Charting a healthier future: Transforming epidemic response in Latin America and beyond

 When the world was shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic, Latin America and the Caribbean emerged as one of the most severely affected regions. It wasn’t just because of the virus; the gaps exposed in data, tools and training made timely responses very difficult. However, out of this crisis came an ambitious and inspiring solution: Tools for Response, Analytics and Control of Epidemics in Latin America and the Caribbean (TRACE-LAC). 

Launched in 2022, TRACE-LAC has equipped public health professionals with enhanced tools, training and knowledge to better detect and respond to disease outbreaks. Supported by IDRC, the project was led by the Universidad de los Andes and the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia, in collaboration with data.org and the Epiverse community. It is more than just software and science; TRACE-LAC’s real success lies in its people-centred approach, gender-inclusive vision and dedication to making data science work for everyone. 

Local tools, global impact 

The cornerstone of TRACE-LAC’s approach was clear from the start: build tools with users, for users. The project began with a simple yet powerful idea: to involve the very people who would use these tools from the outset. Instead of importing one-size-fits-all solutions, the team listened to the needs of regional health workers, researchers and communities. This groundwork led to the co-creation of six powerful open-source software packages: 

• Sivirep helps automate the production of epidemiological reports on 75 diseases tracked by Colombia’s national surveillance system.
• Vaccineff, developed with the Secretary of Health of Colombia’s capital, Bogotá, calculates real-world vaccine effectiveness — vital for pandemic planning.
• Serofoi uncovers “hidden epidemics” by analyzing past serological data to estimate the number of people who have been infected.
• ColOpenData harmonizes access to official demographic and climate datasets in Colombia. It is currently being co-implemented in partnership with the National Administrative Department of Statistics.
• epiCo, developed with the Secretary of Health of the department of Tolima in Colombia, enhances dengue epidemiological surveillance. 

Together, these tools are strengthening national health systems and offering models that can be adapted globally. What makes these tools special isn’t just their technical rigour; they are designed for usability, accessibility and sustainability, offering Spanish-language interfaces, step-by-step guides and even no-code options through user-friendly web platforms like tracelac.uniandes.edu.co. As of early 2025, several of these packages and the processes behind them are being translated and tailored to the local context of countries in West and East Africa. 

Training a new generation of health leaders 

The team also launched the ​​Epi-Training Kit, a free online course in Spanish focused on teaching data science for public health usage. With over 2,200 enrolments from 18 countries and a completion rate nearly three times the global Massive Open Online Course average, the course is helping to build a generation of outbreak-ready professionals. 

In addition, TRACE-LAC held nine hands-on in-person workshops, including Epimodelac 2023, which brought together 80 professionals from 11 countries for a week of immersive training. Thirty of those trainees went on to become trainers themselves, continuing the knowledge cascade in their home institutions, from public health ministries in Colombia and Mexico to universities across the region. 

Gender equity at every step 

In a field too often dominated by male voices from a certain class, and with a narrow band of lived experiences, TRACE-LAC stands out for making gender equality and inclusion a core pillar. From the start, a dedicated gender committee worked to ensure that all materials used inclusive language, reflected diverse identities and avoided stereotypes. In the Epi-Training Kit, 49% of participants identified as women and 16% as non-binary or preferring not to disclose their gender. 

Beyond representation, TRACE-LAC is tackling inequalities within the health data itself. Working with LGBTQ+ organizations, the team analyzed the response to the 2022–2023 mpox outbreak, surfacing disparities in how different communities were affected and treated. They shared these insights in peer-reviewed journals, influencing future outbreak responses. 

From regional innovation to global inspiration 

The TRACE-LAC model has already sparked international interest far beyond Latin America, thanks to its inclusion in the Epiverse consortium alongside the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia. 

In the final phase of the project, materials from the Epi-Training Kit are being translated and adapted to local contexts, cultures and technical requirements for use in 10 African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and Senegal. This South-South collaboration, rare in global health, is a powerful example of knowledge exchange grounded in mutual respect. 

Ideas that last 

The urgency of TRACE-LAC’s work came into sharp focus in 2024, when Latin America experienced its worst dengue fever outbreak on record. Climate extremes — rising temperatures, floods and changing rainfall — expanded mosquito habitats into new territories, triggering massive health impacts. 

The situation demonstrated how TRACE-LAC’s most lasting impact might actually be cultural: by combining technical excellence with community input, the project has helped shift the way governments and researchers work together, building trust, capacity and a shared vision for responsive, evidence-based public health. 

Through a science-diplomacy lens, TRACE-LAC served as a platform to bridge institutional silos, foster mutual understanding and sustain collaboration across political and structural divides. Software developers were trained to think like epidemiologists. Public health workers learned to navigate code and data. Students became teachers. And the people who work in public offices — often under-resourced and overstretched — became active partners in designing and shaping digital solutions. 

This culture of collaboration and the cross-sector relationships it has nurtured may prove to be a resilient part of the initiative as well. In contexts where policy continuity can be uncertain, TRACE-LAC shows how science diplomacy can help safeguard public health innovation by anchoring it in shared ownership, reciprocal learning and durable networks of trust. 

What comes next? 

As the TRACE-LAC project wraps up, its legacy is already clear: one of smarter tools, better-prepared professionals and a more inclusive approach to epidemic response. But its greatest achievement might just be the sense of possibility it has inspired — that with the right support, communities across Latin America and the Caribbean can take control of their health futures. 

More than 500 professionals have been trained. Six innovative tools are in public use. Dozens of publications, podcasts, blogs and training materials are now available in open access. And most importantly, a network of researchers, data scientists and health workers are better equipped to respond to epidemics — locally, regionally and globally. 

When it comes to protecting lives, every line of code, every training session and every voice included in the conversation makes a difference. In a world where the next health crisis is never far away, TRACE-LAC offers a beacon of what’s possible when science, inclusion and collaboration come together — not just to respond, but to lead.