GeoSentinel: global traveler and migrant health network
RFA-CK-21-002 - GeoSentinel Database
This project collects health information from travelers and migrants around the world to spot infections and outbreaks sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | International Society of Travel Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Alpharetta, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11219683 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient point of view, GeoSentinel connects specialist travel and tropical medicine clinics in many countries to share diagnosis and lab information when people come in sick after travel or migration. Participating clinics enter standardized clinical and laboratory data into a central database so unusual infections or outbreak patterns can be seen quickly. The network has long run surveillance programs and is expanding to use its pooled data to answer focused research questions about travel-related illness and emerging infections. Your visit to a participating clinic could contribute anonymized data that helps protect other travelers and migrants.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who have recently traveled internationally or migrants who become ill and seek care at a participating travel or tropical medicine clinic.
Not a fit: People who have not traveled recently or who do not attend a participating GeoSentinel clinic are unlikely to directly benefit from joining this network.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier detection of outbreaks and clearer prevention and treatment advice for travelers and migrants.
How similar studies have performed: GeoSentinel has operated since 1996 and has successfully detected emerging infections and contributed to public health responses, while this project shifts the platform toward more structured research.
Where this research is happening
Alpharetta, UNITED STATES
- International Society of Travel Medicine — Alpharetta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Libman, Michael — International Society of Travel Medicine
- Study coordinator: Libman, Michael
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.