Spring Break
TAMU Biodefense official resigns after CDC ban
By: Steven Romo
Issue date: 9/5/07 Section: News
In the wake of the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) rebuke of Texas A&M's biodefense research program, Brent Mattox resigned from his position as the school's Biosafety Director on Friday.
In his written resignation, Mattox said that he and his staff have made the university a safer place and that he regrets having to resign. He also indicated in his resignation that he can no longer perform his duties of overseeing lab inspections and safety for the environmental health and safety department in the "present environment".
Mattox's resignation follows that of Vice President for Research Richard Ewing. Ewing stepped down in August over the program's mishandlings.
CDC officials came to A&M in July and investigated the procedures being implemented in the labs. University officials released the CDC's report on it's the multitude of problems found in A&M's federally funded biodefense research program. The CDC's findings will ban A&M from participating in biodefense research until it has been proven to be in compliance with CDC safety standards. Among the infractions, the report cites the program with allowing unauthorized persons to gain access to secure labs, and losing count of dangerous substances.
CDC officials began investigating A&M since April when a student researcher was exposed to Brucella, and three researchers were exposed to Q fever. Both of these agents are listed as bioterrorism agents by the CDC.
The university could be forced to pay up to $500,000 in fines for their failure to report the cases of the agent exposure.
In his written resignation, Mattox said that he and his staff have made the university a safer place and that he regrets having to resign. He also indicated in his resignation that he can no longer perform his duties of overseeing lab inspections and safety for the environmental health and safety department in the "present environment".
Mattox's resignation follows that of Vice President for Research Richard Ewing. Ewing stepped down in August over the program's mishandlings.
CDC officials came to A&M in July and investigated the procedures being implemented in the labs. University officials released the CDC's report on it's the multitude of problems found in A&M's federally funded biodefense research program. The CDC's findings will ban A&M from participating in biodefense research until it has been proven to be in compliance with CDC safety standards. Among the infractions, the report cites the program with allowing unauthorized persons to gain access to secure labs, and losing count of dangerous substances.
CDC officials began investigating A&M since April when a student researcher was exposed to Brucella, and three researchers were exposed to Q fever. Both of these agents are listed as bioterrorism agents by the CDC.
The university could be forced to pay up to $500,000 in fines for their failure to report the cases of the agent exposure.
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