The Center for Public Health Genomics is focused on the application of NextGen sequencing (NGS) on issues of public health importance. In particular, its aims are to develop methods to:

• Enhance the detection, diagnosis and tracking of bacterial, viral and fungal disease outbreaks.
• Improve the detection of drug-resistant variants and identification of new agents of disease.
• Enable the characterization and differentiation of organisms at a level not possible with existing technologies.
• Develop screening and confirmatory tests for genetic disorders of newborns that would not be possible with established methods.
• Provide the rapid monitoring and response to public health emergencies that only an on-site, dedicated facility can provide.
• Provide essential expertise for validation of consumer point-of-service genetic testing, proficiency testing and regulation of NGS laboratory testing.