For immediate release: October 25, 2002
For more information, contact Paula J. Baughn, 216-368-1004 or pjb14@po.cwru.edu

CLEVELAND—Case Western Reserve University has formed a Bioterrorism Response Task Force to identify the University's responsibilities and explore research opportunities following local, state, regional and federal efforts to improve readiness to increased threats from agents like anthrax and small pox.

Lynn Singer, deputy provost and vice president for academic programs, formed the task force to develop appropriate responses to threats of bioterrorism, but she also charged the group with promoting research related to safety response, surveillance and detection of dangers that extend beyond concerns with biological agents.

The team hopes to integrate the strong engineering talent of the University into this effort by providing opportunities for collaboration that will include robotics and nanoprobe technology for detection, emergency response and remediation of incidents involving chemical or radiological, as well as biological, agents.

"If thoughtfully directed, these efforts can provide new and renovated infrastructure for inventive research programs and develop new programmatic areas that impart systems and knowledge with long-term impact extending beyond immediate concerns with bioterrorism," said W. David Sedwick, professor of medicine and director of CWRU's Department of Occupational and Environmental Safety, who chairs the Bioterrorism Response Task force.

Some of the risks associated with bioterrorism impose immediate administrative alterations in reporting and security responsibilities that the taskforce will address. The group also will aid the University in fostering partnerships with other research and educational institutions, government agencies and industries in order to share in the local, state, regional and federal initiatives in the fight against bioterrorism.

In one such initiative, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has been charged with developing research and infrastructure programs by creating new Research Centers of Excellence (RCEs) to promote studies on Class A, B and C select agents, which include anthrax and small pox among others. RCEs also are expected to stimulate regional, even inter-regional, collaborations.

CWRU has notable research strength that could be applied to the study of emerging infections through its Division of Geographic Medicine and is currently building a focus in vaccine development applicable to these problems in its infectious diseases programs.

"Through its research-funding agencies, the federal government is sending the clear message that it desires to bring together the best available teams of investigators to attack the multifaceted problem imposed by threats of bioterrorism, and CWRU is positioned to make significant contributions to this effort," Sedwick said.

Task force members will encourage collaborations that will help the University become part of this new national network of regional research centers and laboratories.

"Education in diagnosis and therapeutic intervention in response to infectious disease threats can also be effectively met by programs developed within our educational institutions if they are extended to appropriate regional entities," Sedwick said. "Similarly, development of better systems for information transfer, coordination of responses and emerging disease treatment could have an important impact on both rapidity and safety of emergency responders in our city and across the country."

Overall, biological programs supported by various agencies will span basic research focused on a large variety of organisms and toxins of concern for their impact on people and agriculture. Focus areas will include basic research on Class A, B and C toxins and infectious agents, new approaches to early detection and diagnosis that could provide early warning of biological attacks, vaccine development, translational research leading to new approaches to therapeutic intervention and other approaches that may enhance effectiveness of clinical response to infectious and toxic agents.

"With careful direction, proposed programs will provide an opportunity to develop research programs that will have long-term benefits for our population and our institutions," Sedwick said. "Such programs will be designed to meet immediate requirements for increased readiness for response to attack by terrorists employing biological and other agents. Importantly, however, these programs will also improve our ability to make inroads toward the more satisfying goal of enhancing general health, security and well being of people at home and abroad."

In addition to Sedwick and Singer, who serves as an ex-officio member, the task force includes: Richard Baznik, vice president for public affairs; Nathan A. Berger, professor of medicine and director of the Center for Health, Science and Society; Mark Cheren, director of continuing medical education; Thomas E. Collins, assistant professor; Eric Cottington, associate vice president for research administration; Donald K. Freedheim, professor of psychology; Arthur H. Heuer, professor and director of Materials Science and Engineering; Jonathan Karn, professor and chair of microbiology and molecular biology; James Kazura, professor of medicine, geographic; C.C. Liu, professor and director, chemical engineering; Kenneth Loparo, professor, electrical engineering and computer science; Shirley Moore, associate professor, nursing; Michael Reed, professor, pediatrics; Roger D. Quinn, professor, mechanical and aerospace engineering; Robert Salata, professor, infectious diseases; John R. Schreiber, professor, pediatrics; Michael A. Weiss, professor and chair, biochemistry; and Christopher Whalen, associate professor, epidemiology and biostatistics. Lynne Ford serves as committee staff assistant.

–CWRU–

 

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