Modernizing sequencing capacity at a veterinary diagnostic lab to help One Health and antimicrobial stewardship
Official title: Modernizing and Expanding Sequencing Capacity: MiSeq i100 Upgrade and Library Prep Optimization at the NDSU VDL
Funded at North Dakota State University · NIH-11527612 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A veterinary diagnostic lab at North Dakota State University is upgrading its sequencing equipment to speed up and lower the cost of analyzing animal health samples, supporting One Health and antimicrobial stewardship efforts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Dakota State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fargo, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $58,000 |
| NIH project number | 1U18FD008913-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11527612 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not directly applicable to individual patients; the project supports improved diagnostic capacity at a veterinary lab serving animals and public health.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefits are not expected; the impact is through improved One Health surveillance and lab capabilities.
What this research studies
This project will replace older sequencing platforms with a MiSeq i100, enabling faster, cheaper, and more user-friendly next-generation sequencing at the NDSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The upgrade aims to improve interlaboratory comparisons, share workflows, and broaden access to high-quality sequencing for One Health-related samples. The work includes implementing the Illumina DNA PCR-Free library prep workflow to streamline library preparation and reduce hands-on time. The effort is designed to enhance capacity for timely analysis of pathogens and antimicrobial stewardship concerns relevant to animal and human health. Participation will involve laboratory personnel and may involve analysis of diagnostic samples consistent with standard lab operations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit indirectly through faster and more accurate detection of antimicrobial-resistant or zoonotic pathogens linked to animal health.
How similar studies have gone: Upgrading sequencing platforms in diagnostic labs has historically improved turnaround times and data quality for pathogen surveillance.
Where this research is happening
-
North Dakota State University
Fargo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stenger, Brianna — North Dakota State University
- Study coordinator: Stenger, Brianna
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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.