ASM Leads Joint Letter Supporting Advanced Molecular Detection Program Funding
Ms. Shalanda Young
Director
Office of Management and Budget
Executive Office of the President
Washington, D.C. 20503
Dear Director Young:
The undersigned organizations, representing a broad range of scientific, public health and clinical professionals, thank you for your past support for the Advanced Molecular Detection (AMD) program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As you consider options for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), it is essential that remaining COVID-19 relief funds be protected from rescission under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and subsequent budget agreements. Additionally, as you prepare the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) budget, we urge you to provide $175 million for the program.
The AMD program brings cutting-edge genomic sequencing technology to the front lines of public health by harnessing the power of next-generation sequencing and high-performance computing with bioinformatics and epidemiology expertise to study pathogens. The program has played an indispensable role by leading genomic surveillance efforts and sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 samples, especially aimed at getting in front of emerging variants. Congress saw a special need in investing transformational funding for the AMD program during the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding genomic sequencing, launching centers of excellence in genetic epidemiology and building and supporting a national bioinformatics infrastructure over multiple years.
Funding and support for genomic surveillance and sequencing is an important investment that not only assisted in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, but also continues to foster important collaborations among the public health, academic research and private sector scientific communities to ensure the U.S. stays ahead of the next potential deadly disease. The American Rescue Plan Act recognized the importance of genomic sequencing, investing $1.75 billion for AMD, which allowed for the establishment of the Pathogen Genomics Centers of Excellence (PGCoE) network. The network represents an unprecedented opportunity to expand and deepen collaboration between U.S. public health agencies and academic institutions to form a national resource to better prevent, control and respond to microbial threats of public health importance. Failing to invest in the PGCoE network—whether a result of the FY24 budget process or in FY25—would undermine efforts to track outbreaks of new and emerging infectious diseases, address antimicrobial resistance and foodborne illnesses, as well as develop new vaccines and diagnostics.
In a time of great uncertainty, we must be proactive in investing in resources that will help us be better prepared for the next public health threat. Protecting and enhancing the network of state public health departments and universities performing the research will increase understanding and detection of pathogens, as well as training the public health workforce in pathogen genomics. Robust funding for the CDC AMD program will ensure that this important work can continue now and into the future for the betterment of public health. We thank you for your consideration of our request. If you have any questions, contact Nick Cox at the American Society for °®¶¹´«Ã½ at ncox@asmusa.org.
Sincerely,
AdvaMedDx
American Institute of Biological Sciences
American Medical Technologists
American Society for Clinical Pathology
American Society for °®¶¹´«Ã½
American Society for Virology
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Association for Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Association of Public Health Laboratories
Biophysical Society
Clear Labs
Helix
Institute for Progress
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
Director
Office of Management and Budget
Executive Office of the President
Washington, D.C. 20503
Dear Director Young:
The undersigned organizations, representing a broad range of scientific, public health and clinical professionals, thank you for your past support for the Advanced Molecular Detection (AMD) program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As you consider options for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), it is essential that remaining COVID-19 relief funds be protected from rescission under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and subsequent budget agreements. Additionally, as you prepare the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) budget, we urge you to provide $175 million for the program.
The AMD program brings cutting-edge genomic sequencing technology to the front lines of public health by harnessing the power of next-generation sequencing and high-performance computing with bioinformatics and epidemiology expertise to study pathogens. The program has played an indispensable role by leading genomic surveillance efforts and sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 samples, especially aimed at getting in front of emerging variants. Congress saw a special need in investing transformational funding for the AMD program during the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding genomic sequencing, launching centers of excellence in genetic epidemiology and building and supporting a national bioinformatics infrastructure over multiple years.
Funding and support for genomic surveillance and sequencing is an important investment that not only assisted in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, but also continues to foster important collaborations among the public health, academic research and private sector scientific communities to ensure the U.S. stays ahead of the next potential deadly disease. The American Rescue Plan Act recognized the importance of genomic sequencing, investing $1.75 billion for AMD, which allowed for the establishment of the Pathogen Genomics Centers of Excellence (PGCoE) network. The network represents an unprecedented opportunity to expand and deepen collaboration between U.S. public health agencies and academic institutions to form a national resource to better prevent, control and respond to microbial threats of public health importance. Failing to invest in the PGCoE network—whether a result of the FY24 budget process or in FY25—would undermine efforts to track outbreaks of new and emerging infectious diseases, address antimicrobial resistance and foodborne illnesses, as well as develop new vaccines and diagnostics.
In a time of great uncertainty, we must be proactive in investing in resources that will help us be better prepared for the next public health threat. Protecting and enhancing the network of state public health departments and universities performing the research will increase understanding and detection of pathogens, as well as training the public health workforce in pathogen genomics. Robust funding for the CDC AMD program will ensure that this important work can continue now and into the future for the betterment of public health. We thank you for your consideration of our request. If you have any questions, contact Nick Cox at the American Society for °®¶¹´«Ã½ at ncox@asmusa.org.
Sincerely,
AdvaMedDx
American Institute of Biological Sciences
American Medical Technologists
American Society for Clinical Pathology
American Society for °®¶¹´«Ã½
American Society for Virology
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Association for Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Association of Public Health Laboratories
Biophysical Society
Clear Labs
Helix
Institute for Progress
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
