Overview
Funded by the Australian Government Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Pathogen Genomics Flagship, the Metagenomics Platform (Meta-GP) program is a collaboration between Australia’s leading researchers in pathogen genomics and clinical infectious diseases.
This metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) study is a transformative approach in accredited microbial diagnostics and patient care because it can be used to detect and characterise all known pathogens - bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic - in one single test.
At the conclusion of the Meta-GP program, Australia will have a nationally accessible network of laboratories that can apply metagenomic approaches in patient care to rapidly detect, prevent, and respond to infectious threats, including antimicrobial resistance.
The Meta-GP project aligns with the National Microbial Genomics Framework 2019-2022 strategic priorities and principles by delivering the following objectives:
the ability to rapidly identify the cause of any infectious disease within a clinically actionable timeframe and hence transform individual patient care
a clear understanding of the range of microbial pathogens that impose a major disease burden in Australia
ensure public health surveillance can occur in the face of culture independent diagnostic tests