The determination of the genome sequence of infectious pathogens using modern sequencing technologies has great potential for clinical diagnostics and the real-time detection and monitoring of epidemics. The PREPMEDVET project utilizes the latest generation of gene sequencing methods, which can provide genome information very quickly and flexibly, revealing chains of infection and predicting pathogen characteristics. Especially in the case of viral pathogens, genome information is the basis for determining and tracking mutations. On this knowledge, suitable countermeasures can be initiated and further infections prevented. The aim is to use these methods to prevent pandemics before they even begin. The system will then be tested in practice using pilot studies with outbreaks such as Covid-19, bird flu and African swine fever. Standard protocols will be defined for the flexible and mobile sequencing methods and methods for handling hazardous sample material will be developed. The project aims to help recognize outbreaks of infectious diseases at an early stage, identify the causes and establish links between individual outbreaks. 

The project brings together international partners from human and animal health in a One Health approach and integrates end users from the field.

The PREPMEDVET project is funded by the BMBF within the framework programme "Civil Security - Prevention and Rapid Response to Biological Threats".