SARS-CoV-2 variants schematic

Long description

Schematic representation of the inter-relationships between the CIHR Network for Emerging Variants Research (previously called “Network of Networks), the Variant of Concern Network (VOCN) and the healthcare, public health, and policy communities in the overall Strategy for SARS-CoV-2 variants in Canada. The VOCN, which is composed of the National Microbiology Laboratory, the provincial public health laboratories and networks and the Canadian COVID-19 Genomics Network (CanCOGeN), will work in close synergy with the CIHR Network for Emerging Variants Research. Examples of the types of networks that are anticipated to come under the umbrella of a single national network include, but are not limited to, networks focusing on in silico modelling, functional genomics, in vitro & in vivo characterization, health systems, public health & social policy impacts, and immunological & vaccine protection. The VOCN and the CIHR Network for Emerging Variants Research are expected to collaborate and share data with international genomics consortia such as GISAID, COG-UK, SPHERES, the WHO repository of variant viruses and a centralized NML-led repository of virus in order to ensure the rapid identification and characterization of biologically meaningful SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Integral to this initiative will be the close linkage to the healthcare and public health & policy communities, which in turn will contribute back into the surveillance and research efforts. The work of these networks in both the surveillance and research efforts related to SARS-CoV-2 variants will be coordinated through a Leadership Group which is yet to be fully defined.

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