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Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394 |
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Press Release
| October 3, 2003 |
Contact: CDC, Division of
Media Relations
404-639-3286 |
CDC Announces New Biodefense and Emerging Infectious
Disease Research Grant Program and Training Grants
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today announced
approximately $9 million in new grants to enhance biodefense and emerging
infectious diseases research in the United States. The extramural grants
complement ongoing bioterrorism preparedness and response program
activities. The nine grantees are Purdue University, Duke University, St.
Louis University, Scripps Research Institute, University of Minnesota,
University of Massachusetts, Johns Hopkins University, SRI International,
and Ibis Therapeutics.
HHS is committed to supporting extramural research in biodefense and
emerging infectious disease as we prepare to deal with any public health
crisis, whether intentional attack with biological agents or a naturally
occurring infectious disease, said HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson.
This new grant program emphasizes opportunities for research in
innovative surveillances systems, enhanced detection systems, environmental
sampling and pathogen detection systems, and innovative approaches for
prophylaxis and treatment.
I am committed to aligning our extramural research program with that of
the NIH, said CDC Director Julie L. Gerberding, M.D., while preserving
our focus on public health research.
The program is being developed by CDC and the National Institutes of
Health. These awards are part of HHS efforts to build and sustain a robust
and long-term program for biodefense research.
The nine new grants are described below.
- National Animal Syndromic Surveillance for Bioterrorism,
Lawrence T. Glickman, D.V.M., V.M.D., Dr.P.H., Purdue University School of
Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, Indiana. This project will use a
nation wide animal health database and commercially available software to
provide surveillance of syndromes to alert public health officials to
naturally occurring or man-made environmental hazards.
- Nanophotonics for Select Agent Detection, by Ashutosh Chilkoti,
Ph.D., Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. This study will develop a
sensor that measures biomolecular interactions in real-time for detection
of Category A pathogens.
- Molecular Basis of Flavivirus Neurovirulence, by Thomas,
Chambers, M.D., St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis,
Missouri. This investigation will advance understanding of the molecular
determinants of flaviviruses (including mosquito- and tick-transmitted
viruses) virulence in humans leading to development of vaccines for these
diseases.
- Regulation of the Innate Immune Response to Bacillus Anthracis,
by Gary Bokoch, Ph.D., Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California.
This project will investigate in molecular detail how Bacillus Anthracis
toxins interact with human host defense mechanisms.
- CD8T Cell Response to Vaccinia following lymphopenia, by
Stephen C. Jameson, Ph.D., University of Minnesota Medical School,
Minneapolis. This proposal studies the nature of anti-viral T cell
responses against the pox virus vaccinia and will further understanding of
vaccination efficacy in immunodeficient individuals.
- Response to Viral Infection in Immunodeficient Mice, Leslie J.
Berg, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worchester,
Massachusetts. This investigation will study T cell signaling pathways to
better understand protective immunity to viral infection, including
vaccinia virus.
- Developing a Bioterrorism Syndromic Surveillance System, Trish
M. Perl, M.D., Johns Hopkins University Department of Medicine, Baltimore,
Maryland. This project will develop and validate a computerized patient
record system-based prediction rule using electronically available
laboratory data to track disease syndromes consistent with the
characteristics of a bioterrorism event.
- Discovery and Development of Biodefense Antimicrobials,
Christopher J. Collins, Ph.D., SRI International, Menlo Park, California.
This investigation will develop new preclinical drug candidates for the
treatment of infections caused by Category A bacteria, including anthrax.
- Automated Simultaneous Detection of Bioterrorism Agents, David
J. Ecker, Ph.D., IBIS Therapeutics, Carlsbad, California. This study will
complete the development, engineering, and validation of the infectious
disease diagnostic platform that was created to detect a broad range of
biological weapons agents in samples collected from the environment and
will deploy a working version at CDC.
In addition to these research grants, CDC and NIH are co-funding five
training grants for scientists from developing countries to more
effectively engage such countries in infectious disease research. The
training grants will be awarded to U.S. academic institutions that provide
training for scientists in Kenya, Mexico, Brazil, Malawi and Peru.
More information is available at
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/oer/.
# # #
CDC protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by
providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national, and
international organizations.
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