New Regional Centers for
Biodefense Research Announced
September 5, 2003 - The Department of Health and Human
Services Sept. 4 announced the awarding of approximately $350
million over five years to establish eight Regional Centers
of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases
Research. With a primary focus to "foster the physical
and intellectual environments in which wide-ranging research
on infectious diseases can proceed productively and safely,"
the centers will support investigator-directed research; train
researchers for biodefense research activities; create and
maintain supporting resources; emphasize research on development
and testing of vaccine, therapeutic, and diagnostic concepts;
make available core facilities to approved investigators;
and provide facilities and scientific support to first responders
in the event of a biodefense emergency.
Specifically, the eight new centers have been awarded to:
- Duke University;
- Harvard Medical School;
- New York State Department of Health;
- University of Chicago;
- University of Maryland, Baltimore;
- University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston);
- University of Washington; and
- Washington University in St. Louis.
Additionally, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
plans to fund two planning grants for additional regional
centers. These planning grants were awarded to the University
of Iowa and the University of Minnesota.
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