Abstract
Pathogen genome sequence data has become an essential resource for analysing and
modelling the dynamics of infectious diseases. It enables a more detailed understanding of
disease transmission at the household and sub-population levels, while also supporting the
integration of epidemiological parameters with diverse clinical factors. Such information plays
a crucial role in situational assessment, outbreak forecasting, and the formulation of effective
public health policies. However, Thailand still faces challenges in integrating genome data into
epidemiological analyses, resulting in underutilisation of this valuable resource.
To address this gap, the project organised a workshop entitled “Modelling Infectious Disease
Outbreaks Using Genomic Data”, which brought international experts from the ISI Foundation
to share advanced knowledge through lectures and hands-on training. The workshop proved
highly successful, as evidenced by the strong interest and satisfaction of participants. The
transfer of practical skills was also evident, and the workshop helped with the establishment
of research networks at both national and international levels as well. These achievements
have contributed to expanding and strengthening the capacity of researchers in Thailand to
apply genome data for advanced infectious disease analysis. Ultimately, these outcomes will
improve Thailand’s preparedness and responsiveness to emerging infectious diseases and help
position the country as a regional leader in genomic–epidemiological research.
