The EDGe Centre works under three strategic pillars: the Research EDGe, the Training EDGe and the Service EDGe. In our first phase, our focus is research, with our training programmes and laboratory services being developed alongside, and will expand over the Centre’s first three years.
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The Research EDGe
We conduct basic and translational research in molecular epidemiology and genomics, aligned with the public, veterinary and environmental health needs of the Caribbean. Our research seeks to understand how pathogens emerge, evolve and spread across humans, animals and the environment, and to build tools and evidence to respond faster. Our work supports early outbreak detection, diagnostics, surveillance and public and veterinary health interventions; informs the development of vaccines and therapeutics; and contributes to strengthened epidemic and pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
Our primary focus is on emerging and zoonotic viruses, particularly arboviruses and bat-borne viruses, and the use of genomic and metagenomic approaches for surveillance and diagnostics. Our tools reach across the One Health spectrum and extend to food safety and foodborne pathogens; antimicrobial resistance and bacterial pathogens; plant health and the molecular detection of crop diseases; and population genetics and microbiome studies. The infrastructure and expertise we build also support work on non-communicable diseases, host susceptibility factors, and environmental resilience.
Read more about our ongoing research projects.
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The Training EDGe
We are building a portfolio of training to strengthen regional capacity in genomics, bioinformatics and molecular epidemiology, ranging from short technical workshops to professional development fellowships and postgraduate training. Current and upcoming activities include the Pandemic Preparedness and Response (PANPRO) Fellowship and the Genomic Data Use, Interpretation and Reporting workshop, respectively. Within the Centre, we also mentor MPhil and PhD students carrying out their research in these fields.
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The Service EDGe
The Centre has established expertise and technical capacity in genomics, bioinformatics and related diagnostic approaches, including genome sequencing of microbial, human, animal, plant and environmental samples. We are developing these capabilities into a defined portfolio of professional and laboratory services open to users within and beyond the UWI. Details of the services offered and associated fees will be published here once available. If you would like to be kept informed, please contact us to register your interest.