National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the United States
National Institutes of Health, NIH Institutes and Centers: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Introduction to National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Established in 1948, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases coordinates and funds research involving allergic, immunologic, and infectious diseases, and it seeks improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these illnesses. It funds and conducts research on asthma; cholera and other infectious diseases of the intestine; malaria and other tropical diseases; and sexually transmitted infections such as AIDS, chlamydia, syphilis, and herpes.
The institute is the lead agency in the Public Health System for vaccine research and funds the development of vaccines from initial research to clinical trials. It develops measures to meet the threats of bioterrorism (see Chemical and Biological Warfare) and radiation exposure, and it conducts research on emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), West Nile virus, and tuberculosis. The institute also directs many federal research efforts involving acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), including an initiative to develop a safe and effective vaccine against the disease.” (1)
Resources
Notes and References
- Information about National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia
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