IDIAPJGol is participating in a project that uses artificial intelligence to detect potential pandemics
PAIR is an initiative to test a tool for rapid detection of pandemic respiratory RNA viruses in primary care.
January 29th, 2024
IDIAPJGol, along with nineteen other institutions from seven different countries, is part of an initiative to quickly and easily detect respiratory RNA viruses that could cause a pandemic in primary care settings. The project is called PAIR and uses predictive models based on artificial intelligence through two interactive tools: PANPOC and PANRISK.
PANPOC is a tool for detecting respiratory RNA viruses with pandemic potential from human, animal and environmental samples, and can be used in primary care consultations. IDIAPJGol will play a key role in the implementation and validation of this tool in primary care. On the other hand, PANRISK is a model based on artificial intelligence and machine learning that will process the data from the results collected by the project partners.
This European Union-funded program will introduce the two tools in clinical and veterinary settings in Denmark, France, Latvia, Italy and Spain. The ultimate aim is to improve surveillance and response models for epidemic outbreaks. PAIR coordinator Carsten Thure Kirkeby says the aim of the plan is to "improve preparedness and response through better decision-making. With advanced modelling, we will have better coordination between regions and countries, addressing a weakness we have identified in the pandemic response.
The PAIR project, coordinated by the University of Copenhagen, started in January 2024 and will run until December 2028.
During the last session of the Qualitative Health Research Commission of IDIAPJGol and the Health and Social Consortium of Catalonia (CSC), methodological challenges were presented to develop a qualitative study that allows analyzing access to cancer diagnosis in health services in Quito (Ecuador). This study is part of the EquityCancer-LA research project, led by the CSC, which aims to assess, with a participatory approach, the effectiveness of a multicomponent integrated care intervention to improve early cancer diagnosis in the public health service networks of Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador.
The Commission is a learning space in qualitative research methodology for healthcare and social services professionals, researchers, and collaborating entities. This space is a platform for exchanging experiences and knowledge for the analysis of issues such as community health, clinical trials, or access to health services.
A positive assessment of the 2023 edition
Following the trend of recent years, the 2023 Commission sessions have maintained good levels of participation and have covered a wide variety of areas and topics. Over the past year, experiences of qualitative evaluation of community health programs have been presented, and the role of qualitative methodology in clinical trial evaluation has been discussed. The use of photo-elicitation to analyze the emotional health of adolescents and photovoice as a qualitative technique to understand the experience of living with endometriosis has also been introduced.
Commission members and participants have highlighted the dynamic nature of the sessions, the interest generated in the discussions, and the quality and diversity of the presentations. This assessment was carried out using qualitative techniques and an online survey.
Users have proposed maintaining the hybrid participation model and the working method for 2024. They have suggested topics for this year, such as triangulation in mixed methods studies and the perspectives and techniques to be considered for organizing this year's sessions.
What to expect in 2024
The Commission will continue working to contribute to the development of knowledge and skills in qualitative research for healthcare professionals. The mission of promoting synergies and adding experiences among professionals will be maintained. For 2024, the Commission aims to increase the participation of healthcare and social services professionals from across the territory engaged in research activities, especially in the municipal and primary care setting.
The coordination of the space is led by Aida Oliver Anglès from the Service of Studies and Prospectives in Health Policies (SEPPS) of the CSC, and Constanza Jacques Aviñó and Laura Medina Perucha from IDIAPJGol. The Commission will meet again on February 21 in a session organized by IDIAPJGol, focusing on the persistent effects of COVID-19 and narrative analysis of discourse. In this upcoming session, the results of the 2023 evaluation survey will also be presented.
The coordination of the Qualitative Research Commission encourages all interested professionals to participate in learning about this research methodology, regardless of their level of expertise. If you are interested in joining the Commission and participating in its sessions, you can register by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
