At a time when COVID-19 has proven how quickly a deadly pathogen can travel across the globe, Cleveland Clinic has significantly expanded its global commitment to infectious disease research and translational programs to form the Global Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health.
The new center positions Cleveland Clinic as an international leader for research into emerging pathogens and virus-related diseases.
“This is the largest research effort in Cleveland Clinic’s 100-year history,” said Cleveland Clinic CEO and President Tom Mihaljevic, M.D. “The Global Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health will put Cleveland Clinic at the forefront of pathogen research and preparing for the next pandemic or healthcare crisis. The center will have a significant impact on global health.”
Headquartered in Cleveland and spanning Cleveland Clinic’s international footprint in Florida, London and Abu Dhabi, the Global Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health brings together a research team focused on broadening understanding of viral pathogens, virus-induced cancers, genomics, immunology and immunotherapies. It expands upon Cleveland Clinic’s existing programs and expertise, with newly recruited world leaders in immunology, cancer biology, immune-oncology and pathogen research as well as technology development and education. Researchers are expanding critical work on studying, preparing and protecting against public health threats such as HIV/AIDS, Dengue fever, Zika and COVID-19.
Cleveland Clinic, with its world-wide clinical and research operations, top scientists and physicians, medical educational programs and international funding, is uniquely positioned to be a global hub for state-of-the-art pathogen research, clinical care and serving as an incubator for rapid development, testing and deployment of diagnostics, medicines and vaccines. The Center is organized around six highly collaborative programs with multidisciplinary experts in virology and immunology; personalized medicine and genomics; population health; drug discovery; diagnostic development and integration of big data with patient care.
The center is led by Jae Jung, Ph.D., an internationally renowned expert in virology and virus-induced cancers who has broken ground in the field of inflammation, immune-oncology and emerging pathogens. This team plans the recruitment of more than 300 scientists in the next 5 to 7 years.
“The Global Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health will be a command center to help solve deadly threats to our health, economy and communities,” said Serpil Erzurum, M.D., Cleveland Clinic’s Chief Research and Academic Officer. “The unparalleled investment in the Center will drive workforce development while leveraging Cleveland Clinic’s research infrastructure to study pathogens and the immune system in novel ways to develop new diagnostic tests, vaccines and treatments.”
This article appears in the latest issue of Omnia Health Magazine. Read the full issue online today.