Deadline: 13-Jan-22
The Global Grant Challenges has launched “Metagenomic Next Generation Sequencing to Detect, Identify, and Characterize Pathogens” grant program.
The Challenges
This Grand Challenges (GC) award will support travel and accommodation of grantees to San Francisco for training at the CZ Biohub, and the following items:
- a sequencer suitable for the global health environment,
- a dedicated sequencing technician, and
- sequencing reagents for the duration of the award.
Examples of insights could include:
- Investigating infectious etiologies for unknown medical cases
- Identification of new pathogens
- Detection of local outbreaks
- Characterization of the local pathogen landscape, including vector-borne diseases
- Assessment of emerging zoonotic disease, including wildlife and domestic animal reservoir sampling
- Detection and classification of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Markers, with potential for insight into antibiotic treatment discordance
- Data-informed healthcare and resource allocation
- Subsequent follow-up leveraging genomic epidemiology for public health, incorporating local epidemiological data and genomic analysis
- We are specifically looking for sites that believe in collaborative approaches and data sharing. Grantees will be expected to partner closely with scientists and engineers and provide feedback to help guide the cloud computing software’s development.
- Sites will also be expected to share data and collaborate with other labs in the network.
Funding Information
- Up to USD $200,000 for each project, with a grant term of up to 24 months depending on the scope of the project.
They will consider sites that:
- Provide a clearly scoped initial project that demonstrates why this technology will provide insights that are not currently possible.
- Have space and capacity to run samples on a basic sequencer once provided with training, reagents, sequencer, and a dedicated computer. Have consistent access to electricity and the ability to upload data via the internet to a designated cloud server at least once a day.
- Are willing to give product feedback and collaborate with an engineering team through scheduled video calls, email, or other messaging service. Are committed to open science, preprints, and data sharing.
- Already have, or can rapidly acquire, necessary IRB approval for pathogen DNA and RNA sequence sharing from patients.
Are representative of larger geographic regions.
For more information, visit https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/challenge/metagenomic-next-generation-sequencing-detect-identify-and-characterize-pathogens