Grant: Project Grant

Infectious diseases have detrimental impacts on human health and activities globally. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of pathogens is transforming medical and public health microbiology by providing more accurate tools for infectious disease surveillance and diagnosis. When pathogens and the drug-resistant genes they carry spread, relevant diagnostic and epidemiological data need to be shared across healthcare units securely and efficiently to provide effective intervention. Unfortunately, these data are often held in institution-specific and incompatible formats, making it difficult, time-consuming and costly to exchange. We propose to develop computational tools that utilize sophisticated knowledge engine and algorithms to improve medical microbiology data integration, and the sharing of infectious disease transmission and antimicrobial resistance information within and across jurisdictions to improve health care and biomedical research.