Core Services
The MARCE Cores provide key services to all MARCE researchers. They include an Administrative Core, a Bioinformatics and Genomics Research Core, a Clinical Trials Core, and a Non-Human Primate Core:
Administrative Core
The Administrative Core supports the research, developmental, career development and training projects as well as activities of the other research cores, facilitating integration and collaboration across the MARCE.
Bioinformatics Core
The Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) has been designated to serve as the Bioinformatics and Genomics Core (BGRC) for the MARCE. The BGRC will assist MARCE investigators with bioinformatics and genomics needs. Moreover, this core will rapidly realign service priorities should an infectious outbreak or bioterror event occur.
Clinical Trials Core
The Center for Vaccine Development of the University of Maryland School of Medicine acts as a Clinical Trials Core with the resources and expertise necessary to conduct expedited clinical vaccine trials involving large numbers of subjects. This core is capable of undertaking accelerated clinical development of vaccines against bioterror and emerging infection agents and conducting vaccine clinical trials in parallel.
Non-Human Primates Core
A two-site facility that includes the University of Pittsburgh's Primate Facility for Infectious Disease Research and the UMD Veterinary Resources Center, which together can house over 200 primates. Both sites have ABSL-3 facilities that can carry out aerosol challenges of primates with select agents, such as anthrax or F. tularensis and can perform challenges with highly virulent enteric pathogens, such as Shigella dysenteriae.