Western Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Dise

描述（由申请人提供）：西部生物防御和新发传染病研究卓越区域中心（WRCE）的使命是创造协同、高效、高效的生物防御系统。多方面的研究，强大的基础设施，以及通过应用最好的基础科学和转化科学开发针对自然和人为新发传染病威胁的疫苗、疗法和诊断方法的活动。来自22个机构的科学家提议进行15个重大研究项目，并提供6项支持性核心活动。世界传染病研究中心是德克萨斯州、新墨西哥州、俄克拉何马州、阿肯色州和路易斯安那州开展传染病合作研究的联合力量。对国家RCE项目的评价显示，WRCE在生物防御领域的新研究者数量、项目数量、研究的生物数量、专利申请数量和由RCE项目产生的其他基金支持的新项目数量方面表现最好。在A-C类药剂方面拥有丰富专业知识的成功基础科学家已经真正接受了以转化产品为导向的研究这一陌生目标。15个主要项目涉及四个主题：RNA病毒治疗剂的开发、A-C类制剂和新出现的制剂的多重诊断平台、虫媒病毒和新出现的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；这是由于世界资源中心在前一个赠款周期中采取了支持发展性赠款以启动下一阶段项目的战略，并在周期结束前一年对重大项目进行了早期竞争。这一规划过程允许选择最佳、最相关的科学，并在主题内发展协同互动。行政核心对进度报告的分析、实地考察、区域会议、讲习班和正式的外部产品开发咨询的细心指导支持研究活动，以及每月主题会议，以确保项目的持续成功。高生产力的科学家利用这样的区域资源：三个国家灵长类动物研究中心，19个拥有生物安全标准3级实验室的机构，两个拥有生物安全标准4级实验室的机构，两个疫苗开发中心，两个美国能源部国家实验室，13所参与的医科大学，3所参与的兽医学校，以及4个拥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项目，提供超过各部分总和的成果。

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.