Frontiers in Public Health (May 2021)

Systematic Organization of COVID-19 Data Supported by the Adverse Outcome Pathway Framework

  • Penny Nymark,
  • Magdalini Sachana,
  • Sofia Batista Leite,
  • Jukka Sund,
  • Catharine E. Krebs,
  • Kristie Sullivan,
  • Stephen Edwards,
  • Laura Viviani,
  • Catherine Willett,
  • Brigitte Landesmann,
  • Clemens Wittwehr

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.638605
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOP) provide structured frameworks for the systematic organization of research data and knowledge. The AOP framework follows a set of key principles that allow for broad application across diverse disciplines related to human health, including toxicology, pharmacology, virology and medical research. The COVID-19 pandemic engages a great number of scientists world-wide and data is increasing with exponential speed. Diligent data management strategies are employed but approaches for systematically organizing the data-derived information and knowledge are lacking. We believe AOPs can play an important role in improving interpretation and efficient application of scientific understanding of COVID-19. Here, we outline a newly initiated effort, the CIAO project (https://www.ciao-covid.net/), to streamline collaboration between scientists across the world toward development of AOPs for COVID-19, and describe the overarching aims of the effort, as well as the expected outcomes and research support that they will provide.

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