CDC https://www.cdc.gov has selected the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) https://www.mass.gov as one of five national recipients to establish a Pathogen Genomics Center of Excellence. The goal is to improve innovation and technical capacity to improve, prevent, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks.
Funding for $25 million over a 5 year period with funding will be used to establish DPH as a regional center for developing state public health laboratory genomics and then apply epidemiologic application of genomics to public health.
DPH’s partners include the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard as lead academic partners along with Boston University, Yale, Fathom Information Design, Mass General, and Theiagen Genomics.
Four other regional centers designated by the CDC are the Georgia Department of Public Health, Minnesota Department of Health, Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, and the Washington State Department of Health
The Centers of Excellence will serve as a network to:
- Perform a landscape analysis of gaps, needs, and opportunities for genomics in the US public health system
- Pilot and implement genomics technologies and applications for public health
- Educate and train health departments on the use of genomics
- Prepare for and respond to infectious disease threats
“We have learned a lot about the power of genomics, particularly the role of viral variants in disease outbreaks,” said Public Health Commissioner Margret Cooke. “This new funding and collaboration will help us build on what we’ve learned from responding to COVID-19, as well as to Zika, mumps, hepatitis A, and other infections of public health importance.”
According to Dr. Christopher R. Braden Acting Director, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, “Establishing the Pathogen Genomics Centers of Excellence, a collaboration among state health departments and educational institutions, will help ensure that public health is innovative, robust, and resilient in the future.”