GEORGIA LABORATORY NETWORK (GLN)

COVID-19 exposed the lack of connection among pathology laboratories and the challenge in collecting samples to the Department of Public Health in real time.

The Georgia Laboratory Network is a voluntary network comprised of academic, clinical, commercial, government, and independent CLIA-certified laboratories throughout Georgia who share similar goals to leverage capacities and improve inter-laboratory communication following challenges experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Network is supported by the CDC Pathogen Genomics Centers of Excellence. The Network is not a trade organization, accrediting body, or regulatory authority.

The mission of the network is to create a channel for communication among laboratories and a means to share samples and exchange data in real-time to inform public health decision-making with enhanced detection, characterization, and monitoring of infectious threats in Georgia.

To achieve this, clinical laboratories engaged in moderate-to-high complexity infectious disease testing in Georgia will be asked to join the Network which will provide the infrastructure for facilitating these activities. The infrastructure of the Network is currently under development.

How will it work?

STRUCTURE The GLN is a voluntary collaboration of Georgia clinical laboratories with the Georgia Public Health Laboratory at the center of data and sample sharing.

STRATEGIES 1) Facilitate collaboration as a space for inter-laboratory communication, 2) Build capacity for surge support, 3) Improve surveillance for pathogenic threats

MISSION To exchange data in real time with enhanced detection, characterization, and monitoring of infectious diseases to inform public health decision-making in Georgia

OUTPUTS A model for systemic laboratory coordination at the state-level, a bidirectional platform for data sharing, and a dashboard with real-time, aggregated, regional molecular surveillance

Vision

  • Monet Goode

    FOUNDER

  • Emmett Marsh

    DESIGN DIRECTOR

  • Eleanor Parks

    SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR

“Artificial intelligence, machine learning, genomics, predictive modeling are all potentially important. But without better systems to track what’s really happening on the front lines in real time, they are a house of cards, not a sound foundation for life-and-death decisions.”

— Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC Director

Contact Us

jawoodall@augusta.edu

706-729-2734