The Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health is one of 16
biomedical research institutions that will comprise the new
Middle Atlantic Regional Center of Excellence for
Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research
established by the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases.
On Sept. 4, the University of Maryland School of
Medicine announced it had been awarded a five-year $42
million grant from NIAID to lead the Middle Atlantic
Regional Center of Excellence, which will work to develop
new and improved vaccines, diagnostic tools and treatments
from potential biological agents and infectious diseases.
Proposed projects include developing new vaccines against
anthrax, smallpox, Ebola and West Nile viruses.
More than 60 scientists will be participating as
investigators and co-investigators of research projects.
Myron M. Levine, director of the Center for Vaccine
Development at Maryland's School of Medicine, is principal
investigator. Donald Burke, director of the
Center for
Immunization Research at Hopkins' School of Public
Health, is co-principal investigator.
"This network represents an unprecedented use of
medical research capabilities to combat terrorism," Burke
said. He, along with Levine, will serve on the five-member
executive committee that will provide senior coordination
of the RCE.
The Middle Atlantic RCE is one of eight to be
established nationwide with grants totaling approximately
$350 million over five years. Each is comprised of a lead
institution and others located primarily in the same
geographical region.
In addition to the University of Maryland and Johns
Hopkins, the Middle Atlantic group includes the University
of Pennsylvania; University of Virginia; Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences; Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University; Virginia Bioinformatics
Institute; University of Pittsburgh; George Washington;
Georgetown; West Virginia University; Drexel; University of
Vermont; University of Missouri, Kansas City; University of
Maryland Biotechnology Institute; and Virginia Commonwealth
University.