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Wastewater testing. Credit: Mike Wren/NYS DOH

New York State's Wastewater Surveillance System Named 'Center of Excellence' by CDC _[2]

The State Health Department's Wastewater Surveillance Program is integral to advanced COVID-19 tracking and nation-leading polio detection efforts. The program is now testing for Influenza, RSV, Hepatitis A, Norovirus and antimicrobial-resistant genes.Read the New York State Department of Health's press release.

Nuclear Chemistry Laboratory - Environmental Research at the Wadsworth Center _[5]

On July 15, 2025, Wadsworth Center’s Nuclear Chemistry Laboratory (NCL), within the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, onboarded their third Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) fellow in the past three years.

Podcast Feature: Decoding a Legionnaires’ Outbreak in New York City with Wadsworth Scientist Dr. Kimberlee Musser _[8]

A new episode of the Inspired to Heal podcast, hosted by Dr. William (Bill) Trick – retired in 2024 after a distinguished career as a clinician, researcher, and CDC epidemiologist – features Wadsworth Center’s Dr. Kimberlee Musser alongside Dr. Don Weiss of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Positive Outcomes from the Wadsworth Center Visiting Scholar Program _[11]

The Wadsworth Center’s Visiting Scholar Program continues to demonstrate strong international impact and scientific value. Two visiting scientists from Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand, who completed their year-long training earlier this year, have provided highly positive reports of their experience in the laboratories of the Wadsworth Center.

The Wadsworth Center Advises the U.S. Navy Core Genomics Laboratory on Forward-Deployed Pathogen-Agnostic Threat Detection _[14]

The Navy Force Health Protection Command (FHPC) is establishing a new Core Genomics Laboratory in Florida to enhance pathogen detection and genomic surveillance capabilities for forward-deployed military and public health operations. The Navy laboratory’s mission will be to support Navy Medicine and global Force Health Protection through advanced molecular diagnostics, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and bioinformatics-based threat analysis.

Wadsworth Center Certified to Regulate EPA Drinking Water Safety Testing _[17]

The Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) within the Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, has regulatory oversight of laboratories testing environmental samples collected in New York State. These laboratories analyze for a wide range of contaminants, including mercury, lead, PCBs, and “forever chemicals” (PFAS). As part of its mandate, ELAP conducts on-site inspections to ensure laboratory compliance.

Wadsworth Center Contributes to National Guidance on Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) Diagnosis _[20]

In the September 2025 issue of Clinical Microbiology Newsletter, a new three-part collaborative series, “Laboratory Diagnosis of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria,” was published with Wadsworth Center’s Dr. Kimberlee Musser as a coauthor. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly recognized as significant pathogens responsible for lung and other infections, particularly among individuals with underlying lung disease or weakened immune systems. NTM are frequently associated with nosocomial outbreaks, often traced to contaminated water sources.

Wadsworth Center Receives New Funding for Whooping Cough Vaccine Development _[23]

Whooping cough, caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, is experiencing a global resurgence, with recent outbreaks reported in several regions of the United States. Dr. Nicholas Mantis of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Wadsworth Center has received two new research awards supporting the development of improved whole-cell pertussis (wP) vaccines.

Wadsworth Center Scientist Presents at Ribo25 Symposium _[26]

Dr. Rajendra Agrawal of the Wadsworth Center was invited to speak at the Ribo25 Symposium (September 18–19, 2025) at the Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology (MRC-LMB), marking 25 years since the atomic structure of a bacterial ribosome subunit was solved – a discovery recognized with the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Dr. Agrawal’s presentation, “The mammalian mitochondrial ribosomes: From first glimpses to current insights,” highlighted the Wadsworth Center’s pioneering work in mammalian (human) mitochondrial ribosome research.

Wadsworth Center’s Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) Engages in National Standards Development _[29]

The Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) within the Wadsworth Center provides regulatory oversight of laboratories that test environmental samples collected in New York State. These laboratories monitor for toxins, harmful microorganisms, carcinogens, and other hazardous substances.

Wadsworth Center’s Newborn Screening Program Contributes to Educational Event at the University at Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences _[32]

On November 14, 2025, representatives from the Wadsworth Center’s Newborn Screening Program joined faculty, a clinician, and students at the University at Albany’s College of Integrated Health Sciences (CIHS) for the College’s first interprofessional education (IPE) event. The session, titled “Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Newborn Screening,” brought together over 50 students from public health, nursing, and social welfare programs to explore how different professions collaborate to support newborn screening and follow-up care.