# Advancing genomic, transcriptomic and functional approaches to combat globally important and emerging pathogens

> **NIH NIH U19** · BROAD INSTITUTE, INC. · 2024 · $12,121,843

## Abstract

Infectious diseases remain an important global threat despite the continuing invention of drugs, vaccines, and
other effective interventions. Two principal factors drive this continued threat: 1) efficacious interventions are
nearly always met with rapid evolutionary responses on the part of pathogens and disease-transmitting
vectors, reducing their potency over time, and 2) the threat of infectious diseases is dynamic and exacerbated
by the growing and increasingly connected human population, as evidenced by disruptive outbreaks,
epidemics and pandemics in recent years driven by Zika, Ebola, Candida auris, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria
and, of course, SARS-CoV-2.
 Genomics, transcriptomics, and associated scientific tools for investigating pathogens in precise detail
and at tremendous scale offer new means to combat existing and emerging infectious diseases. Our GCID
combines deeply experienced Management, Administrative, and Technology and Data teams, with scientists
who have exceptional records in microbial genomics, to apply innovative approaches to crucial problems in
infectious disease research. Our four Research Projects, devoted to viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic
diseases, and vectors responsible for their transmission, will target high priority pathogens and
pathogen-host-vector systems with a major impact on the global burden of disease. To maximize synergy
between Projects, our research aims were developed with a common conceptual framework and shared
approaches, and leverage working relationships that have been developed through years of close collaboration
and scientific dialogue within our center and with the wider community of infectious disease research and
public health officials. Using those shared concepts and approaches, supported by our Cores, our GCID will
pursue three broad, long-range objectives across our four Projects:
Specific Aim 1: Identify and profile novel threats and therapeutic targets. We hypothesize that selectively
applying genomic methods to gather and prioritize information will accelerate counter measures against the
emergence of resistance to existing therapeutics and effective responses to new disease emergencies and
spillover events.
Specific Aim 2: Inform clinical treatments for the benefit of patients and populations. We hypothesize
that genomic and transcriptomic data will improve disease treatment by more rapidly and precisely defining the
basis of resistance and virulence.
Specific Aim 3: Drive precision public health surveillance and responses to disease emergence. We
hypothesize that genomic analyses will improve our responses to infectious threats to support public health.
Impact: We will develop innovative genomic approaches and datasets to address critical gaps in knowledge
and capacity across diverse infectious diseases, and disseminate data and tools to the wider community.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10853968
- **Project number:** 2U19AI110818-11
- **Recipient organization:** BROAD INSTITUTE, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Bruce W. BIRREN
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $12,121,843
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2014-04-10 → 2027-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10853968

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10853968, Advancing genomic, transcriptomic and functional approaches to combat globally important and emerging pathogens (2U19AI110818-11). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10853968. Licensed CC0.

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