Developed by infectious disease scientists, VISTA uses AI-assisted tools and expert opinion to explore and compare virus, host, and environmental risk factors to characterize risk profiles of thousands of virus species and identify viruses by their outbreak potential.
The Virus Intelligence & Strategic Threat Assessment (VISTA) program is assessing the epidemic and pandemic potential of zoonotic viruses. UC Davis previously developed the SpillOver Viral Risk Ranking tool for policy makers, scientists and the general public to assess the likelihood that a wildlife virus will spillover and spread in humans. In partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), VISTA is calculating risk scores for thousands of virus species using data collated across various publicly available literature and datasets. In addition, we are incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for near real-time prioritization of emerging virus threats. Through partnerships with Boston University and Boston Children’s Hospital’s Biothreats Emergence, Analysis and Communications Network (BEACON) project, VISTA is also supporting initiatives to provide early warning for timely identification and response to disease threats.
Our work supports CEPI’s 100 Day Mission – aiming for just 100 days to make a safe and effective vaccine against any viral pandemic threat to contain outbreaks before they spiral out of control.