Safeguarding Public Health
At Michigan Technological University, we are committed to assist in safeguarding the public health of our communities. Our latest initiative, supported by a MI-SAPPHIRE grant, leverages the power of crowdsourcing to monitor tick populations in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and nearby regions. By engaging the public in collecting ticks and conducting comprehensive analyses, we are generating up-to-the-minute geolocation results which are then visualized and shared on our interactive dashboard. However, this endeavor goes beyond data collection. Our team is dedicated to empowering people with crucial knowledge about how to identify ticks, understand the associated risks, implement preventive measures, and seek appropriate treatment.
Funding for this work was through the Michigan Sequencing Academic Partnership for Public Health Innovation and Response (MI-SAPPHIRE), which is a CDC Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity grant received by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).
Genomic Sequencing Lab
Michigan Tech's Genomic Sequencing Lab continues to accept crowdsourced ticks from you, your family and your pets. The goal is to identify prevalence of tick-borne illnesses in the Copper Country and nearby regions and to provide the public with this important information in a timely manner. Through Sept. 30, 2023, please bring any ticks you find to one of two location boxes on the Michigan Tech Campus:
- U.J. Noblet Forestry Building - Main Entrance
- Great Lakes Research Center at 100 Phoenix Drive - Building Lobby
Should you, a loved one, or a pet encounter a tick, public health resources are readily available to assist. This innovative strategy merges citizen science, technology, and education to construct a comprehensive public health safety net, ensuring our communities remain informed, proactive, and protected.
MI-SAPPHIRE
Four Michigan universities are sharing $18.5 million in federal funds through the MI_SAPPHIRE grant program to collect and analyze genomic data. Michigan Technological University, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, and Wayne State University are using the funding to increase genomic sequencing capacity and monitor emerging infectious disease threats, and enhancing the state's ability to respond to threats with the potential for broad community spread. MI-SAPPHIRE project activities include sequence generation and analysis, such as sample collection and sequencing; data processing, storage and sharing; and data interpretation and analytics.
Funding for the Michigan Sequencing Academic Partnership for Public Health Innovation and Response (MI-SAPPHIRE) is through a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity grant received by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS).