The Integrated Research and Development Laboratory at Marshfield Clinic Research Institute has received a $22.5 million grant to serve as the sole central reference lab in the nation to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on several COVID-19 studies across the country for the next year. In collaboration with multiple research partners, CDC is conducting studies to monitor the incidence of symptomatic COVID-19 and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection throughout the U.S.
During winter months, CDC expects both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses to co-circulate the U.S.
The Laboratory will focus on three objectives for this award:
- Establishing an effective means of assessing SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus infections in the context of prospective cohort studies.
- Designing effective specimen processing and molecular testing procedures that are adapted to the needs of CDC’s cohorts.
- Full implementation and refinement of high throughput molecular diagnostics.
