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The overall objective of the study is to establish nationwide, research units who will collaborate and participate in the Food and Waterborne (FWD) Integrated Research Network sponsored by the NIH. The Network will facilitate the integration of research programs to develop products to rapidly identify, prevent, and treat food and waterborne diseases that threaten public health.
The Network will: <OL> <LI> Evaluate vaccines, therapeutics, and rapid detection methods;<LI> Integrate human mucosal immunity with clinical research; <LI> Increase research and product development activities; <LI> Include the ecology and microbiology of food- and water-borne zoonoses as well as drug resistant pathogens.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Each year it is estimated that 76 million persons experience food borne illnesses. Waterborne disease outbreaks associated with drinking water or recreational water occur annually. Vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics for these infectious diseases are limited. The purpose of the Network is to support activities critical to filling gaps in food and water safety and enteric diseases research.
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APPROACH: Of the four units (Microbiology, Immunology, Zoonoses, Clinical Research), the Cornell component will address Zoonoses Research. It will provide expertise and capacity in veterinary and water microbiology, disease ecology, environmental microbiology, epidemiology, and veterinary and comparative medicine.