USF Chosen For Virus Research Headquarters

The Global Virus Network has named the University of South Florida in Tampa as its new Southeast U.S. regional headquarters.

Baltimore-based GVN is a system of researchers in 34 countries who study how viruses work and how they make people sick.

Dr. Christian Bréchot, GVN president and professor of internal medicine at USF Health, said that the partnership between the organizations will help develop ways to combat viruses.

“It will help, for example, to evaluate new treatments,” said Bréchot. “It will help to evaluate new diagnostic tests, new vaccine protocols.”

USF’s research influence should also increase because of the agreement.

“It's really connecting all (the) best experts in virology worldwide,” said Bréchot. “It will really help increase (the) visibility of USF at the international level.”

Tampa Bay area hospitals will also benefit from, as well as contribute to, the research.

“This partnership will help USF and Tampa General Hospital, and possibly other hospitals, reinforce clinical research,” Bréchot added.

The partnership will start off small, with only a few officers in the program, but Bréchot said that the hope is it will expand over time — potentially making USF Health a more intriguing choice for prospective students and researchers.

“The idea is that, with this naming of USF as headquarters, we are obviously improving our chance to get (more) hands,” said Bréchot. “That, in turn, will lead to recruit (more) scientists, medical doctors, and so on.”

Bréchot said a big part of the reason why USF landed the headquarters is because of its response to COVID-19. He pointed specifically to how effective USF’s COVID-19 protocol has been.

“This activity has been part of what I (refer to) as the beginning of… USF’s commitment and engagement (in fighting) infectious disease,” Bréchot said.

The partnership involves USF's four health sciences colleges of the university: USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Public Health, and USF Health Taneja College of Pharmacy.

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