About Us
The IDCRP capitalizes on resources centered at USU and the NIH as well as the distributed network of DoD Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs), thus creating a unique infectious disease clinical research network. The collaborative relationship between the DoD and NIAID draws on the strengths of both agencies. In addition to its expertise in infectious disease research, NIAID brings extensive experience in education, biostatistics, and clinical trials monitoring.
The Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program is headquartered within the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics (PMB) at USU. The Principal Investigator, CAPT Gerald V. Quinnan, Jr., M.D., is also the Chair of PMB.
Research in the IDCRP is focused toward clinically important infectious disease threats to the warfighter and military community including methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other multiply drug resistant organisms (MDRO), infectious complications of war wounds, travel and tropical diseases, and HIV infection and related conditions. HIV clinical research will be conducted through the Tri-Service AIDS Clinical Consortium (TACC), now a component of the IDCRP, and will include the 20-year U.S. Military HIV Natural History Study.
The IDCRP will partner not only with NIAID investigators but with DoD research partners at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), the DoD Global Emerging Infections and Surveillance System (DoD GEIS) and the Institute of Surgical Research (ISR) to cooperatively pursue answers to infectious diseases risks to the military.
Military's History of Success
The IDCRP’s goal is to foster DoD’s investigators to continue the long history of contributions of the US military to the fight against infectious diseases threats. Military investigators have led efforts in the development of vaccines, antimalarials and control of vector borne illness. Tropical medicine expertise, long a strength of the DoD has been joined by cutting edge HIV research in the last 20 years.
Key Role of the Uniformed Services University
The Uniformed Services University provides an ideal setting for the IDCRP. As an organization comprised of members from the three military services (Army, Navy, Air Force) and the Public Health Service (PHS), as well as civilian federal employees and contractors, USU provides the collaborative environment needed to bring together investigators from inside and outside the DoD.
The educational focus and research experience within USU will be leveraged by IDCRP to foster its growth and development. In addition, the special relationship between USU and HJF dramatically facilitates the interface between NIAID and the DoD.
Organization
The IDCRP is managed by a Central Office staff located at USU.
This team is led by the Program Director, CAPT Gregory Martin, who is responsible for the day-to-day management and development of the IDCRP.
Dr. David Tribble is the Director of the General ID.
Col. Scott Wegner is the Director of the TACC. The Central IDCRP Office also includes: Dr. Brian Agan, the Deputy Director of the TACC, Dr. Rachel Wierzba, the Deputy Director GID and Tom Dang, Director Operations.
The IDCRP is directed by a Steering Committee comprised of key stakeholders from the NIAID, USU and each of the military services.
Chair- COL Kent Kester (MRMC - US Army Medical Research & Materiel Command)
Dr Michael Polis (NIAID – CCRB Collaborative Clinical Research Branch)
CAPT Gerald Quinnan, PHS (USU – Chairman Preventive Medicine and Biometrics)
COL Duane Hospenthal (US Army – SAMMC San Antonio Military Medical Center)
Lt Col Michael Forgione (US Air Force – Defense Threat Reduction Agency)
CDR Jason Maguire (US Navy – Naval Medical Center Portsmouth)