Jean-Luc Berland conducts Operational Research within the Medical and Scientific Direction of Fondation Merieux, focusing on epidemiological and surveillance studies conducted in collaboration with our GABRIEL network partners, and with a particular interest in next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and its use for microbial genomics purposes.His work involves supporting technical and research capacity building initiatives through implementation of projects that apply state-of-the-art molecular–based techniques for genotyping. These techniques are used to better understand outbreaks, development of resistance and patterns of transmission; in particular within the network we conduct projects that address questions about Mycobacterium leprae epidemiology and SARS-COV2 surveillance of variants of concern.