About

Goals

  • Conduct research to discover the mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis
  • Invent, develop, and apply novel technologies for the discovery of new antimicrobial targets, vaccines, and diagnostics
  • Educate and train future scientists and clinicians who will be leaders in the field of cutting-edge technologies for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases
  • Stimulate and act as a resource for the growth of biotechnology companies in Northern Florida

The Need for Research

  • Infectious diseases are among the most critical health problems worldwide.
  • One out of every three people worldwide is infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis.
  • Re-emerging infectious agents, as well as new antibiotic-resistant strains, make infectious diseases a major health problem of the new millennium. Between 1973 and 1999, more than 35 newly emerging infectious diseases were identified.
  • Without rapid development of antimicrobials and vaccines, we face an era of drastically increased morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases.