The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health has made a five-year award of $3.5 million to Thomas Kozel, Ph.D., and his research team in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Nevada School of Medicine.
The grant will support translational research to develop a new generation of tests for diagnosis of anthrax in the event of a bioterrorism attack that are rapid, simple and inexpensive. Rapid diagnosis of anthrax may save many lives through early identification of individuals who need treatment.
"The awarding of this grant to Dr. Kozel is one more example of how the microbiology department at the School of Medicine is emerging as a leader in the field of infectious disease," said Greg Pari, Ph.D., chair of the department.
Kozel has been conducting research on anthrax since 2003 as part of the overall national biodefense effort.
Research in support of this grant is being conducted by Kozel's team using the equipment and facilities at the School of Medicine's new research facility, the Center for Molecular Medicine, which is located on the University of Nevada, Reno campus.