Ateneo de Manila University’s Center for Computing Competency and Research (ACCCRe) has updated the Feasibility Analysis of Syndromic Surveillance using Spatio-temporal Epidemiological Modeler ( FASSSTER) as an evidence-based tool to mitigate potential risks brought by COVID-19 and maximize the allocation of healthcare resources.
With the recalibration, the DoH, local government units (LGUs) and other healthcare facilities can now project the estimated number of COVID-19 cases in specific areas for a specific period.
“In development since 2016, FASSSTER is a product of rigorous studies based on credible and updated data. Long before COVID19, this tool was already used in the surveillance of Dengue, Measles, and Typhoid,” said DOST-PCHRD Executive Director Dr. Jaime C. Montoya
From 2016 to 2019, FASSSTER was deployed in 17 Rural Health Units (RHUs) across the country to visualize disease models and generate syndromic surveillance reports during public health crises.
Specifically, FASSSTER connects syndromic surveillance and event surveillance from the field to electronic medical records, and uses health information to update initial disease models to provide a visualization tool for evidence-based and data driven decision making.
FASSSTER and its recalibration for COVID-19 has been made possible through the efforts of several teams in ADMU : the Data Science and Computational Modelling Team, Mathematical Modelling Team, Data Management Team, Data Warehouse Team, Systems Development Team, and the Public Health Team, each of which is heded by the following notable professors and scientists:
Dr. Maria Regina E. Estuar, Team Leader for FASSSTER and the Data Science and Computational Modelling Team. A professor at the Department of Information Systems and Computer Science at ADMU.she also serves as Executive Director of the Ateneo Center for Computing Competency and Research (ACCCRE) and is the founder of the Ateneo Social Computing Science Laboratory. In 2019, she was cited as one of the Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service Award for Science and Technology from TOWNS for her significant contributions in strengthening the country’s S&T capacity.
Dr. Elvira de Lara-Tuprio, an expert in disease modeling through differential equations and financial mathematics, with focus on financial derivatives and risk management. Besides heading FASSSTER’s Mathematical Modelling Team, she is an Associate Professor ADMU’s Mathematics Department.
Dr. Marlene M. De Leon, Team Leader, FASSSTER Data Management Team, is is an Associate Professor of the ADMU Department of Information Systems and Computer Science and manages the university’s Quality Assurance of Data and Information at the University.
Dr. Raymond Francis R. Sarmiento, Team Leader, FASSSTERData Warehouse Team Currently, is the Director of the National Telehealth Center of the UP National Institutes of Health (UPNIH). He is a DOST Balik Scientist who specializes in clinical and public health informatics and health data science, among others. In 2019, he was recognized as an Outstanding Young Scientist in public health informatics by the National Academy of Science and Technology.
Mr. Christian Pulmano, Team Leader, FASSSTERSystems Development Team, works full-time with the ADMU Dept. of Information Systems & Computer Science. He also heads the Ateneo Block Chain Laboratory (formerly AMBERLab) which received the Recognition of Excellence Award by OpenGov Asia in 2019. He is co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of BluEHR, a spin-off product from ACCCRe.
Dr. Norbie Mendoza, Team Leader, Epidemiology and Public Health Team, he specializes in the field of health and medical informatics.
The development of FASSSTER is part of the DOST-PCHRD’s projects under the Information and Communications Technology in Health priority area which aims to advance the country’s telehealth services and systems and public health surveillance, among others.
The recalibration of FASSSTER was undertaken in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Manila – National Telehealth Center (UP-NTHC), the Department of Health-Epidemiology Bureau and the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD).
Committed to making lives better for the Filipino, DOST-PCHRD supports the development of health and health-related research projects outlined by the DOST’s Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA) and the National Unified Health Research and Development Agenda (NUHRA). (PCHRD S&T Media Service)
Mr. Christian Pulmano
Dr Norbie Mendoza
