USU Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research
USU's unique capabilities make it a leader in biodefense research.
USU is part of a Mid-Atlantic region university consortium that was selected as one of eight national Regional Centers of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research (RCE). The RCE program will have received close to $350 million in grants over a five-year period. The funding is from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the NIH.
At the Forefront of Biodefense Research
Alison O'Brien, Ph.D., Christopher Broder, Ph.D., and Gerald Quinnan, M.D., are the participating investigators from USU. They are among the more than 60 scientists in the Mid-Atlantic RCE who serve as investigators, co-investigators or collaborators.
As Quinnan explains, USU plays a major role in the Mid-Atlantic RCE. "This is the chance for the University to be part of the leadership in biodefense research--a chance for us to grow and develop this research on the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of diseases caused by bioterrorism agents, as well as agents of emerging and infectious diseases, with particular emphasis on the most dangerous Category A biodefense agents."
Facilitating Biodefense Research
The research projects of the Mid-Atlantic RCE examine the biology and immunology of, as well as develop therapeutics and vaccines for, the following diseases: anthrax; hemorrhagic fever and other emerging viruses, including henipaviruses, bunyaviruses, West Nile, Ebola and Marburg; poxviruses; tularemia; and low-dose enteric pathogens.
According to NIH officials, the RCE's primary goal is to foster the physical and intellectual environments in which the wide-ranging research on infectious diseases can proceed productively and safely.Other member institutions of the Mid-Atlantic RCE include: University of Maryland School of Medicine (lead institution), Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, University of Pittsburgh, George Washington University, Georgetown University, West Virginia University, Drexel University, University of Vermont, University of Missouri, Kansas City, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute and Virginia Commonwealth University.