RELECOV 2.0 project

Consolidation of WGS and RT-PCR activities for SARS-CoV-2 in Spain towards sustainable use and integration of enhanced infrastructure and processes in the RELECOV network

The national strategy for the integration of genomic sequencing in the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2, aimed to include genomic sequencing data for the identification of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in Spain.

A National Laboratory Network for SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Sequencing (RELECOV) was established as a collaborative network among designed laboratories of microbiology in all Autonomous Regions.

RELECOV is coordinated by the Reference Laboratory for Respiratory Viruses in the National Center for Microbiology (Carlos III Health Institute).

In September 2021, RELECOV received 1-year funding by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Commission through the HERA Incubator Programme, “Enhancing Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and/or Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) national infrastructures and capacities to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic”, partially finances the structure and implementation of RELECOV,  improving the national sequencing capacity by the use of WGS tools.

In November 2022, RELECOV participates in the call EU4H-2022-DGA-MS-IBA-1, launched by the European Commission through the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA).

The project, “Consolidation of WGS and RT-PCR activities for SARS-CoV-2 in Spain towards sustainable use and integration of enhanced infrastructure and processes in the RELECOV network, RELECOV 2.0”, will take place from July 2023, to June 2025. It aims to conduct genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2, expanding to other respiratory viral infections, to create synergies that contribute to a rapid public health response to future health threats.

Objectives

In RELECOV 2.0, the focus will be the identification of circulating Variants of Concern (VOC), lineages, and sub-lineages of SARS-CoV-2, as well as the identification of new emerging lineages and sub-lineages. As the project’s primary objective, it aims to apply Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) tools to genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and extend genomic surveillance to other respiratory viral infections, such as seasonal influenza or Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), through the establishment of a national structure that enhances the expertise of RELECOV Network members. A second objective of the project would be the consolidation of the RELECOV-Platform, through appropriate protocols for managing genomic data, defining joint sequencing and analysis methodologies, including quality controls, and developing computational tools for the automation of analysis, visualization, and sharing of genomic data with international databases.

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.