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Wednesday, June 1, 2005

U.S. to Complete Bioterrorism<


The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases today announced the final grants supporting a national network of academic institutions that will conduct research on bioterrorism agents and infectious diseases (see GSN, May 10).

The institute awarded $80 million to the University of California, Irvine, and Colorado State University. These schools join eight other institutions as Regional Centers of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research.

“Since before the 2001 anthrax attacks, the United States has been at risk for a bioterror attack. With these grants, a key element of our strategic plan to counter bioterrorism and emerging infectious diseases is now complete,” NIAID Director Anthony Fauci said in a press release. “Our network is working diligently to uncover new knowledge and create preventive, therapeutic and diagnostic tools that will leave us far less vulnerable.”

Each Center for Excellence leads a group of local universities to conduct research on next-generation treatments for anthrax, smallpox, plague and other diseases. The consortiums encourage bioterrorism research, train personnel, maintain support resources, push for research on the development of new countermeasures, open facilities to researchers from academia and the business world, and provide support for first responders

The California and Colorado universities are each set to receive $10 million annually over the next four years.

The University of California, Irvine, consortium comprises four other UC campuses as well as 11 additional West Coast institutions.

The Colorado consortium includes five other universities along with small business partners (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases release, June 1).

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