Minneapolis, MN | September 7-9, 2025 – Dr. Norma Tavakoli, PhD, of the Wadsworth Center was a featured speaker at the Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) Public Health and Policy Conference, hosted by the University of Minnesota.  Her presentation, “A Pilot Study in New York State to Screen Newborns for Congenital Cytomegalovirus,” highlighted groundbreaking work conducted by the New York State Newborn Screening Program.  

The New York State Newborn Screening Program at the Wadsworth Center has become the first program in the United States to implement universal newborn screening for Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD), a devastating but now treatable lysosomal storage disorder.  MLD is caused by low or absent activity of the arylsulfatase A (ARSA) enzyme, leading to toxic accumulation of sulfatides and progressive damage to the nervous system.

Dr. Rajendra Agrawal of the Wadsworth Center was invited to speak at the Ribo25 Symposium (September 18–19, 2025) at the Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology (MRC-LMB), marking 25 years since the atomic structure of a bacterial ribosome subunit was solved – a discovery recognized with the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.  Dr. Agrawal’s presentation, “The mammalian mitochondrial ribosomes: From first glimpses to current insights,” highlighted the Wadsworth Center’s pioneering work in mammalian (human) mitochondrial ribosome research. 

The Wadsworth Center has been awarded funding through the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Grant Program’s Antimicrobial Laboratory Network to support antimicrobial-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis activities from August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026.  Two state public health laboratories, including the Wadsworth Center’s Mycobacteriology Laboratory, were selected to conduct whole genome sequencing (WGS) for culture-positive tuberculosis (TB) cases within their states. 

A new episode of the Inspired to Heal podcast, hosted by Dr. William (Bill) Trick – retired in 2024 after a distinguished career as a clinician, researcher, and CDC epidemiologist – features Wadsworth Center’s Dr. Kimberlee Musser alongside Dr. Don Weiss of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.  

The Wadsworth Center was prominently represented at the annual Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phages meeting (“Phages”) in Madison, Wisconsin – one of the premier international conferences in microbial genetics.  The meeting drew more than 350 researchers from around the world, spanning senior investigators to first-year trainees.  

The Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) within the Wadsworth Center provides regulatory oversight of laboratories that test environmental samples collected in New York State.  These laboratories monitor for toxins, harmful microorganisms, carcinogens, and other hazardous substances.  

The Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) within the Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, has regulatory oversight of laboratories testing environmental samples collected in New York State. These laboratories analyze for a wide range of contaminants, including mercury, lead, PCBs, and “forever chemicals” (PFAS). As part of its mandate, ELAP conducts on-site inspections to ensure laboratory compliance.  

In the September 2025 issue of Clinical Microbiology Newsletter, a new three-part collaborative series, “Laboratory Diagnosis of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria,” was published with Wadsworth Center’s Dr. Kimberlee Musser as a coauthor.  Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly recognized as significant pathogens responsible for lung and other infections, particularly among individuals with underlying lung disease or weakened immune systems. NTM are frequently associated with nosocomial outbreaks, often traced to contaminated water sources.