WHAT:
Infectious diseases are spreading faster than at any other time in history and are the leading cause of acute human illness, lost productivity and death worldwide. Quick detection of these diseases is critical to halting and containing their spread.
Now, UCLA opens its new Global Bio Lab, a first-of-its-kind high-speed, high-volume automated laboratory for infectious-disease surveillance, monitoring and research. The new facility will dramatically increase the speed at which infectious agents are submitted, tested and analyzed, and this enhanced capacity will improve our nation's ability to respond quickly to bio-emergencies, such as bioterrorist attacks or flu pandemics.
The UCLA School of Public Health collaborated with the Los Alamos National Laboratory to develop the Global Bio Lab, with initial, congressionally directed funding from the U.S. Department of Defense and from the California Emergency Management Agency.
WHO:
In attendance at the grand opening of the Global Bio Lab:
Rep. Nancy Pelosi
Democratic leader, U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Henry A. Waxman
U.S. House of Representatives (D-CA)
Gene Block
UCLA chancellor
Dr. Linda Rosenstock
Dean of the UCLA School of Public Health
Cindy Horn
Member of the UCLA School of Public Health Dean's Advisory Board
VIDEO B-ROLL | INTERVIEWS
• B-roll of the automated lab is available for download at http://portal.ctrl.ucla.edu/sph/video.
• Dr. Rosenstock will be available for studio interviews via fiber Friday afternoon.
WHEN:
11 a.m., Friday, May 20
WHERE:
California NanoSystems Institute, lobby (map)
570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, Calif. 90095
MEDIA CONTACT:
Sarah Anderson | 310-267-0440
PARKING:
Parking will be available in Parking Structure 9. Permits must be picked up at the parking kiosk. Call media contact for reservations.
Media Contact:
Sarah Anderson
Sarah Anderson
