The Biocomplexity Institute at the University of Virginia is pleased to announce the renewal of funding for the Bacterial and Viral Bioinformatics Resource Center (BV-BRC) by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). This continued support ensures the BV-BRC will maintain and enhance its comprehensive datasets, analytical tools, and user workspaces, furthering its mission to support research on bacterial and viral infectious diseases. The BV-BRC has been continually funded since 2004, which includes its predecessor resources PATRIC, IRD, and ViPR. This new award represents the 5th consecutive funding cycle for the resource, which will be supported into 2029.
The BV-BRC integrates data and tools from legacy resources, including PATRIC, IRD, and ViPR, providing a unified platform for researchers worldwide. With over 60,000 registered users, the BV-BRC offers access to more than 1 million bacterial genomes and over 12 million viral genomes, facilitating advanced research in genomics, antimicrobial resistance, and emerging infectious diseases. Researchers can analyze their private data and compare it to the public data using the analytical tools and workspaces in this freely available resource.
"This funding renewal underscores the critical role of the BV-BRC in advancing infectious disease research," said Rebecca Wattam, Research Associate Professor at the Biocomplexity Institute. "We are committed to providing the scientific community with robust data and tools to address pressing global health challenges."
Madhav Marathe, Executive Director of the Biocomplexity Institute, expressed his gratitude for the dedication of the team who has completed this work for more than two decades, particularly Rebecca Wattam, Ron Kenyon, Dustin Machi, Andrew Warren, Alan Dickerman, Chunhong Mao, and several other team members. "The continued success and impact of the BV-BRC reflect the dedication and expertise of our team. This work is fundamental not only to advancing research in infectious diseases but also to shaping the future of genomics. I am proud of the contributions made by every team member, whose hard work and commitment are instrumental in driving these innovations."
The BV-BRC's ongoing development includes the integration of machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to enhance data analysis capabilities. These advancements aim to improve the prediction of antimicrobial resistance and the identification of emerging pathogens, supporting the development of effective treatments and preventive measures.
The work at the Biocomplexity Institute aligns with UVA's broader efforts to harness the power of AI and machine learning in advancing genomics research. As we continue to develop and refine our tools and datasets, the potential for AI-enabled genomics grows, offering new ways to predict and mitigate disease outbreaks, understand antimicrobial resistance, and uncover novel therapeutic targets. The BV-BRC plays a critical role in this transformation by providing accessible, robust data for research, which can be leveraged by the scientific community to develop advanced genomic applications in areas ranging from public health to personalized medicine.
For more information about the BV-BRC and its resources, please visit https://www.bv-brc.org/.