Mission

PHRI's mission is to help eliminate worldwide infectious disease threats through research excellence and leadership in public health support programs.




Public Health Research Institute

The Public Health Research Institute Center (PHRI) is an independent, not-for-profit research organization founded in 1941 (by New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia) to study infectious diseases. In March 2002, the Institute moved to the International Center for Public Health in Newark, New Jersey.




PHRI's Research Accomplishments over 6 Decades

PHRI has been on the cutting edge of infectious disease research since its founding, including work with the smallpox vaccine, the identification of cancer-causing oncogenes, the discovery of the gene for toxic shock syndrome, and the identification of the multidrug-resistant TB strain "W."




PHRI Research Today

Approximately 125 scientists currently work at PHRI, with a major focus on infectious disease research, including studies of vaccine and drug candidates, molecular epidemiology of hospital-acquired infections, factors that promote drug resistance, and molecular-based rapid diagnostics.




Molecular Beacons

Molecular Beacons, which were invented at PHRI, are nucleic acid probes designed to find and attach to selected portions of an organism's DNA. PHRI has issued over 40 non-exclusive licenses for various uses of its Molecular Beacons technology.




Fighting SARS

PHRI has developed a rapid molecular beacons based diagnostics for SARS, and is currently working with the Chinese government to develop collaborations on this and other matters.




Fighting Bioterrorism

PHRI is at the forefront in addressing the nation's biodefense agenda, including development of rapid molecular beacons based diagnostics for anthrax and other pathogens likely to be used by a bioterrorist. PHRI has recently received a $2 million grant from the NIH for biodefense research as part of a consortium of premier institutions and investigators, and, partnering with UMDNJ-NJMS, has just received a $21 million grant from NIH to construct a Regional Biocontainment Laboratory for biodefense research.




Hospital-acquired Infections

PHRI has launched a project to help NJ hospitals prevent the spread of drug resistant hospital-acquired infections which cause an estimated 100,000 deaths nationwide each year.




Treating Drug Resistant TB in Siberian Prisons

Utilizing a $13 million grant from George Soros, PHRI put in place a comprehensive and successful program to treat patients suffering from drug resistant tuberculosis in the TB prison of the Siberian oblast of Tomsk, and in the surrounding civilian area.