The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anisininew, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. More
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, R3T 2N2
Max Rady College of Medicine
Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada
1015 Arlington Street
Winnipeg, MB, R3E 3R2
204-789-7085
morag.graham@phac-aspc.gc.ca
Does not hold any cross appointments.
Timely results are crucial in public health microbiology.
In the lab, we develop efficient methods and perform genome sequencing and comparative analyses for numerous bacteria and viruses capable of infecting humans.
Sequence data generation provides new means to explore the breadth of genetic diversity for modern pathogen surveillance, diagnostics, risk assessment, and for monitoring vaccine performance.
Many national disease surveillance systems now rely on microbial genomic content to reveal which isolates are related to identify disease clusters.
Sequences often reveal other important insights, such reasons for antimicrobial resistance or clinical outcome.
We apply metagenomics when specimens are not lab-cultivable.
Research affiliations include:
Collaborator, Canadian North Helicobacter pylori (CANHelp) Working Group
Dr. Graham is chief of genomics at Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory (Public Health Agency of Canada) and adjunct professor with Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (University of Manitoba).
Dr. Graham works collaboratively to translate research ideas to acquired knowledge; from samples to large genomic data sets (microbial genomics and metagenomics).
She has led / co-investigated numerous applied microbiology and public health projects funded by Genome Canada, the federal Genomic Research and Development Initiative (GRDI), Canadian Safety and Security Program (CSSP), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), and the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society of Canada.
She advocates for robust quality standards and best practices in applying emerging laboratory technologies.
Dr. Graham has operationalized microbial genomics for public health and assisted in modernizing several of Canada’s key national pathogen disease surveillance systems.
Her lab is currently generating COVID-19 genomic sequences to assist Canada’s pandemic response, while continuing to generate molecular data for non-COVID infectious disease surveillance, testing and ongoing research.
NIH Visiting Fellow, Rocky Mountain Lab, NIAID - National Institutes of Health, USA
Doctor of Philosophy, Microbiology, University of Guelph
Honours Bachelor of Science, Cooperative Biochemistry , University of Waterloo
Award (Team) Instant Award for dedicated contribution to the establishment of CanCOGeN, SARS-CoV-2 sequencing and public health genomics in Canada. Public Health Agency of Canada (2020)
Citation (Team, NML Genomics Core) Public Health Agency of Canada - Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Branch 2018 Perseverance Award (2018)
Citation (Team, GRDI Shared Priority Projects) Public Service Award of Excellence, 2016 (Scientific Contribution) - Genomics R&D Initiative Shared Priority Projects. Government of Canada - Treasury Board Secretariat (2016)
Citation (Individual) 2015 Dr. Andrés Petrasovits Award for Excellence in Public Health, for exceptional achievement by an individual or team at any level to further the mandate of the Public Health Agency of Canada (2016)
Citation (Team, Research Paper) James H. Nakano Citation (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) for Best National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Paper in 2014. (Katz et al 2014 PMID: 23820394). US CDC, NCEZID. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014)
Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Max Rady College of Medicine
Room 543 - 745 Bannatyne Avenue
University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9 Canada
