Next-generation genomic disease surveillance in urban wastewater systems

Funding: 2025: $100,906
2026: $167,743
2027: $167,743
2028: $67,104

Project Member(s): Wang, Q., Djordjevic, S., Li, X., Vigneswaran, S.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Australian Research Council (ARC Discovery Projects)
Australian Research Council (ARC Discovery Projects)

Start year: 2025

Summary: This project aims to develop an innovative surveillance system capable of quantifying various pathogens and predicting case numbers and healthcare burdens of diverse infectious diseases via wastewater based epidemiology. Current epidemiology approach is retrospective, hindering timely intervention and threatening public health and the economy. This project expects to create a novel surveillance system through wastewater based epidemiology to enable timely intervention and resource allocation. Expected outcomes include a broad-spectrum quantitative metagenomic tool for quantifying pathogens, and models for predicting case numbers and healthcare burdens using pathogen concentrations. This should provide benefits for water and health sectors.

FOR Codes: Water services and utilities, Expanding knowledge in engineering, Public health (excl. specific population health) not elsewhere classified, Environmentally sustainable engineering , Wastewater treatment processes, Public health not elsewhere classified, Good Health and Well Being

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.