The Wadsworth Center Biodefense Laboratory has been awarded $125,000 to develop, optimize, and validate threat-agnostic sequencing workflows for the rapid detection of pathogens in respiratory and other specimens.
This project represents a critical step in strengthening New York State’s laboratory readiness and capacity to respond to infectious disease threats. The initiative will integrate metagenomic and targeted sequencing methods with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Basestack software, including its TaxTriage module.
Together, these tools will enable a single assay screening approach for a wide range of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and designated biological threat agents. Datasets generated through internal performance evaluations and multi-center collaborative studies will inform improvements to both bioinformatics workflows and practical laboratory processes.
The outcomes will strengthen diagnostic agility and enhance statewide preparedness for emerging and re-emerging public health threats. This project is funded through the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and will run from September 26, 2025, through June 30, 2026.