SARS-CoV-2 variants: detection, characterization, and impacts on outcomes

Summary: The BCCDC Public Health Laboratory is equipped with a wide range of tools to deploy in pandemic responses. Molecular, genomic, culture and serological analyses linked to exposure, vaccination and patient outcome data can inform strategies to prevent disease and control spread and transmission. Here we share data and novel methods from research projects that employed laboratory data to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Presenters: Dr. Agatha Jassem, PhD, D(ABMM), FCCM, is a Clinical Microbiologist and the Program Head of the Virology Lab at the BC Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory. She is also a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Jassem oversees diagnostic testing and her research focuses on evaluating new strategies for detecting and charactering viruses and viral exposures. Dr. Natalie Prystajecky works as a microbiologist at the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory (PHL), where she oversees two laboratories: Environmental Microbiology and the Molecular and Microbial Genomics. Dr. Prystajecky is also a Clinical Associate at the University of British Columbia. In her clinical roles and research endeavours, she uses emerging technologies such as genomics to improve routine surveillance and outbreak investigations, including for SARS-CoV-2. Dr. Hind Sbihi, PhD, B.eng, is a Senior Scientist in the Data & Analytics Services, supporting the Public Health Laboratory, at the BC Centre for Disease Control and Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health. She is leading the integration and reporting of laboratory diagnostic and genomic data with Ministry of Health and Health Authorities data for real-time reporting on COVID-19.

BC CDC Presenters

2/8/2022 8:00:00 PM