Experts discuss how climate change, emerging technologies, and regulatory challenges are reshaping the role of diagnostics in public health.
The session “Diagnostics for a New Era”, held during the 10th International Symposium on Immunobiologicals (ISI), brought together national and international experts to discuss the challenges and pathways for strengthening diagnostics in a global context marked by climate change, pandemic risks, and rapid technological advances.
Chaired by Antonio Gomes Pinto Ferreira, Deputy Director of Diagnostics at Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz, the session featured Marilda Siqueira (Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz), Albert Ko (Yale School of Public Health), and Marcella Melo Vergne de Abreu (Anvisa).
Prior to the main session, two poster oral presentations contributed important insights. Marcelle Bral de Mello presented a study on the clinical performance of the DPP HIV 1/2 Rapid Immunoblot test, highlighting its potential to expand access to confirmatory diagnosis in resource-limited settings. Laís Pereira Ferreira Bento addressed the genomic diversity of human rhinovirus in Brazil, underscoring the importance of molecular surveillance for epidemiological monitoring.
Opening the discussion, Marilda Siqueira highlighted the impact of climate change on the dynamics of infectious diseases, citing the recent expansion of dengue into regions where it had not been previously endemic. She emphasized that, beyond technological development, it is essential to prepare both people and institutions to respond to future health emergencies.
Albert Ko then pointed to the fragmentation of global responses to infectious diseases. He criticized siloed approaches and advocated for integrated strategies based on the One Health perspective as a way to address emerging threats that transcend geographical boundaries, such as mpox and the Oropouche virus.
Closing the session, Marcella Abreu, from Anvisa, addressed regulatory challenges related to new health technologies, including digital platforms and artificial intelligence. She noted that regulatory agencies must balance innovation and safety, dealing with issues such as data protection, transparency, and risk assessment in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Throughout the discussion, it became clear that strengthening diagnostics depends not only on scientific advances, but also on cross-sector integration, international collaboration, and the development of regulatory frameworks capable of keeping pace with innovation.
Texto: Marcela Dobarro
Image: Monara Barreto
