The CVM and the National Bio & Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF)
The College of Veterinary Medicine at NC State University is part of a consortium of North Carolina universities, government agencies, and private sector partners who are proposing that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) selects North Carolina as the site for the National Bio & Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), a new research center that would address national public and animal health interests.
North Carolina is one of 14 consortia remaining under consideration by the DHS from an original list of 24 consortia.
DHS plans call for a 500,000 square-foot facility that is envisioned as a new integrated human and animal disease research center with diagnostic, development, and testing capabilities. The center would strengthen animal and public health against emerging and foreign disease threats. More than 250 research scientists, technicians, and support staff would be engaged in research and development for diagnostic tests, drug, vaccines, and other mitigation technologies.
The CVM, which helped develop the initial response to the DHS call for proposals, has expertise in homeland security issues involving animal and public health through its role in the Agriculture Disaster Research Institute, the Animal Biosecurity Risk Management Group, Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database (FARAD), the USDA Food Safety Research and Response Network, and animal disease research involving the new Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research.
For more information, visit the North Carolina Consortium web site:
News release:
NC Consortium advances in Department of Homeland Security process http://www.ncsu.edu/news/press_releases/06_08/131.htm
News release:
Background on initial North Carolina Consortium proposal http://www.ncsu.edu/news/press_releases/06_03/059.htm