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New research center to study deadly microorganisms

Infection Control Monitor, October 20, 2004

The University of Chicago will construct a new research center to study pathogens to help in the fight against bioterrorism, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease provided the university with an $18 million grant to create a "bioinformatics center," to support research for the detection, prevention, and elimination of diseases such as anthrax, hemorrhagic fever, influenza, and plague.

The idea is for the center to compile a vast database of pathogens that will be readily available to labs around the country. In the event of a terrorist attack, scientists could compare the strain of pathogen used to known strains to figure out the best way to fight it.

Like other centers in the United States, the new center will work towards responding to terrorists' attacks involving pathogens such as ebola and anthrax.

Construction is expected to begin later this year at the site of Argonne National Laboratory, which the university runs for the federal government 25 miles southwest of Chicago.

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