December 30, 2025
Genomics gives us the power to detect biological threats before they escalate. Whether it’s a virus in wastewater, a foodborne pathogen in shellfish or the early genetic signals of disease in wildlife, these tools are transforming how we monitor risk across health, environment and agriculture. In BC, genomic surveillance is now being used to track antimicrobial resistance in hospitals, identify norovirus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oysters and monitor the presence of zoonotic viruses like H5N1 in wetland sediment.
But early warning only matters if we can act on it. Genome BC has built the internal agility to do exactly this. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we approved funding for viral sequencing at BCCDC within days. Just weeks later, we launched a rapid response program that funded 13 projects focused on real-time diagnostics, Personal Protective Equipment safety and outbreak management. Similar approaches have since supported urgent pilot studies on wildfire smoke and respiratory health, Chronic Wasting Disease and avian influenza.
BC’s advantage lies not just in the power of its science but in its ability to move quickly, collaboratively and with purpose. With genomics, we’re not just responding to problems — we’re anticipating them.
