Establishing genomic epidemiology hubs across Latin America

In 2020 The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) established and now coordinates the COVID-19 Genomic Surveillance Regional Network. It includes 21 collaborating countries of which 10 do not have any appropriate in-country sequencing capacity and instead send their samples externally for sequencing to the network reference laboratories in Brazil and Chile. Here we propose to build direct sequencing and analytical capacity in all participating laboratories to generate relevant genomic data that can be used for public health decision making. Where batch sequencing capacity already exists we propose to use MinIon platforms to extend the within-country capacity to investigate changing patterns of disease. Combined, this will dramatically increase our understanding of the known and new SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in this region. We will develop a hub-and-spoke organization with PAHO at the center forming the hub for coordination, training and data flow and the Network laboratories forming the spokes. Laboratories with existing genomics expertise will help build genomics surveillance capacity in those that don’t. Combining local and international expertise we aim to develop a regional network able to produce actionable SARS-CoV-2 data now with the potential to become a sustainable network able to track other diseases of regional importance in the future.