Leveraging COG-UK expertise to support the global dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing

Control of the COVID-19 pandemic depends on the development and equitable roll-out of vaccines that remain effective over time. But the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants that exhibit variable degrees of immune evasion, and other characteristics including greater transmissibility and/or lethality, threaten to undermine our ability to control COVID-19. It is widely accepted that vaccines will need to be altered over time as the virus mutates. Effective vaccine re-development is dependent upon the availability of global viral sequence data, but there is a lack of sequence data for much of the world, including low, middle and high-income countries. The COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) (including the Wellcome Sanger Institute) will leverage its expertise to develop a comprehensive global learning programme on SARS- CoV-2 genome sequencing (COG-GLOBAL). This will be achieved by working with experienced on-line educators. Specific aims include the development of an open access, online modular global learning programme on SARS-CoV-2 sequencing and analysis, allowing users to follow pathways of learning according to professional expertise (laboratory scientist, clinical practitioner, data scientist & epidemiologist, bioinformatician or policy maker); and the development of train-the-trainer courses in collaboration with the Wellcome Connecting Science Advanced Courses, Wellcome Africa and Asia Programmes, and other contributors.