PHRI is applying its six decades of infectious disease research experience to address the emerging biodefense agenda, seeking to understand the biological properties of potential agents of bioterrorism and to initiate approaches for the development of new diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines. For example:

• Dr. David Perlin and Dr. Fred Russell Kramer are co-directing a project to develop molecular beacon probes for the rapid identification of select agents of bioterrorism, and have just received a $500,000 federal grant for this purpose.
  
  
• Dr. Gilla Kaplan is studying the pathogenesis of anthrax disease in order to design immuno modulatory therapy adjunctive to antibiotic treatment, thereby improving the outcome of infection.
  
  
• Dr. Abraham Pinter seeks to develop neutralizing antibodies directed against both anthrax and botulinum toxins.
  
  
• Dr. Karl Drlica will investigate new drugs for their effectiveness in killing Bacillus anthracis that is resistant to ciprofloxacin.

PHRI is working closely with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School to position Newark as a center for biodefense research.

• PHRI has collaborated with UMDNJ-NJMS to apply for an NIH Regional Biocontainment Laboratory grant to expand the International Center for Public Health to provide additional biosafety level three (BSL3) laboratory space and increase the number of scientists at the ICPH who are engaged in research on agents of bioterrorism.
  
  
• PHRI and NJMS are also members of a consortium of over 30 institutions from New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Puerto Rico who have applied for an NIH Research Center of Excellence (RCE) grant. Consortium members will be able to use the BSL3 laboratories at the ICPH for the safe study of select agents in vitro and in rodent infection models.