CIMIT Forum:Military Infectious Diseases Research Program

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Military Infectious Diseases Research Program

6.22.2010

SPEAKER:
Julia A. Lynch, MD, COL, MC, USA, Director, Military Infectious Disease Research Program (MIDRP), U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Ft Detrick, Maryland

MODERATOR:
Paul D. Biddinger, MD, FACEP, Director of Operations for Emergency Medicine and Medical Director for Emergency Preparedness, Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Director, Harvard School of Public Health Center for Public Health Preparedness; holds academic appointments at Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health

Forum Summary

The mission of the Military Infectious Disease Research Program (MIDRP) is to conduct research leading to the fielding of new and improved methods for protecting and treating infectious diseases affecting U.S. soldiers. Infectious diseases can cause more casualties than enemy fire and pose a dynamic threat to the military. The MIDRP develops vaccines and drugs and is continually seeking FDA approval for new treatments. In the past, the MIDRP has played an important role in the development of vaccines for a number of diseases such as hepatitis A and B and has also been involved in the development of many new pharmaceutical treatments. Prioritizing research goals is an important task at the MIDRP, and the top priority is currently to develop antiparasitic drugs to fight malaria and leishmaniasis. Limiting diarrheal illnesses and fighting multi-drug-resistant infections are also main priorities. Of potential interest to CIMIT, the MIDRP is currently seeking ways to rapidly screen fresh whole blood on the battlefront and is also seeking new ways to treat wound infections.