The Fiocruz Genomics Network brings together experts from all units of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) in Brazil and from partner institutes who are working daily to generate more robust data on the behavior of SARS-CoV-2 by decoding the viral genome. Thus, it is possible to follow the lineages and genetic mutations of the novel coronavirus and contribute to better prepare the country to face the pandemic in terms of more accurate diagnosis and effective vaccines.
The group, which includes the National Reference Laboratory for respiratory viruses at the Ministry of Health and the Reference Laboratory for the World Health Organization in Covid-19 in the Americas, participates in the global open access information initiative on genomes of influenza viruses and coronaviruses, GISAID, being one of the curator groups of the initiative in South America.
The Network provides training and technical support in sequencing and data generation to technicians and experts from institutions all over the country and South America in cooperation with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).