#United States #Newport Beach #Zymo Research #Microbial Surveillance #Wastewater Symposium

Zymo Research's Commitment to Wastewater Surveillance

Zymo Research Corporation, a prominent player in molecular biology and pathogen detection, has taken a significant step in supporting research and collaboration in wastewater surveillance by sponsoring the Microbes in Wastewater Symposium 2026. This event, scheduled for January 15-16, 2026, will take place at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, California. The symposium aims to bring together leading researchers, government entities, and industry professionals focused on advancing the field of wastewater-based epidemiology and microbial surveillance.

The symposium is hosted by a coalition of esteemed institutions, including the Aladdin Bioinformatics Foundation, Columbia University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Los Angeles County Sanitation District, and SCCWRP. These partnerships highlight the event's dedication to fostering scientific dialogue and collaboration in areas crucial to public health and environmental management.

Key Highlights of the Symposium

This year's symposium promises to be enlightening, featuring keynote addresses from prominent figures in the fields of environmental biotechnology and water research. Among the speakers are Dr. Bruce E. Rittmann from Arizona State University and Dr. Joan B. Rose from Michigan State University, both recognized for their contributions to the advancement of research in water safety and sanitation. Attendees can anticipate discussions on the latest molecular and next-generation sequencing technologies that are shaping the future of pathogen monitoring and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance.

Dr. Kartik Chandran, a key figure in organizing the event and a professor at Columbia University, expressed his enthusiasm about the symposium's role as a platform for innovating wastewater microbiology. He believes the gathering will significantly contribute to advancing the understanding and collaboration required for effective pathogen surveillance in wastewater systems.

Dr. Annabelle Damerum, Program Director at the Aladdin Bioinformatics Foundation, emphasized the importance of Zymo Research’s support, noting how it helps to facilitate a wide range of discussions among researchers and practitioners. This collaboration is pivotal in enhancing methodologies for wastewater microbiology and AMR monitoring, ultimately benefiting public health outcomes.

Innovative Solutions Offered by Zymo Research

Zymo Research has a long-standing reputation for its commitment to improving research methodologies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization applied its expertise to wastewater analysis, reinforcing its pivotal role in public health surveillance. The company’s dedication to workflow standardization is critical for enhancing wastewater surveillance capabilities, which has become increasingly important in addressing public health concerns.

To further aid researchers, Zymo Research provides various innovative tools, including:

• - Quick-DNA/RNA™ Water Kit: This kit effectively extracts and purifies total DNA/RNA from large volumes of water samples, ensuring concentration of viruses and low-abundance targets while removing inhibitors from raw influent wastewater.
• - Wastewater Sample Collection Bottle: This specially designed bottle comes with a stabilization buffer that maintains sample integrity for up to seven days at ambient temperatures, simplifying sample transportation and storage while inactivating pathogens.

Participants will have the opportunity to visit Zymo Research's booth at the symposium, where they can engage with experts and discover groundbreaking solutions in pathogen detection, AMR surveillance, and microbiome analysis. The integration of innovative technologies into microbiological practices is crucial for developing effective strategies to tackle emerging public health challenges.

For those interested in attending the symposium, registration details are available at www.wastewateramr.com or via email at [email protected].

About the Organizations

The Aladdin Bioinformatics Foundation was founded in 2017 and is dedicated to providing innovative bioinformatics solutions that support research in genomics, metagenomics, and personalized medicine. By advancing computational tools, the foundation aims to tackle complex biological problems, driving significant breakthroughs in scientific research.

Zymo Research Corporation, established in 1994 and headquartered in Irvine, California, is recognized globally as a leader in developing innovative molecular tools for life sciences. Emphasizing the principle, "The Beauty of Science is to Make Things Simple," Zymo Research is dedicated to creating dependable solutions for complex scientific challenges in the life sciences.