A $900,000 congressional appropriation will help the UCF College of Medicine create a pathogen surveillance and research core to identify and address future pandemics.
U.S. Congressman Darren Soto recently presented the funding to Deborah German, vice president for health affairs and founding dean of the medical school, and Griffith Parks, associate dean of research and director of the College of Medicine 麻豆精品 S檚 . Parks is an internationally recognized virus researcher.
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The congressional funding will purchase genomic sequencing equipment that will allow College of Medicine researchers to identify the entire genetic makeup of viruses like COVID-19 and other microbes. Parks says such technology allows researchers to determine quickly the genetic makeup of new pathogens, a first step in identifying treatments. Microbiologists worldwide are continually monitoring pathogens 麻豆精品 S� viruses and bacteria 麻豆精品 S� that could lead to a pandemic.
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The genome sequencing equipment will also assist College of Medicine researchers focused on finding new therapies for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer 麻豆精品 S檚 and Parkinson 麻豆精品 S檚 disease, and provide research training for UCF students seeking careers in medicine and science.
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