National Microbiology Laboratory: About us
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Overview
The National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) is a branch within the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and is known around the world for its scientific excellence. We work with public health partners in Canada and abroad to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
We are the central pillar of public health laboratory science in Canada.
Our activities are organized into 6 main areas:
- diagnostic and reference testing
- laboratory-based infectious disease surveillance
- emergency preparedness and response
- research
- leadership, training network, and capacity development
- laboratory science support services
Our vision, mission, mandate and leadership goals
Vision: A world-class laboratory science organization dedicated to the protection of Canadian and global public health.
Mission: Advance human health through laboratory leadership, scientific excellence and public health innovation.
Mandate: Identification, investigation, control, and prevention of infectious diseases.
Networks
Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network
The Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network is a place for national public health lab professionals to share knowledge and best practices. It supports rapid, organized nationwide lab responses to contagious diseases such as:
- E.coli infections
- respiratory outbreaks such as:
- SARS
- COVID-19
- pandemic flu
- tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease
- sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections such as syphilis
Learn more:
Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence
This secure, web-based network allows public health professionals to gather, analyze and share knowledge in real-time. This helps public health responders, decision-makers and researchers work together quickly and effectively. To date, the network has successfully developed an innovative public health informatics and bio surveillance platform that includes a large number of applications, such as:
- a national disease-specific alerting system
- resource centres for local and global groups to collaborate
- purpose-built disease surveillance systems for human, animal, and environmental health
- monitoring systems for infectious diseases or other threats to public health and safety
Learn more:
- Log in to the Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence
- Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence (infographic)
Community Liaison Committee
The Community Liaison Committee provides a forum that helps create and maintain an atmosphere of public trust, confidence and cooperation between the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health and the surrounding Winnipeg community. The centre is home to the:
- Public Health Agency of Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency's National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease
The committee is composed of representatives from:
- the Public Health Agency of Canada
- the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- local community members
The committee helps to ensure an open and transparent information exchange with local community groups.
Learn more:
Locations and services
We have 4 main sites in Canada:
- Manitoba: Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health
- Manitoba: JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre
- Ontario: National Microbiology Laboratory at Guelph
- Quebec: National Microbiology Laboratory at St. Hyacinthe
We provide the following services:
New medical countermeasures laboratory facility
The Government of Canada is developing a new medical countermeasures laboratory facility at the National Microbiology Laboratory campus in Winnipeg. It will expand Canada’s capacity to:
- develop and evaluate vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic tools
- strengthen preparedness for future public health emergencies
Learn more: