Natalie Anne Prystajecky | |
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![]() Natalie Prystajecky in 2020 | |
Alma mater | University of British Columbia University of Calgary |
Scientific career | |
Institutions | British Columbia Centre for Disease Control University of British Columbia |
Thesis | Molecular epidemiology of Giardia spp. in different hosts and watersheds (2010) |
Natalie Anne Prystajecky a Canadian biologist who leads the Environmental Microbiology program at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory. She holds a clinical assistant professor position at the University of British Columbia. During the COVID-19 pandemic Prystajecky was involved with the development COVID-19 testing capabilities.
Prystajecky studied environmental science and biology at the University of Calgary. She moved to British Columbia as a graduate student, where she first worked toward a certificate in watershed management. [1] In 2010 Prystajecky earned her doctoral degree at the University of British Columbia. [2] Her research considered epidemiological studies of Giardia spp . [3]
After completing her doctorate, Prystajecky joined the British Columbia Provincial Health Services Authority, where she led British Columbians through outbreaks of norovirus and influenza. [4] At the time, Prystajecky's advice was to “wash your hands all the time, and soap and water is the best,”. [4]
Prystajecky leads the Environmental Microbiology program at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory. [2] She investigates the relationship between environmental exposures and clinical outcomes. [1] To do this, Prystajecky developed technology for genome sequencing. She has used these genomic technologies to search for pathogens that might cause foodborne illnesses. [5] Prystajecky has used metagenomics to test for bacteria and viruses in water in an effort to improve the health of people and ecosystems. [6]
In early 2020 Prystajecky was involved in two British Columbian oyster One Health studies named UPCOAST-V for Vibrio parahaemolyticus and UPCOAST-N for Norovirus , [7] [8] Improved detection of the viruses will help to reduce the spread of disease and help the Canadian oyster industry. [9]
During the COVID-19 pandemic Prystajecky was involved with the development COVID-19 testing capabilities. [10] [11] The first quantitative PCR acid was shared by researchers in Wuhan with World Health Organization, and forms the basis of many COVID-19 tests, including those developed by Prystajecky. [5] [12] In particular, Prystajecky looked to reduce the time taken between testing and obtaining results in an effort to understand transmission and protect vulnerable members of the population. [13] [14] The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control program that conducts the testing is known as Responding to Emerging Serious Pathogen Outbreaks using Next-gen Data (RESPOND), and makes use of genome sequencing to identify which patients have been infected by the disease. [15] [16]
Prystajecky has two children. [5]