Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced a $9 million grant to the UCLA School of Public Health for the expansion and enhancement of a new high-speed, high-volume laboratory network capable of quickly analyzing and processing high quantities of biological samples. The governor made the announcement at a press conference on the campus of UCLA.

The UCLA High Speed, High Volume Laboratory Network for Infectious Diseases, initially funded by a congressionally directed Department of Defense investment, will improve the nation's ability to make rapid and critically important decisions to save lives in the event of bioterror attacks or infectious disease outbreaks. The lab, to be housed in UCLA's California NanoSystems Institute, will enable public health experts to track diseases in near real time and dramatically shorten the time needed to produce effective vaccines.

The $9 million granted from the state's Office of Homeland Security will expedite widespread collection and testing of influenza samples within a few days of collection (near real-time surveillance) and thereby guide emergency outbreak control efforts. The lab will test and analyze many more viruses than are currently examined by state laboratories and enhance capacity should laboratories be overloaded.

"This lab will improve California's ability to diagnose and respond to disease outbreaks, bioterrorism and other threats — that is why both the state and Los Angeles are investing homeland security dollars into this project," Schwarzenegger said.

Dr. Linda Rosenstock, dean of UCLA's School of Public Health, said, "State funding will allow UCLA's School of Public Health to get our lab up and running more quickly and expand our reach. By utilizing existing technologies, the UCLA Laboratory Network will be able to analyze data and provide potentially life-saving information in days instead of weeks or months."

The lab will analyze numerous influenza viruses in great detail and thereby assist in influenza vaccine strain selection efforts, should an influenza pandemic arise. It will enhance animal and human surveillance and permit an up-to-date view of infectious diseases outbreaks for effective decision-making and public health interventions. The UCLA directed effort constitutes an urgently needed laboratory capability and decision support structure for emerging infectious diseases and bioterrorism response

"As with any innovative, cutting-edge effort, there are many who deserve credit," added Rosenstock. "Professor Scott Layne had the vision for the lab and the good sense to enlist the support of School of Public Health Advisory Board member Cindy Horn. Cindy has been an inspired leader, working tirelessly to secure the necessary support and funds to launch the lab.  Finally, I'd like to thank the congressional leaders who secured initial funding for the lab, and the governor for helping expand our efforts."

The UCLA School of Public Health will direct the network development, operate the prototype laboratory system, participate in the intensive analyses of influenza samples and provide emergency capabilities in the event of an outbreak. In partnership with the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the laboratory network will have the capacity, using existing technology, to link laboratories in California, the nation and the world. 

The UCLA School of Public Health is dedicated to enhancing the public's health by conducting innovative research, training future leaders and health professionals, translating research into policy and practice and serving local, national and international communities.  For more information, see www.ph.ucla.edu. 

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