A new Zika research program — funded by a $10 million grant from the CDC — will be led by Rhoel Dinglasan, PhD, an infectious disease expert with the University of Florida in Gainesville.
The Southeast Regional Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease's Gateway Program will also be staffed by researchers from several Florida universities including the University of Miami, Florida International University in Miami and the University of South Florida in Tampa.
"Florida really is ground zero. We are the gateway for vector-borne diseases into the United States," said Dr. Dinglasan. "We have seen Zika, dengue and chikungunya, and it is our responsibility as scientists to do our part to stop them."
The $10 million grant from the CDC is a part of nearly $184 million in funding recently awarded to states, territories, local jurisdictions and universities to bolster efforts designed to curb the spread of Zika and mitigate adverse outcomes associated with the virus, including microcephaly.
More articles on the Zika virus:
CDC issues Zika-related travel guidance for Brownsville, Texas
Microcephaly 'the tip of the iceberg' — 4 in 10 Zika-infected babies may have serious birth defects
Mothers infected with Zika in 1st trimester more likely to have babies with microcephaly