Western Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Dise

描述（由申请人提供）：生物防御和新兴传染病研究（WRCE）的西部区域卓越中心的使命是创造协同，多方面的研究，强大的基础设施和活动，通过应用最好的基础和转化科学来开发针对自然和人为新兴传染病威胁的疫苗，治疗和诊断。来自22个机构的科学家提议开展15个重大研究项目，并提供6项支持性核心活动。WRCE是德克萨斯州、新墨西哥州、俄克拉荷马州、阿肯色州和路易斯安那州传染病合作研究的统一力量。对国家RCE计划的评估显示，WRCE在生物防御新研究人员数量、项目数量、研究的生物体数量、申请的专利数量以及由RCE项目产生的其他基金支持的新项目数量方面表现最好。成功的基础科学家在A-C类代理方面拥有丰富的专业知识，他们真正接受了转化产品导向研究的陌生目标。15个主要项目涉及四个主题：RNA病毒治疗剂的开发，A-C类病原体和新兴病原体的多重诊断平台，虫媒病毒和新兴病毒性疾病的疫苗开发，以及细胞内细菌引起的疾病的疫苗开发。这15个项目目前正在追求新的具体目标;这是由于水资源环境委员会在上一个赠款周期中的战略，即支持发展型赠款，以启动下一阶段的项目，并在该周期结束前一年提前竞争主要项目。这个规划过程允许选择最好、最相关的科学并发展主题内的协同互动。行政核心对进度报告的分析、现场访问、区域会议、讲习班和正式的外部产品开发协商提供了认真的指导，沿着每月的主题会议，以确保项目的持续成功。高生产力的科学家利用这些区域资源，如三个国家灵长类动物研究中心，19个机构与BSL-3实验室，两个机构与BSL-4实验室，两个疫苗开发中心，两个能源部国家实验室，13个参与医科大学，三个参与兽医学校，和四个具有空气生物学专业知识的机构，将他们杰出的科学知识转化为计划，提供超过其部分的总和。 相关性：西部地区生物防御和新兴传染病研究卓越中心科学计划支持国家努力开发传染病病原体的新药，诊断和疫苗。应急准备计划还确保在发生生物恐怖事件或自然爆发时提供设施和专题专门知识。 战略管理体系描述： 行政核心负责生物防御和新兴传染病研究（WRCE）卓越的西部区域中心的整体管理和协调。它提供治理、财务监督和运营管理职能，以促进战略研究计划的执行，从而使WRCE能够履行其使命，为A、B和C类以及新兴传染病病原体开发新的诊断、治疗和疫苗。具体职能包括：（1）制定管理WRCE运作的政策;（2）管理财务资源;（3）协调常设咨询委员会的活动;（4）监督研究项目和核心设施;（5）实施重大研究项目、发展研究项目、职业发展项目的研究计划;（6）促进科学家、机构官员和外部团体之间的交流和信息传播;（7）协调丰富研究活动;（8）管理年度战略规划进程;（9）保存纪录、拟备报告及每年的延续申请;及（10）制订区域紧急应变计划。行政核心也有一个产品开发副主任。这个人帮助确定转化研究资金的机会，并指导项目领导人通过监管问题，随着项目的推进，并主持WRCE产品开发工作组。管理活动是在指导委员会、政策咨询委员会、外部咨询委员会、区域理事会、个别研究项目和核心领导人以及WRCE的其他关键人员的建议下进行的，所有这些都与NIAID的生物防御计划管理人员密切合作。会议和视频会议被最大限度地利用，以促进得克萨斯大学医学分支，为WRCE的领导机构，和其他机构在RCE生物防御网络之间的沟通。相关性（参见说明）：WRCE行政核心为西部地区生物防御和新兴传染病研究卓越中心提供全面管理和协调计划。科学计划和应急反应准备计划支持国家努力开发新的药物，诊断或传染病病原体的疫苗。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The mission of the Western Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research (WRCE) is the creation of synergistic,.multifaceted research, strong infrastructure, and activities to develop vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics against natural and manmade emerging infectious disease threats by applying the best basic and translational science. Scientists from 22 institutions propose to conduct 15 major research projects and provide six supportive core activities. The WRCE is a unifying force in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana for collaborative research on infectious diseases. The evaluation of the national RCE program revealed that the WRCE was the top performer in the number of new investigators in biodefense, number of projects, number of organisms studied, number of patents filed, and number of new projects supported by other funds that stemmed from RCE projects. Successful basic scientists with substantial expertise in Category A-C agents have truly embraced the unfamiliar goal of translational product-oriented research. The 15 major projects address four themes: development of therapeutic agents for RNA viruses, platforms for multiplexed diagnostics for Category A-C agents and emerging agents, vaccine development for arboviral and emerging viral diseases, and vaccine development for diseases caused by intracellular bacteria. The 15 projects are currently pursuing new specific aims; this is a result of the WRCE's strategy in the previous grant cycle to support developmental type grants to initiate next-stage projects, and an early competition for major projects one year before the completion of the cycle. This planning process allowed selection of the best, most relevant science and development of synergistic interactions within the themes. Attentive guidance by the administrative core's analysis of progress reports, site visits, regional meetings, workshops, and formal external product development consultations support research activities, along with monthly theme meetings to ensure the continued success of projects. Highly productive scientists utilize such regional sources as three national primate research centers, 19 institutions with BSL-3 laboratories, two institutions with BSL-4 laboratories, two vaccine development centers, two DOE national laboratories, 13 participating medical universities, three participating veterinary schools, and four institutions with aerobiology expertise to translate their outstanding scientific knowledge into program that delivers more than the sum of its parts. RELEVANCE: The Western Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research scientific program supports the national effort toward developing new drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines for infectious disease agents. The emergency response preparedness plan also ensures that facilities and subject matter expertise will be provided during a bioterror event or naturally occurring outbreak. STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PLAN 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, 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 also 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. RELEVANCE (See instructions): The WRCE Administrative Core provides overall management and coordination of the programs for the Western Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research. The scientific program and emergency response preparedness plan support the national effort toward developing new drugs, diagnostics, or vaccines for infectious disease agents.