The article examines the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), a pioneering initiative aimed at promoting the international sharing of influenza virus data. The rapid spread of lethal infectious diseases poses a global challenge, and the timely sharing of virus data is crucial for assessing risks, developing medical countermeasures, and coordinating responses. However, recent outbreaks highlight several challenges to data sharing, including concerns about scientific recognition, economic repercussions, and intellectual property rights. GISAID addresses these challenges through a carefully designed data access agreement that provides protections and assurances to data contributors. This agreement ensures that data remains the property of its contributors while allowing for its use in research and development of medical interventions. The initiative has successfully collated the world's most comprehensive repository of influenza data, facilitated rapid sharing during outbreaks, supported the WHO's vaccine strain selection process, developed conflict resolution mechanisms, and built trust with key countries for pandemic preparedness. GISAID's innovative approach has been instrumental in advancing global health and may serve as a model for managing other diseases and global challenges requiring sensitive data sharing.The article examines the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), a pioneering initiative aimed at promoting the international sharing of influenza virus data. The rapid spread of lethal infectious diseases poses a global challenge, and the timely sharing of virus data is crucial for assessing risks, developing medical countermeasures, and coordinating responses. However, recent outbreaks highlight several challenges to data sharing, including concerns about scientific recognition, economic repercussions, and intellectual property rights. GISAID addresses these challenges through a carefully designed data access agreement that provides protections and assurances to data contributors. This agreement ensures that data remains the property of its contributors while allowing for its use in research and development of medical interventions. The initiative has successfully collated the world's most comprehensive repository of influenza data, facilitated rapid sharing during outbreaks, supported the WHO's vaccine strain selection process, developed conflict resolution mechanisms, and built trust with key countries for pandemic preparedness. GISAID's innovative approach has been instrumental in advancing global health and may serve as a model for managing other diseases and global challenges requiring sensitive data sharing.