GW Receives Funding for Biodefense

Oct. 7, 2003

Research to Focus on Media Training, DNA Vaccines

The University continues to position itself as a leader in homeland security efforts as it was named a Regional Center for Excellence (RCE) in Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson. Thompson is funding eight RCEs with grants totaling $350 million over five years. GW joins a nationwide group of multidisciplinary centers as a key element in HHS’ strategic plan for biodefense research.

“We have moved with unprecedented speed and determination to prepare for a bioterror attack or any other public health crisis since the terrorist attacks of 2001,” Thompson said. “These new grants add to this effort and will not only better prepare us for a bioterrorism attack, but will also enhance our ability to deal with any public health crisis, such as SARS and West Nile virus.”

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a part of HHS’ National Institutes of Health, is providing the grants and will administer the RCE program. A total of $45 million will go to the 60 scientists participating in this Middle Atlantic RCE.

Funding for GW covers two project areas, according to Dr. Peter Hotez, chair of the Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine.

“We will be doing media training for biodefense scientists and will also have a role in developing DNA vaccines for the disease tularemia,” he said.

For the media training, Hotez and his department will work with GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs and the Center for Emergency Preparedness. Jean Folkerts, associate vice president for special academic initiatives and professor of media and public affairs, is the principal investigator on the project along with Hotez. Dr. Milcho Mincheff of the microbiology and tropical medicine department will head up the vaccine development project.

“The anthrax scare brought out the need for trained spokespeople in the field to be in the media spotlight,” Folkerts said. “This training will enable bioscientists to translate complicated information for media dissemination in a way that will be informative and reassuring to the public.”

“There is important work to be done to ensure the preparedness for our region, and GW is happy to be a part of this effort,” noted Frank Cilluffo, GW’s associate vice president for homeland security. “This funding addresses a real gap and will connect the research with real solutions.”

Being a part of this newly designated RCE is another homeland security initiative for the University. GW’s Center for Emergency Preparedness is finishing a preparedness-training project with the DC Department of Health and recently received a $5 million allocation to establish the Response to Emergencies and Disasters Institute. In addition, via the Ronald Reagan Institute of Emergency Medicine, GW will be training DC citizens in emergency preparedness through the Citizen Corps Program.

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