Danish scientists find themselves at the forefront of European research once again, this time thanks to their involvement in a pan-European research project involving genome technology to fights infectious diseases.
The project aims to reduce the negative impact of infectious outbreaks on both the health and food industries through prevention and improved reaction time.
DTU sections to be granted 150 million kroner
Two DTU institutes, the DTU Food Institute and the DTU System Biology Institute, will focus on developing tools to rapidly identify microorganisms and pathogens that present highly infectious risks and their transmission patterns. The EU has granted the institutes 150 million kroner for the COMPARE project.
The project will use whole genome sequencing in order to profile the DNA of pathogenic micro-organisms all in one go.
COMPARE will not only focus on developing tools for prevention, but also on ways to improve the diagnosis, treatment, outbreak intervention and communication concerning risk factors.
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"The goal is that the platform should be used to harmonise the way scientists, authorities, doctors and organisations around the world collect samples, which generate genome sequencing data and carry out risk assessments," Frank Møller Aarestrup, a professor at the DTU Food Institute, told dtu.dk.
"This new approach to disease surveillance can revolutionise global disease control efforts."
