{"id":50192,"date":"2022-10-27T21:02:49","date_gmt":"2022-10-27T19:02:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pharma-trend.com\/en\/unc-school-of-medicine-awarded-3-million-for-emerging-pathogen-preparedness-and-training\/"},"modified":"2022-10-27T21:02:49","modified_gmt":"2022-10-27T19:02:49","slug":"unc-school-of-medicine-awarded-3-million-for-emerging-pathogen-preparedness-and-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pharma-trend.com\/en\/unc-school-of-medicine-awarded-3-million-for-emerging-pathogen-preparedness-and-training\/","title":{"rendered":"UNC School of Medicine Awarded $3 Million for Emerging Pathogen Preparedness and Training"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nUNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases and critical care experts William Fischer, MD, and David Wohl, MD, in collaboration with UNC Hospitals colleagues, will lead a Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response.<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#HHS<\/a>–The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Hospitals have been selected to be a Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (HHS) Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR). UNC-Chapel Hill was one of three sites selected to expand beyond 10 existing RESPTC sites across the US.\n<\/p>\n

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\nUNC School of Medicine\u2019s William Fischer, MD, and David Wohl, MD both members of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, will lead the new center, established through a $3-million ASPR grant. The other two new centers will be established at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. and Spectrum Health System in Grand Rapids Michigan. The ASPR also awarded $1.2 million to each of the original 10 RESPTCs for a total investment of $21 million.\n<\/p>\n

\nFor several years, UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill has been one of eight North Carolina healthcare facilities designated as an assessment hospital to identify, isolate, and care for a patient infected with an emerging pathogen for up to 96 hours before transfer to a RESPTC. Now UNC will join Emory University as the only two RESPTCs in the Southeast.\n<\/p>\n

\nThese awards will bolster the country\u2019s preparedness and capacity to respond to emerging pathogens during medical and public health emergencies. At UNC Hospitals, the grant will allow experts in critical care, infectious diseases and infection control to train and educate staff at UNC Hospitals, other hospitals, and clinics in urban areas and rural communities across the Southeast.\n<\/p>\n

\nFischer and Wohl, both of whom have directly provided care to patients with special pathogens such as Ebola, Lassa fever, COVID-19, and human monkeypox here and abroad, will lead implementation of plans and protocols to quickly establish a special intensive care unit with capacity to care for two patients with special pathogens. Their plans will also account for expanding hospital capabilities should the need arise.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cUNC Hospitals has been at the forefront of caring for infectious diseases patients for decades, starting with the HIV epidemic in the 1980s,\u201d said Wohl, professor of infectious diseases in the department of medicine. \u201cThis award is a recognition of our ability to train clinical staff and care for people with new or concerning infections. There will be no better place to receive this special care than at UNC Hospitals.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nFischer and Wohl are collaborating with UNC Hospitals and campus leadership, the medical intensive care unit, as well as several infection prevention experts at UNC Hospitals, including Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, Brooke Brewer, RN, MS, David Weber, MD, and their entire teams.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cOver the past two decades we have witnessed a rise in the number of emerging and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks. This award is an important opportunity to strengthen local, regional and national preparedness, response and recovery,\u201d said Fischer, director of the Emerging Pathogens Program at the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases and associate professor of pulmonary diseases and critical care medicine. \u201cThis has been a total team effort, including support from each state in our region, local public health officials, and emergency medical professionals.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nWohl noted that North Carolina has a large military presence often stationed overseas and a citizenry dedicated to missionary and nonprofit work abroad, where new pathogens have historically emerged.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cUNC-Chapel Hill is perfectly situated to take on this responsibility,\u201d said Myron Cohen, MD, founding director of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, the Yeargan-Bate Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Epidemiology, and associate vice chancellor for medical affairs. \u201cOur long history and dedication to treating special pathogen patients in Africa, around the world, and at home, as well as our strong partnerships with North Carolina public health leaders, has prepared us to handle whatever might come our way.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nUNC-Chapel Hill is ranked 19th<\/sup> worldwide in the “Best University in Infectious Diseases” rankings by US News & World Report<\/a>. Carolina, the only university in North Carolina ranked in the top 30 globally, is ranked 7th <\/sup>among U.S. institutions.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cDrs. Fischer and Wohl are internationally respected and extraordinary clinicians and researchers who have proven their expertise in this field,\u201d said UNC Hospitals President Janet Hadar, MSN, MBA. \u201cWe are thankful for their leadership, for the dedication of their colleagues and our hospital staff, and for local and state support, which greatly aided our grant application.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nIn announcing the $21-million investment, HHS said the RESPTCs are hospitals with enhanced capability and capacity to care for highly infectious diseases, and serve as regional hubs for the National Special Pathogen System. These hospitals are continuously ready and available to care for a special pathogen patient medically evacuated from overseas or diagnosed within the United States.\n<\/p>\n

\nThese are the 13 RESPTCs:\n<\/p>\n