COVID-19 Genomic Epidemiology Toolkit Developer: Shannon R. Matzinger, PhD

Deputy Microbiology Program Manager

Colorado State Public Health Laboratory
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Shannon Matzinger, PhD, helped develop a case study which describes efforts in Colorado to establish SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance. This material demonstrates how whole genome sequencing can be used to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants and inform public health response.

Dr. Matzinger is the Deputy Microbiology Program Manager at the Colorado State Public Health Laboratory for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Her primary research interests include host-pathogen interactions and molecular characterization of diversity and evolution of small RNA viruses. She is currently working to expand the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) surveillance for pathogens of public health concern for the state of Colorado. Dr. Matzinger received a BA in Biophysics, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology from Whitman College and her doctorate in Microbiology from the University of California, Davis.

“As pathogens continue to evolve in response to interaction with their hosts, gathering a more complete picture through paired epidemiology and genomic sequencing data will help to better understand this interaction and lead to even swifter responses to events of public health concern.”