Spring Break
CDC halts bioweapon research
By: Calli Turner
Issue date: 7/2/07 Section: News
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has indefinitely suspended research on certain infectious diseases at Texas A&M in response to two exposure investigations on campus.
Interim President Eddie J. Davis said he was informed of the research ban Sunday. "They have asked us to cease and desist on any select agent research," he said.
Select agents, which are monitored by the CDC, include viruses, bacteria, fungi or rickettsiae on the list of biological agents or toxins. Brucella and Q fever are included in the ban.
Davis said this does not mean the CDC investigation at A&M is over.
CDC officials were on campus in April investigating the late reporting of a student who was infected with brucellosis. The CDC was on campus last week investigating three researchers exposed to Q fever. Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Jerry Strawser confirmed the investigation. Strawser said the investigation is related to the prior brucellosis infection.
Both cases originated from The Sunshine Project, a bioweapons watchdog group. In October 2006, Sunshine Project Director Edward Hammond filed a request for all accidents involving bioweapon agents at A&M.
Through the Texas Public Information Act, Hammond received e-mails between Biological Safety Officer Brent Mattox and Director for the Office of Research Compliance Angelia Raines. The e-mails reported a call made by Scott and White Health Clinic informing the occupational health program that three individuals from Professor James E. Samuel's lab had come in contact with Q fever.
"[The ban] will have a major impact not only on A&M research, but it will reverberate nationwide," Hammond said.
He said while the ban is in place, A&M cannot do the specified research and will not receive additional funding.
The investigations and restriction came in the midst of A&M's bid for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, a homeland security facility that researches high-consequence biological threats, such as brucella and Q fever.
Davis said until they are informed otherwise, they will keep the bid for the facility.
"I would be shocked if A&M survived to the short list after this ban," Hammond said.
Davis said the ban will not change anything beyond research.
"It shouldn't affect anything other than that we're informed by the CDC that we need to stop until we have another meeting with them sometime in July."
Interim President Eddie J. Davis said he was informed of the research ban Sunday. "They have asked us to cease and desist on any select agent research," he said.
Select agents, which are monitored by the CDC, include viruses, bacteria, fungi or rickettsiae on the list of biological agents or toxins. Brucella and Q fever are included in the ban.
Davis said this does not mean the CDC investigation at A&M is over.
CDC officials were on campus in April investigating the late reporting of a student who was infected with brucellosis. The CDC was on campus last week investigating three researchers exposed to Q fever. Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Jerry Strawser confirmed the investigation. Strawser said the investigation is related to the prior brucellosis infection.
Both cases originated from The Sunshine Project, a bioweapons watchdog group. In October 2006, Sunshine Project Director Edward Hammond filed a request for all accidents involving bioweapon agents at A&M.
Through the Texas Public Information Act, Hammond received e-mails between Biological Safety Officer Brent Mattox and Director for the Office of Research Compliance Angelia Raines. The e-mails reported a call made by Scott and White Health Clinic informing the occupational health program that three individuals from Professor James E. Samuel's lab had come in contact with Q fever.
"[The ban] will have a major impact not only on A&M research, but it will reverberate nationwide," Hammond said.
He said while the ban is in place, A&M cannot do the specified research and will not receive additional funding.
The investigations and restriction came in the midst of A&M's bid for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, a homeland security facility that researches high-consequence biological threats, such as brucella and Q fever.
Davis said until they are informed otherwise, they will keep the bid for the facility.
"I would be shocked if A&M survived to the short list after this ban," Hammond said.
Davis said the ban will not change anything beyond research.
"It shouldn't affect anything other than that we're informed by the CDC that we need to stop until we have another meeting with them sometime in July."
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