Projects

Building Advanced Molecular Capacity in Global Laboratories

Enhancing the capacity of global laboratories to support advanced molecular detection.

Executive Summary

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has transformed detection and surveillance of pathogens. Over the past four years, CDC’s Advanced Molecular Detection (AMD) Initiative has supported a variety of NGS projects, which have led to faster detection and increased resolution for tracking pathogens during outbreaks such as food-borne and novel coronavirus epidemics. As increased globalization gives rise to pandemics, the success demonstrated at CDC using NGS supports using this technology to strengthen laboratory capacity in international settings. In response to requests from the Vietnam Minister of Health for implementing AMD technologies, the United States and Vietnam governments released a joint statement in May affirming support for development of an advanced national reference laboratory in Vietnam. CDC is in a unique position to provide technical support for implementing AMD infrastructure. The main hurdle is to determine the most effective means of transferring AMD methodologies.

Team Members

Rachel Marine (Team Lead), CDC / NCIRD
Arunmozhi Balajeer, CDC / NCIRD
Karen Alroy, CDC / NCIRD

Milestones

August 2017: Project selected into the HHS Ignite Accelerator
September 2017: Time in Accelerator Began
December 2017: Time in Accelerator Ended