Pango Network

Committee Structure

The Pango Nomenclature is run by two committees, the Pango Committee (PC) and the Lineage Designation Committee (LDC).

The Pango Committee (PC)

The functions of the Pango Committee are to:

  • Maintain, uphold, and amend the rules of the Pango nomenclature system.
  • Consider suggested rule changes, from the LDC or elsewhere. Ratify or reject rule changes and explain those decisions.
  • Publish the Pango system rules and rule changes.
  • Publish the unreserved minutes of PC meetings.
  • Consider lineage designations proposed by the LDC and evaluate whether they are consistent with the rules of the Pango system.
  • Consider and publish the lineage designations.
  • Receive enquiries about the the Pango system. Technical questions may be passed to the LDC.
  • Provide resources to explain how the system works.

The Lineage Designation Committee (LDC)

The functions of the Lineage Designation Committee are to:

  • Analyse available SARS-CoV-2 genome data and develop lineage designations according to the rules of the Pango nomenclature system.
  • Communicate proposed designations to the PC.
  • Consider requests for new lineages or other changes (currently via GitHub issue requests).
  • Propose new rules or rule changes to the PC as appropriate.
  • Maintain computational tools for the classification of new genome sequences.
  • Respond to requests for information from the PC.

Observer Members

In addition, non-voting observer members may join the committees in order to keep key members of the genomic epidemiology community aware of Pango developments, ensure a communication channel between Pango and other stakeholders, and enable the Pango Committee to benefit from advice, opinions and experience of observer members.