Arizona State University Launches Evidence Commons, the Only Comprehensive Repository of COVID-19 Tests and Testing Practices Publications

Evidence Commons streamlines diagnostics related research with more than 3,000 publicly available COVID-19 testing publications to spur scientific collaboration and improve pandemic preparedness

PHOENIX, Sept. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arizona State University (ASU) College of Health Solutions with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, has launched Evidence Commons, the first and only comprehensive repository of published COVID-19 research focused on diagnostic tests and testing practices. With more than 3,000 published papers, Evidence Commons provides access to the diagnostic-related research critical to enhanced scientific collaboration and pandemic mitigation and prevention. Evidence Commons was developed as part of the ASU COVID-19 Diagnostics Commons, a comprehensive educational website focused on COVID-related testing information. 

Testing remains a critical tool in the fight to end the pandemic, but research on the use and efficacy of tests and testing protocols has remained hard to locate and access. Now, for the first time, anyone interested in data about COVID-19 tests can easily access thousands of publications on tests and testing protocols all in one place. The Evidence Commons dashboard makes tests searchable using criteria such as test technology, sample type, test location, and study population. This robust filtering capability offers an ideal tool for researchers, scientists, government and corporate decision makers, and reporters to easily and quickly identify testing studies that meet specific criteria. Evidence Commons also provides a link to the source publications and is updated weekly.      

"Testing has been essential throughout the pandemic, yet research on test technologies is hard to find and access. The Rockefeller Foundation's grant to ASU to establish Evidence Commons will increase the visibility of science based published research on COVID-19 tests. Broad access to this data will foster increased collaboration within and between the academic and diagnostics industry communities which is critical for innovation and future pandemic preparedness," said Andrew Sweet, Vice President, Global Covid-19 Response and Recovery at The Rockefeller Foundation.

"COVID-19 tests have often been misunderstood, misinterpreted, and under-appreciated as a critical tool to fight the spread of this virus. Evidence Commons creates easy, single-site access to a comprehensive and interactive database of hundreds of testing related publications in an organized way," said Mara Aspinall, professor of practice in the College of Health Solutions at ASU and co-founder of the Biomedical Diagnostics program within the College.

Evidence Commons is the latest effort by the ASU College of Health Solutions to make critical testing and diagnostic data and research available to the public. Prior to the development of Evidence Commons, ASU, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation and RADx-UP, launched Testing Commons in July 2020, which offers a searchable repository of all COVID-19 tests in the market and in development, organized by test type, technology, regulatory status, country of origin, and more. Then, in November 2020, ASU and World Economic Forum, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, launched Workplace Commons. Workplace Commons made available results from a series of anonymized, geographically diverse surveys designed to help employers understand employee attitudes around return-to-work policies during the COVID-19 crisis. The Evidence Commons, Workplace Commons, and Testing Commons suite of resources can all be accessed via the ASU College of Health Solutions Diagnostics Commons website.

For more information on Evidence Commons visit www.evidencecommons.com.

About ASU's College of Health Solutions
The College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University is dedicated to translating scientific health research and discovery into practical interventions. Its programs prepare students to address the challenges facing our populations to stay healthy, improve their health and manage chronic disease — all toward improving health outcomes. Programs are offered in behavioral health, biomedical informatics and biomedical diagnostics, kinesiology and exercise science, health care delivery, nutrition, population health, and speech and hearing science. The College's online master of science in biomedical diagnostics degree is designed to address the role of diagnostics in clinical decision making. Graduates are prepared to make an impact in the health workforce and shift the focus of health from sickness to wellness, addressing the factors that enable populations to be and stay healthy.

About The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We work throughout the world to promote the well-being of humanity and make opportunity universal and sustainable. Our focus is on scaling renewable energy for all, stimulating economic mobility, and ensuring equitable access to health care and nutritious food. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on Twitter @RockefellerFdn.

SOURCE The Rockefeller Foundation