# Sequencing Analysis and Resource Dissemination core

> **NIH NIH U19** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $3,222,411

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The Baylor College of Medicine Genomic Center for Infectious Diseases (GCID) proposal seeks to provide a
comprehensive, large scale genomics program for NIAID with the goal of enhancing our understanding of host
and microbiome interactions related to infectious disease genomics. In this TMC-GCID renewal proposal, the
Sequencing Analysis and Resource Dissemination (SARD) Core will deliver most cost effective and efficient
ways to generate high quality metagenomic and transcriptomic data, and genome assemblies for the four TMC-
GCID research projects: Bacteria, Virus, Fungi, and Parasite. The SARD Core brings together sequencing and
analytical expertise in human genetics and large-scale genomics from the Human Genome Sequencing Center
(HGSC) with microbial, viral, and metagenomics experience from the Alkek Center for Metagenomics and
Microbiome Research (CMMR). Large heterogeneous datasets will be generated, evaluated, and characterized
using new and proven sequencing and analytical methods to further our understanding of how polymorphisms
(host or microbe) contribute to mechanisms of pathogenesis. Advances in high-throughput next generation
sequencing (NGS) such as the development of viral capture enrichment pipelines, host RNA-Seq have facilitated
studies of the microbiome and host susceptibility genetics. Advances in long-read sequencing contribute to
higher quality full-length parasite and bacterial genome assemblies; the bacterial reference genome datasets
have facilitated establishment of competitive infection studies (SUMMIT) among closely related strains. New
approaches, such as single cell RNA sequencing, have enabled a more discrete examination of the cellular
response to infection and the transduction of signals from an infected cell to adjacent cells. In the current
proposal, we will continue to advance the existing NGS applications, while also leveraging new sequencing
technologies such as PacBio Revio to deliver long read assemblies at lower cost, support MAS-ISO-seq to
deliver full-length transcripts and isoforms. The Oxford Nanopore (ONT) platform will enable novel sequencing
applications for low biomass samples (e.g. ONT Adaptive sampling). While new sequencing platforms (e.g.
Element AVITI) or new methodology, e.g. MERFISH for single cell spatial transcriptomics and the antibody-
based Olink platform for targeted protein profiling, will be evaluated for their use across our research projects.
Multiple cost reduction strategies are also proposed. The SARD Core will be responsible for supporting the
program by managing sample tracking via LIMS, data management, data analysis and data dissemination and
focus on bioinformatic tool developments that seek to optimize existing protocols, as well as create new
workflows in response to new sequencing technologies and molecular techniques. All resulting data and tools
will be made available to the wider GCID and NIAID scientific community.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10855862
- **Project number:** 2U19AI144297-06
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Donna Muzny
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $3,222,411
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2019-04-15 → 2027-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10855862

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10855862, Sequencing Analysis and Resource Dissemination core (2U19AI144297-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10855862. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*