Abstract for the RCE

Bacillus anthracis Host Interactions

Discovery of Subunit Vaccine Candidates                             against Glanders

Alphavirus Vaccines for Biodefense

Novel Genetic Tools for Viral Biodefense

Development and Evaluation of Human
                     Brucellosis Vaccines

Rapid Diagnostic Tools for Q Fever

New Diagnostic Methods for Accute Rickettsial
                      Infections

Risks and Interventions for Pandemic Influenza

Development of Novel Pseudoinfectious Flavivirus                             Vaccines

Development of Diagnostic Reagents for the detection
                            of Francisella and
                             Francisella Infection

Toward Control of Rift Valley Fever Virus
                             Replication

Novel Vaccine Technology for Biodefense

Nucleocapsid-specific Small Molecule Inhibitors
                             of the Bunyaviridae

New Technologies for Creating Affinity Reagents

New Opportunities Projects

Identification and Characterization of Novel
                             Flavivirus Antivirals

Biosafety Containment Training Program

Passive Immunotherapeutics for
                             Select Agents

Preclinical Testing of YF17D/LAS, a Bivalent
                              Vaccine for Lassa and
                             Yellow Fever

Western Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research (WRCE) Abstract

In response to NIAID’s call for the creation of strong infrastructure and multifaceted research and development activities applying the best basic, translational, and clinical science to the generation of new diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine countermeasures for Category A, B, and C pathogens posing threats as agents of bioterrorism, over 32 institutions in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana have combined their energy, creativity, and resources to create the Western Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research (WRCE). Eight scientific cores provide access to state-of-the-art proteomics, genomics, standardized small animal, and nonhuman primate models of infectious diseases, BSL4 laboratory facilities, as well as crosscutting functions in computational biology and a streamlined process for translational development of vaccines and drugs leading to FDA approval. A wealth of scientific expertise on biothreat agents and contemporary biomedical technology is applied to establishing the scientific basis and translating it through 9 major research projects, 12 developmental research projects, and 5 career development projects. The scientific program includes: 1) the development of vaccines against Rift Valley fever, smallpox, brucellosis, tularemia, anthrax, plague, glanders, typhus and Venezuelan, eastern, and western equine encephalitis; 2) new therapeutic agents against Bacillus anthracis (including the spore), plague, arenaviruses, filoviruses, alphaviruses, flaviviruses, Nipah virus, and poxviruses; 3) novel approaches to synthesis of chemical libraries that will promote future drug discovery; 4) advanced diagnostic methods for Q fever and typhus; and 5) development of a small animal model for monkeypox and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. A consistently strong spirit of cooperation among traditionally competing institutions has established an interlocking network of projects, cores, and administration. The guidance of this network of interactive research projects and core resource facilities is executed under a comprehensive administrative plan to contribute substantially to the nation’s biodefense mission by fulfilling a carefully crafted scientific strategy on a common theme. Collaborations for host–pathogen biology-based development of novel vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics against biothreat agents are at the forefront of the WRCE’s scientific endeavors.

Key Personnel:
Director: David H. Walker, M.D. – University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Associate Director for Research Development: Joel B. Baseman, Ph.D. – University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Associate Director for Product Development: Lawrence Stanberry, M.D., Ph.D. – UTMB
Associate Director for Career Development: Stanley M. Lemon, M.D. – UTMB
Associate Director for Emergency Preparedness: Scott Lillibridge, M.D. – University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Associate Director for Scientific Administration: Douglas M. Watts, Ph.D. – UTMB
Associate Director for Biosafety: Lee Thompson – UTMB
Project Administrator: Kimberly Schuenke, Ph.D. – UTMB

Participating Institutions:
Texas:
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Houston VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas
Rice University, Houston, Texas
San Antonio Metro Health District, San Antonio, Texas
Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, Southwest National Primate Research Center, San Antonio, Texas
Texas A&M University (TAMU), College of Veterinary Medicine, College Station, Texas
Texas A&M University System Health Science Center (TAMUS HSC), College Station, TX
Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Houston, TX
Texas Dept. of Health, Austin, Texas
Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
University of Houston, Houston, Texas
University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Worth, Texas
University of Texas at Austin (UT), Austin, Texas
University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas
University of Texas at San Antonio (UT-SA), San Antonio, Texas
University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSCH), Houston, Texas
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA), San Antonio, Texas
University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (UTSW), Dallas, Texas
New Mexico:
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM
New Mexico Dept. of Health, Santa Fe, NM
Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque, New Mexico
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Louisiana:
Louisiana Dept. of Health, New Orleans, LA
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA
Tulane University Health Sciences Center, Tulane National Research Primate Resource Center, Covington and New Orleans, Louisiana
Oklahoma:
Oklahoma State Dept. of Health, Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Arkansas:
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
Arkansas Dept. of Health, Little Rock, Arkansas
Department of Veterans Affairs, Little Rock, Arkansas
Other:
AlphaVax, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
University of California, Davis, CA
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL