Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Public health practitioners and researchers are applying high-throughput sequencing technologies to track the spread of infectious disease and its impact on human health in the field of genomic epidemiology. Combining pathogen genomics data and metagenomics data with epidemiological investigations can be used for tracking outbreaks and pathogen transmission, tracking antimicrobial resistance genes, and detecting emerging pathogens. Understanding how to handle and analyze genomic epidemiological data is of critical importance and is not a skill that is readily accessible in a traditional academic setting. The Canadian Bioinformatics Workshops (CBW) proposal herein seeks to develop and deliver a new advanced topic workshop focused on translating informatics knowledge, tools, and resources in genomic epidemiology for public health practitioners and researchers. Specifically, the proposal seeks to support trainee attendance at this critical workshop. The Infectious Disease Genomic Epidemiology workshop is an intensive 3-day, hands-on workshop designed to provide researchers with the bioinformatics skills they need to understand key concepts and use tools required to analyze genomic epidemiology data. Participants develop the skills necessary to utilize pathogen genomics and metagenomics data for pathogen surveillance and outbreak investigations; identification and analysis of antimicrobial resistance genes; and the detection of emerging pathogens. By providing a comprehensive program in the bioinformatics skills used in genomic epidemiology, the workshop will enable public health practitioners and researchers to incorporate leading edge high-throughput sequencing technologies into their research.