Admin Core Since 2016, North Carolina State University (NCSU) has helped expand the GenomeTrakr program on a national and global scale to target some of the leading causes of foodborne illnesses worldwide. As well as performing advanced molecular techniques and data analysis, the investigators have also provided state-of-the-art training for students and professionals worldwide. To date, NCSU GenomeTrakr laboratories have generated 3,328 WGS profiles of bacterial pathogens isolated from multiple sources. This includes WGS profiles of 1,127 bacterial isolates from 9 countries outside the US over the last three years. They have also trained 23 students and professionals from 10 countries, which has led to 11 original publications of GenomeTrakr program data in peer-reviewed journals coauthored by the investigators and their US and international trainees. The major objective of the Administrative Core is to ensure all activities are completed according to the proposed approach in a coordinated, efficient manner. Accordingly, the specific aims are as follows.
Aim 1 : Provide leadership to complete the proposed aims in collaboration with national and international institutions. The investigators will provide strong leadership to ensure effective administration and fiscal management. Strong leadership will also help foster new and existing interactions between the members of this global network, which in turn will extend the GenomeTrakr database of WGS profiles and accompanying metadata by incorporating isolates and DNA received from national and international collaborators. The investigators have experience in working on extramural funded projects, meeting project deadlines, and providing progress reports to funding agencies.
Aim 2 : Provide a framework to educate and equip the future surveillance workforce with the knowledge and skills needed for WGS analysis. The Department of Population Health and Pathobiology at the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, where the investigating laboratories are located, is a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for AMR and One Health. Under this status, the department performs a variety of activities to advance global foodborne pathogen and AMR surveillance, from capacity building to strengthen integrated surveillance of drug resistance in foodborne bacteria, to providing technical support such as global data sharing and knowledge dissemination among WHO member states. The investigators will leverage their extensive leadership experience in surveillance protocols, advanced molecular techniques and data analysis, and their status as a WHO Collaborating Center for AMR and One Health to build capacity in the US and globally through world-class training for students and professionals. Expected Outcomes: The investigators are committed to fulfilling the GenomeTrakr mission and expanding standardized surveillance systems across the globe. Through new and existing partnerships and building capacity in national and international locations, this work will help public health agencies track the emergence of new strains, curb the distribution of foodborne pathogens and reduce the burden of foodborne illnesses in the US and globally.
