National Reference Centre for Whole Genome Sequencing of microbial pathogens: database and bioinformatic analysis
By Ministerial Decree of 30 May 2017, the Ministry of Health established the National Reference Center for Whole Genome Sequencing of microbial pathogens: database and bioinformatic analysis (GENPAT) at the headquarters of the Istituto Zooprofilattico of Abruzzo and Molise.
The CRN GENPAT is responsible for the following functions:
-
Developing a national platform for the collection and storage of genomic sequences of pathogenic microorganisms, as well as for conducting bioinformatics analyses, archiving, and sharing results.
-
Establishing a structured and permanent network of contact persons within each Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale, to coordinate activities across the national territory.
-
Providing technical and scientific support to the Ministry of Health and to the competent authorities.
-
Organising training courses within its area of expertise for personnel of the National Health Service and other professionals from relevant bodies.
-
Promoting research activities within its field of competence.
-
Undertaking any other relevant activities within its remit, including collaboration and coordination with other administrations and institutions in the sector.
- + - Our Research
-
- + - Head
-
Cesare Cammà
Head
He graduated in Biology from the University of Messina, Italy, in 1988, and later obtained a specialisation in Medical Parasitology (University of Messina) and a postgraduate diploma in Molecular Biology in Public Health from the Università Cattolica in Rome. He is the author of over 135 peer-reviewed scientific publications.
He graduated in Biology from the University of Messina, Italy, in 1988, and later obtained a specialisation in Medical Parasitology (University of Messina) and a postgraduate diploma in Molecular Biology in Public Health from the Università Cattolica in Rome. He is the author of over 135 peer-reviewed scientific publications (Scopus Author ID: 7004931667).
He has been working as a Senior Biologist since 2002 at the IZS of Sicily, and since 2003 at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise (IZSAM) in Teramo. Since 2014, he has coordinated and managed the human and technical resources of the Biotechnology Research and Development Unit. In February 2018, he was appointed Head of the Molecular Biology and Omics Technologies Unit, whose core activities include whole-genome sequencing of bacteria and viruses, and metagenomic and transcriptomic studies using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies.
Since November 2017, he has also served as Head of the National Reference Centre for Genomic Sequences of Pathogenic Microorganisms: Database and Bioinformatics Analysis (GENPAT).
He is currently Principal Investigator of several projects funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, and Task Leader in a project funded by the European Commission (EFSA). He is a member of EFSA’s Scientific Network for Zoonoses Monitoring Data – Molecular Typing Subgroup based on Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and serves on the Steering Committee of the Global Microbial Identifier (GMI) initiative.
-
