FAZD Hosts National Conference Exploring Academic Network

Recognizing the substantial U.S. academic capacity to contribute research and education, the National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense (FAZD) conducted a national workshop April 6-8, 2005 to explore the need for and the approach to establishing an Academic Network for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease (ANFAZD). The concept is for the network to provide a means of collaboration among scientists and educators involved in FAZD and to make this knowledge base available to the Department of Homeland Security for advice and support in advancing science and technology.

The threat posed by intentional introduction of biological agents affecting food and agriculture was recognized and emphasized by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 9, which directs all relevant agencies, including the DHS and USDA, to undertake widespread programs to more effectively deter, detect, react to, and recover from such attacks. The Department of Homeland Security’s National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense was established through a competitive process to address a key segment of this overall threat.

“Both the government and the private sector recognize the critical need to provide an enhanced defense to the food and agriculture sector,” said Dr. Neville Clarke, Director of the FAZD Center. He noted that the conference brought together the key leadership in academia and government agencies that examined and then endorsed the proposal to form the academic network. The conference featured speakers from the various parts of government, private sector, and universities where current programs and needs were defined, including a strong endorsements for the academic network.

Dr. Maureen McCarthy, Director of Science and Technology for DHS, commended the creation of the network as an important means of harnessing the broad expertise of the university community to contribute to the security of U.S. agriculture. She noted that the Science and Technology Directorate is a “force multiplier” for the DHS and that the coalition of academic talent provided by the network would substantially contribute to this goal by helping to make the DHS process be, “intelligence informed, technology enabled and science driven.”

Dr. Richard E. Ewing, Vice President for Research at Texas A&M University, emphasized that universities, “bring a broad base of science to bear on multiple, broad Homeland Security needs.” Dr. Ewing said, “Academia is uniquely suited for ‘discovery to delivery’ science applied to future Homeland Security capacity, and this academic network is an opportunity to relate what’s needed to what’s possible.”

The collaborative approach to research and strategic advancement was affirmed by Dr. Mike McGowan, Director of Industry Affairs and Public Policy for Pfizer Animal Health, who highlighted a network within the Animal Health Industry as an example of the benefits of collaboration. Dr. McGowan demonstrated that even private sector institutions who are often competitors can develop networking and cooperative systems that are mutually beneficial and workable. “These scientific networks are a superior course to one party addressing a broad issue on behalf of an entire industry,” said Dr. McGowan.

The national conference demonstrated the wide interest in such a network and helped set the course for the ANFAZD. The network will seek to connect people and make full use of other relevant existing and emerging systems and networks, allowing researchers to augment and not duplicate one another’s efforts.

“The conference was an excellent opportunity to gather the input of the leading thinkers and researchers in the field,” said Dr. Clarke, “and we will proceed with the foundation of their rich contributions. We move forward with a mandate from both the homeland security and scientific communities to continue gathering the information and background necessary to develop and lead an efficient, effective network of our nation’s best minds and resources in the area of animal disease defense.”

The Department of Homeland Security established the National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense the summer of 2004. Texas A&M University serves as the lead institution in a consortium of universities that includes the University of Texas Medical Branch, the University of California Davis, and the University of Southern California. The Center was created to become part of the biodefense research and education portfolio of the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security.