Needless to say that Omics science has dramatically shifted the way pathogen-host interaction could be approached. The advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) allows generating massive Omics data (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) of both pathogen and host, thus enabling to get a refined and exploitable picture of the molecular circuitries induced by the pathogen to ensure its survival. To be able to benefit of such an exciting era, any research institution has to offer an optimized informatics environment enabling proper handling, processing, and analyzing the huge load of Omics data derived from the host and its invading pathogen. PHINDaccess (Pathogen-Host INteraction Data access) has been conceived so that the Institut Pasteur de Tunis (IPT), a research institution chiefly involved in infectious disease research, ensures such a prerequisite and becomes able to discern the multiple facets of the evolutionary arms race occurring between pathogen and host. However, as an emerging research field, Omics science and its immediate applications for a better control of infectious diseases, has to be introduced to the society, which is increasingly aware of the threat posed by emerging pathogens and their intercontinental expansion.
The overall objective of PHINDaccess is threefold: (i) endow IPT researchers with advanced knowledge and skills in Omics science, (ii) provide IPT with an efficient high-performance bioinformatics environment, and (iii) make IPT a regional flagship for excellence in innovative Omics research with increased networking and openness to the socioeconomic sector. Towards this end, IPT has teamed up with world-renowned European centers, namely the Institut Pasteur, the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, the Center for Genomic regulation, and the Robert Koch Institute, with whom previously EC-funded collaborations have been successfully achieved.
As a first project funded by the EC that is coordinated by a Tunisian Institution since Tunisia has accessed the status of an EC-associated country. PHINDaccess aims to serve as a success story for other Tunisian institutions, and to introduce new governance attitudes and practices.
Thanks to PHINDaccess, members of our financial services and grant offices have been acquainted with the requirements for the role of a coordinator, as they have been fully involved in the management of project and benefited from trainings in the management of EC-funded projects. Furthermore, PHINDaccess is unique in that it embraces RRI principal and endeavors to embed them at the institutional level. Therefore, PHINDaccess would have at term contributed to, (i) establish a structural institutional change leading to a better governance and adhesion to RRI principals; (ii) accompany young researchers at their early career steps; (iii) popularize Omics science and update ethics- and legislation-related issues; and (iv) create a thriving Omics environment, setting IPT on the path of excellence in infectious diseases research.
