About MGGen
The Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics (MGGen) at NAU is a state-of-the-art research facility focused on understanding the evolution, ecology and epidemiology of a number of disease causing bacteria including Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) and Yersinia pestis (plague) among other organisms important from a Biodefense standpoint, as well as bacteria involved in hospital-acquired infections.
MGGen is internationally known for its work and has ongoing collaborations with various government agencies and institutions. Funding for the Center is acquired from federal, state and local funding agencies. MGGen has very close ties with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Paul Keim, an NAU Regents Professor and Director of MGGen, is also the Director of Pathogen Genomics at TGen. In May of 2006, TGen launched the Center for Pathogen Diagnostics, or TGen North, which is located in Flagstaff and also directed by Dr. Keim.
Being an academic institution, MGGen is committed to undergraduate research training and further development of the workforce in these important areas of research. There are over 40 faculty, full time staff, graduate and undergraduate students currently working in the center with additional researchers closely associated with the Center on the NAU campus.
