Research Programs

Program 1. Orthopoxvirus Vaccine Development

This team is working to develop new and safer vaccines for smallpox and other pox viruses such as monkey pox.

1.3 Efficacy of Vaccines against Poxviruses

David Pickup, Ph.D. - Duke University

1.4 Vector Comparison Trial

Elizabeth Ramsburg, Ph.D. - Duke University

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Program 2. Development of Therapeutics for Orthopoxvirus Diseases

This team is working to develop new drugs for smallpox and other pox viruses that can infect humans.

2a Rabbit Orthopoxvirus Model

Richard Moyer, Ph.D.- University of Florida-Gainesville

2b Orthopoxvirus Antiviral Screens and Animal Models

Richard Whitley, M.D. - University of Alabama-Birmingham

2c Drug Design and Synthesis for Orthopoxvirus Infections

Jack Secrist, Ph.D. - University of Alabama-Birmingham and Southern Research Institute

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Program 5. Control of Bacillus Anthracis Spore Formation

This team will determine new mechanisms of control of spore formation for the anthrax bacillus, that will lead to new drug development for the treatment and prevention of anthrax.

5.1 B. Anthracis Spore Formation

Phil Hanna, Ph.D. - University of Michigan

5.2 The ECF Sigma Factors of B. anthracis and their connection to Virulence

Nick Bergman, PhD - Georgia Tech

5.3 Adaptive Response of B. anthracis to Vertebrate Blood

Eric Skaar, PhD - Vanderbilt

5.4 Role of NLR gene Monarch-1 in regulating the immune response to B. anthracis

Kristi Williams, PhD - Duke

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Program 6. Strategies to Optimize Innate Immune Responses to Emerging Infections

This team will develop new ways to make emerging infection vaccines stronger by activating the innate immune system at the time of vaccine administration.

6.1 Innate Immune Responses
        Jenny Ting , Ph.D. - University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
6.4 Dendritic Cells
        Bali Pulendran, Ph.D. - Emory University
6.5 Immune Responses to BCG
        Miriam Braunstein, Ph.D. - University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
6.6 Immune Responses to BCG
        Doug Kernodle, Ph.D.- Vanderbilt

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Program 7. Strategies to Optimize Adaptive Immune Responses to Emerging Infections

Dr. Ahmed will determine how to optimally induce immune memory to anthrax vaccines to improve vaccine potency.

7.3 Immune Memory
Rafi Ahmed, Ph.D. - Emory University

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Program 8. Systems Biology Approach to Understanding Host-Pathogen Interactions and Mapping the Genetics of Host Resistance to F. tularensis in Mice

8.1 Host pathogen interactions
        Malak Kotb, Ph.D. - University of Tennesseee - Memphis
8.2 Genetics of host resistance to F. tularensis
       Tom Kawula, Ph.D. - University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
8.3 F. tularensis adherence
        Tom Kawula, Ph.D. - University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

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Program 9. A Pilot Study for Development of Inhibitors of Influenza Virus Nucleoprotein

9.1 Inhibitors of influenza nucleoprotein
Ming Luo - UAB

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Program 10. Emerging Viral Infectious Diseases

10.1 Identification of Host Factors required for Dengue Viral Growth by a genome-wide RNAi screen

Mariano Garcia-Blanco, PhD - Duke

10.2 Monoclonal Antibodies for Dengue Virus

Aravinda de Silva, PhD - UNC

10.3 High-throughput Screening for Antiviral Compunds against Lassa fever virus

Hinh Ly, PhD - Emory

10.4 Pichinde Virus-infected Guinea Pigs as an Animal Model for Human Hemorrhagic Fever

Yuying Liang, PhD - Emory

For a printable PDF of all 2008 SERCEB Projects and Cores, click here.

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