Emergency Preparedness Activity

Diagnostics Development Core

Computational Biology Core

Law, Policy, and Ethics Core

Administrative Core

Lead Institution: The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
WRCE Director: David Walker, MD – UTMB, Galveston, TX
WRCE Project Administrator: Kimberly Schuenke, PhD – UTMB, Galveston, TX
WRCE Associate Director: Douglas Watts, PhD – University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
WRCE Associate Director for Product Development: George Bettinger, PhD – UTMB, Galveston, TX
WRCE Associate Director for Emergency Preparedness: Scott Lillibridge, MD – Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health (TAM HSC), Houston, TX
WRCE Assistant Director for Emergency Preparedness: Dennis Perrotta, PhD – TAM HSC, Houston, TX
WRCE Compliance Manager: Rosina Cobbs, MS – UTMB, Galveston, TX
WRCE Financial Manager: Teri Kingsley – UTMB, Galveston, TX
WRCE Financial Analyst: Tracy Fulford – UTMB, Galveston, TX
WRCE Administrative Assistant: Lisa Velasquez – UTMB, Galveston, TX

Description: The Administrative Core is responsible for the overall management and coordination of the Western Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research (WRCE). It provides governance, financial oversight, and operational management functions to facilitate the execution of the strategic research plan, thereby enabling the WRCE to fulfill its mission to develop new diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for Category A, B, and C and emerging infectious disease infectious agents.

Specific functions include: (1) the development of policies governing WRCE operations; (2) management of financial resources; (3) coordination of activities of standing advisory committees; (4) oversight of research projects and core facilities; (5) implementation of research programs for major Research Projects, Developmental Research projects, and Career Development projects; (6) facilitation of communication and information dissemination among scientists, institutional officials, and external groups; (7) coordination of research enrichment activities; (8) management of the annual strategic planning process; (9) maintenance of records and preparation of reports and annual continuation applications; and (10) development of the regional Emergency Response Plan.

The Administrative Core also has an Associate Director of Product Development. This individual helps identify translational research funding opportunities and guides project leaders through regulatory issues as projects advance, and chairs the WRCE Product Development Working Group. Management activities are carried out with the advice of the Steering Committee, a Policy Advisory Board, an External Advisory Board, a Regional Council, individual research project and core leaders, and other key personnel of the WRCE, all in close collaboration with NIAID’s biodefense program administrators. Teleconferencing and videoconferencing are maximally utilized to facilitate communication between the University of Texas Medical Branch, the lead institution for the WRCE, and other institutions in the RCE Biodefense Network.