Syracuse Sun

The New York State Wastewater Surveillance Network, initially a pilot project led by Syracuse University faculty member David Larsen during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to expand its support to communities across the nation and potentially worldwide. This expansion follows its recent designation as a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Northeast Region Center of Excellence.

This recognition highlights the network’s effectiveness in early detection and monitoring of communicable diseases, as well as the innovative research from Larsen’s team. The new Center of Excellence will receive $1 million in CDC funding, with approximately $500,000 allocated to ongoing operations and research at Syracuse University.

David Larsen, chair of the public health department and professor in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, expressed his satisfaction with this recognition. “I had a vision for the New York State Water Surveillance Network, but to be named a federal CDC Center of Excellence is just a real honor,” Larsen stated. “What we’re doing now is building systems that will keep people healthier; operational processes that let people live more freely and improve the public health response are the ultimate goal.”

Larsen's team collaborated with various institutions including the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) and its Wadsworth Center to formalize their goals with the CDC earlier this month.

Shortly after COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, Larsen assembled a multidisciplinary team from Syracuse University’s Falk College, College of Engineering and Computer Science, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and SUNY Upstate Medical University. They developed wastewater surveillance technology crucial for New York State’s response to COVID-19. The grassroots network included sewage treatment plant operators, lab technicians, and public health workers who collected samples, tested for coronavirus, and shared results.

Initially benefiting Onondaga County and Syracuse University, the initiative expanded through NYS DOH partnerships. Currently operating in all 62 counties in New York State, it covers over 15 million people. Testing has also extended beyond COVID-19 to include polio, mpox, influenza, RSV, hepatitis A, norovirus, and antimicrobial-resistant genes.

Daniel Lang, NYS DOH deputy director of the Center of Environmental Health highlighted that $43 million has been invested in these efforts so far—$28 million from the CDC and $15 million from New York State. He emphasized that their partnership with Syracuse University was vital from the start: “We worked with Dave Larsen’s team to establish a comprehensive statewide wastewater surveillance program... Now we’ll be able to expand the expertise we’ve developed here to other jurisdictions around the country.”

Bryon Backenson, NYS DOH director of the Bureau of Communicable Disease Control added that wastewater surveillance provides crucial data independent of whether individuals seek medical care when ill: “Awareness of disease presence allows us to sound alarms... minimizing disease spread.” He noted that being designated as a CDC Center of Excellence allows them resources to train others nationwide.

As part of their new role as a CDC Northeast Region Center of Excellence, they aim to support several New England states plus Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Coordination with other Centers within the National Wastewater Surveillance System will facilitate sharing research and training on operating protocols which could benefit communities throughout the U.S., potentially impacting global disease detection efforts.

Larsen's work on infectious disease surveillance has international implications. Recently completing a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award program in Austria at Innsbruck Medical University where he collaborated with Austrian counterparts on wastewater surveillance networks. He also presented at a White House technology roundtable last month.

Transitioning program operations to NYS DOH will allow Larsen's team to focus on how these systems can further support public health responses globally: “Public health functions dealing with infectious disease surveillance alert us when a community is at increased risk... Wastewater test results provide awareness... confirming levels of community risk,” Larsen explained.