The national research network “Applied Surveillance and Testing” (B-FAST) in the National Network of University Medicine has been established as a central building block in Germany’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the ambitious goal of establishing efficient structures and processes through cross-institutional collaboration between scientists, B-FAST has significantly shaped the landscape of surveillance and testing. The focus has been on developing and testing best practices for surveillance and testing strategies in various application areas.  

Goals and visions of B-FAST 

The main objective of B-FAST was to develop a sustainable surveillance and testing strategy tailored to different application areas. This strategy should enable comprehensive knowledge of the incidence of infection in general, especially in socially critical areas such as retirement homes, clinics, schools, and daycare centers. The early detection of new diseases and sources of infection, the validation of test procedures, and the development of concepts for the detection of infectious persons in various life situations were central pillars of the project. Another focus was evaluating the IT support of some testing and surveillance concepts to improve the prediction probability of a positive test and enable rapid mapping of contact networks in the event of unexpected positive cases. 

Challenges and adaptations  

B-FAST faced the challenge of dynamically adapting its projects to the constantly changing conditions of the pandemic without deviating from its primary objectives. The response to new virus variants, in particular, required flexibility and successfully adding the molecular surveillance work package. Despite these challenges, the project succeeded in developing essential recommendations for action and making them available to the public. 

Implementation and successes 

The project brought together scientists from 26 German university medical centers and around 50 other partners from research and public health. The successful implementation of the extensive work plan was only possible thanks to a well-structured project management consisting of the steering committee, the steering group, and seven working groups. This structure effectively managed a complex network with a wide range of topics. 

B-FAST covered a wide range of activities, including the testing of test methods, the development and evaluation of surveillance tools, and the direct development, testing, and evaluation of test and surveillance strategies for critical areas. Regular working meetings and a transparent exchange enabled the project partners to react quickly to new challenges. 

A model for the future 

B-FAST has not only almost wholly achieved its objectives but has also achieved numerous socially relevant results during the project period that have found direct practical application. Establishing a sustainable network of university partners from various disciplines enabled a multidisciplinary approach, crucial for coping with current and future pandemics. Close collaboration with the Robert Koch Institute, the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research in Braunschweig, the Max Planck Society, and local health authorities was crucial in successfully implementing testing and surveillance concepts.  

B-FAST is thus exemplary of a successful, future-oriented strategy that was not only geared towards coping with the current pandemic but also laid essential foundations for pandemic prevention and control in the future. With its work, the project has made a decisive contribution to strengthening the resilience of the German healthcare system in the face of pandemic threats. 

B-FAST serves as an essential foundation on which projects PREPARED (»Pandemic Preparedness«) in the University Medicine Network and RISK PRINCIPE (»Risk prediction for infection control and treatment in hospitals«) in the Medical Informatics Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research are built.