the need for a future-focused approach to envision the system as it could be and improve the system as it exists today,” Jernigan said. “If we were designing the nation’s infectious disease detection and protection system with the knowledge, technology and capability available to us now, what would we build? What do we need to move most effectively from the detection of an infectious disease threat to protection against it?”
This scientific and public health community-driven effort will serve as a resource for the public health community itself, Congress and federal science and public health agencies as policymakers envision the future of public health in the U.S.
“ASM, working with our partners, is uniquely positioned to assess infectious disease and public health infrastructure across the detection to protection continuum,” said ASM Chief Executive Officer Stefano Bertuzzi. “The goal is to understand the entire pathway: how to identify, characterize, interpret and act upon threats and, ultimately, protect individuals and communities.”
The 3 main goals of the D2P initiative are:
- Develop an end-to-end framework for examining how a threat is detected and characterized, how evidence-based decisions and interventions are enabled, and map how the response reaches and, ultimately, protects the public.
- Create a pathway connecting key response functions, clarifying roles, responsibilities and accountabilities, and enabling measurable results.
- Deliver actionable recommendations, including to policymakers, that strengthen the nation's capacity to detect, assess and respond to infectious disease threats through practical improvements in governance, infrastructure, workforce, data systems, efficiency and adaptability.
Public health and infectious disease experts with experience at all levels of government, academia and the private sector will convene 4 times between October 2026 and the spring of 2027 to discuss challenges, successes and strategies. The initiative will culminate with the development of concrete next steps to strengthen our ability to protect lives and minimize the impact of future infectious disease outbreaks.
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ASM is a global community shaping the future of the microbial sciences to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Established in 1899, ASM connects scientists across disciplines, sectors and borders to advance discovery, foster collaboration and drive innovation.
With more than 38,000 members and a global network that reaches millions, ASM accelerates scientific progress through publishing, convening, advocacy and professional development. From climate change and antimicrobial resistance to industrial, basic and applied microbiology, ASM empowers the microbial sciences community to create solutions that benefit society and build what’s next.
