Argentina's ANLIS Malbrán partners with Illumina to boost genomic surveillance

The National Administration of Laboratories and Institutes of Health "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán" (ANLIS Malbrán) signed a strategic framework agreement with U.S. genomics company Illumina Inc. to expand Argentina's capacity for viral genomic surveillance. The collaboration will validate a next‑generation viral panel capable of detecting roughly 200 pathogens, including hantavirus, Ebola, measles, hepatitis viruses, SARS‑CoV‑2, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, HPV, mpox, Oropouche, Junín, dengue, Zika and chikungunya. The technology will allow simultaneous sequencing of multiple viruses, improve variant identification, uncover co‑infections, shorten response times to outbreaks and generate scientific evidence for public‑health decision‑making.

The agreement was signed by officials from the national Ministry of Health and Illumina, with Minister Mario Lugones emphasizing the need to modernise the health system’s anticipatory capacity and director Claudia Perandones noting the project will foster joint research and knowledge exchange. Work will be carried out through the National Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics at ANLIS Malbrán, which houses Latin America’s first BSL‑4 laboratory dedicated to human health, positioning the institute as a regional reference for genomic surveillance.