WUSM-Medicine: ID: Fellowship Program

Biodefense and Emerging ID Research

The Midwest Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research (MRCE) serves as the major biodefense research center for region VII ( Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska) and Ohio. The participating MRCE institutions include Washington University, Saint Louis University, University of Missouri-Columbia, Midwest Research Institute and Case Western Reserve University.

The objective of the MRCE is to perform research that will have an immediate impact on the nation’s public health and will provide the scientific base for a strong biodefense effort. MRCE research priorities include smallpox, plague and West Nile virus (WNV). The core research objective focuses on a comprehensive multi-institutional effort to understand the biology
of poxviruses, focusing on the virology, immunology and genetics of vaccinia infection in humans. Retrospective and prospective studies will better define the virology of vaccinia infection in naive and previously vaccinated individuals, delineate the kinetics and specificity of the immune response to vaccinia, and identify the genetic bases for resistance or susceptibility to vaccinia virus and adverse effects to immunization. The MRCE also will study plague and will use state-of-the-art techniques in genetics and structural biology to investigate the pathogenesis of Yersinia pestis infection. Additionally, the MRCE supports studies to advance the national research effort on West Nile virus. These studies are expected to better define the innate immunity to WNV infection, to identify new therapeutics and to better understand the nature of susceptibility to infection. Other research efforts targeted to the class A-C agents of bioterrorism include vaccine development, microbial pathogenesis, development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics, genomics and understanding innate and acquired immunity to these agents.

The MRCE provides unique opportunities for new investigators to pursue both clinical and basic science research in biodefense and emerging infectious diseases. To this end, an integral part of the MRCE’s mission is to provide an integrated training program for postdoctoral medical personnel in the epidemiology, recognition and treatment of category A-C agents of bioterrorism as well as to provide coursework in statistics and clinical research methods to equip new investigators with the tools necessary to pursue careers in biodefense research. Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in the Biodefense Clinical/Translational Research Fellowship program. Fellows entering this program will receive specialized
training in epidemiologic methods, biostatistics, clinical research design and biosafety. Fellows will pursue projects during their second and third years with MRCE researchers at their home institutions. A limited number of fellows will be permitted to work with MRCE investigators outside their parent institution with MRCE support.

The educational objectives for fellows in the training program include completion of a web-based/case-based module to better understand the epidemiology, clinical recognition, natural history, treatment and prevention of class A-C agents
of bioterrorism, to complete core courses in epidemiologic methods, biostatistics and clinical research design, to complete an MRCE Biosafety Training Course, to participate in a biweekly didactic curriculum in Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, and to participate in a monthly MRCE sponsored Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Seminar.

Division of Infectious Diseases
Department of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine