Biosecurity and Public Health

Integrated genomics is one of many approaches used to understand pathogens and their spread

Biomolecular recognition and protein engineering to enhance therapeutics, vaccines and biosurveillance

Stopping the spread of disease—from naturally occurring or manmade threats—requires an in-depth understanding of pathogens and how they work. It also requires advanced methods for detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

The Biosecurity and Public Health (B-10) group specializes in studying methods to protect humans and other organisms from pathogens and disease by:

• Understanding the molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions.
• Discovering new biomarkers of disease.
• Developing effective recognition molecules for detection reagents—both RNA and protein.
• Developing effective vaccines and therapeutics.
• Designing advanced diagnostic assays and biosensors for rapid detection of disease.
• Analyzing and engineering biomolecules for drug development.
• Understanding and countering changes in the environment that facilitate disease in humans and animals.