Pathogen Genomics Center of Excellence

VCU Center for Microbiome Engineering and Data Analysis investigators have been selected in a national initiative to establish Pathogen Genomics Centers of Excellence across the country. The $90 million project, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, aims to develop and improve genomic innovations for preventing, controlling and responding to infectious disease threats. VCU has partnered with the Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services and the University of Virginia in one of the five national centers of excellence. The other successful applicants include Massachusetts, Minnesota, Georgia and Washington.

VCU’s efforts will focus on translating technology developed under the umbrella of funding provided for SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing to other relevant pathogens. Our initial target is hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV has been responsible for several recent food-borne outbreaks in Virginia and other states and is a public health priority for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). VCU is applying the Pathogenic Virus Amplification and Sequencing Protocol (PVASP) that they have developed to sequence the genomes of SARS- CoV-2 to the analysis of HAV isolates. This technology is being optimized and validated for potential rapid application to new and previously unknown pandemic threats such as that originally posed by SARS-CoV-2. In
subsequent years of the 5 year grant tenure, VCU will apply technology developed and honed on SARS-CoV-2 and HAV to additional pathogens identified as public health risks by CDC.

Team members