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Trevor Bedford uses viral genome sequences to understand virus evolution and factors driving viral outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics. Bedford and his team use genome data from seasonal influenza viruses to forecast strain turnover and inform seasonal vaccine strain selection processes. They also use genome data from emerging infections such as the West African Ebola epidemic, the Zika epidemic in the Americas and the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to uncover the hidden history of viral spread unavailable through other avenues. Much of this work has been instantiated in the Nextstrain platform. Bedford’s goals are to continue to improve outbreak forecasting, advance genomic epidemiology, and enhance the platform-aspects of Nextstrain.