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Tier Definitions

The REDI-NET Program is organized in a tiered format to efficiently deploy and support the REDI-NET e-MERGE System and associated technologies across the globe.

Gold Tier 

(CONUS) Fully-equipped, reach-back laboratories with high-throughput capacity and highly-skilled, expert personnel in scientific areas related to infectious disease surveillance, including optimal sample collection, SOP development, sample processing, and bioinformatics.

Expectations:

  • Staff expertise (PIs, laboratory, bioinformatics, modeling, and computing teams) and high-throughput cutting edge technologies (DNA/RNA robotic extraction (96), ultra-cool Bullet Blender, automated library preparation (96), ONT MinION and/or ONT PromethION P2 Solo and GridION Nanopore NGS platforms, Illumina MiniSeq, ultra-low freezer) and big-data management capabilities funded by REDI-NET;

  • Maintain, optimize and continuously expand the REDI-NET e-MERGE System and associated technologies;

  • Support detection, characterization, and description of known and/or novel pathogens of military significance;

  • Ensure consortium-wide consistent and reproducible results through tested, confirmed SOPs shared broadly;

  • Provide reach-back support through comparison testing of results from Silver and Bronze tiers on REDI-NET processes and technologies including SOPs, NGS Analysis Platform utilization, and data management;

  • Capacity strengthening of Silver and Bronze tiers and external partners through training exercises (virtual and hands-on), regular proficiency tests and output validation to ensure readiness for operational scale-up of the REDI-NET e-MERGE System

 

Silver Tier

(CONUS/OCONUS) Fully-equipped, semi-automated, field-forward NGS laboratories with capacity for mid-range throughput; highly-trained personnel and field teams with proficiency in all REDI-NET SOPs and e-MERGE System utility; serving as regional nodes of excellence, providing peer-peer training. Cost-sharing either in-kind and/or direct may be utilized, where appropriate.

Expectations:

  • Conduct routine active biosurveillance of biologically and environmentally appropriate samples across diverse ecologies;

  • Undertake metagenomic screening of varying sample type to directly inform the REDI-NET e-MERGE System;

  • Proficiency in utilizing the automated REDI-NET NGS Analysis Platform for analysis of raw sequencing data;

  • Support regional training and testing needs/requirements;

  • Support by Gold Tier teams for additional sample testing and/or output verification may be necessary

 

Bronze Tier

CONUS/OCONUS partners of highly variable laboratory capacity and/or field team experience in infectious disease surveillance. Training and proficiency on REDI-NET SOPs and e-MERGE System utility may be specific. Bronze Tier teams may be forward-facing, located in regions of military priority. Cost-sharing either in-kind and/or direct may be utilized, where appropriate.

Expectations:

  • Conduct routine or project-specific field sampling of geographically appropriate samples and terrain based on partner needs and project focus;

  • Undertake metagenomic screening of varying sample type to directly inform the REDI-NET e-MERGE System;

  • Proficiency in utilizing the automated REDI-NET NGS Analysis Platform for analysis of raw sequencing data;

  • Support by Silver and/or Gold Tier teams for additional sample testing and/or output verification may be necessary

 

This work is supported by the US Army Medical Research and Development Command under Contract No.W81XWH-21-C-0001, W81XWH-22-C-0093, HT9425-23-C-0059 and HT9425-24-C-0072. The views, opinions and/or findings contained in this report are those of the author(s) and should not be construed as an official Department of the Army or Navy position, policy or decision unless so designated by other documentation.