Identify Unknowns with Long-Read Bioinformatics for Vet Diagnostic Labs
Official title: Identify the Unknown: A Long Read Bioinformatics Exercise for Vet LIRN Laboratory Analysis Pipelines
Funded at University of Nebraska Lincoln · NIH-11528004 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A hands-on training program using long-read sequencing data to help veterinary diagnostic labs improve pathogen detection and outbreak response.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Lincoln NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lincoln, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $123,678 |
| NIH project number | 1U18FD008911-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11528004 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are laboratory personnel and trainees in veterinary diagnostic centers who will work with long-read sequencing data and bioinformatics analyses.
✕Less likely to help
Non-patient-facing laboratory staff or institutions not involved in veterinary diagnostics may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will create realistic, high-quality simulated long-read datasets from viral and bacterial pathogens to train Vet-LIRN laboratories in long-read bioinformatics. Trainees across laboratories will use in-house datasets generated with Oxford Nanopore sequencing to build practical skills without handling regulated materials. An iterative, multi-laboratory evaluation framework ensures the simulations are accurate and relevant for diverse levels of experience, strengthening the field's capacity for genomics-based diagnostics and antimicrobial resistance detection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Veterinary diagnostic labs could more accurately identify pathogens and resistance elements, leading to faster, more reliable outbreak responses.
How similar studies have gone: Previous training and capacity-building efforts in veterinary genomics have shown progress when hands-on, dataset-driven approaches are used, though this exact long-read, simulated-data training is a novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nebraska Lincoln
Lincoln, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Loy, Duan S — University of Nebraska Lincoln
- Study coordinator: Loy, Duan S
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.