Mayo Clinic awarded major NIH contract for smallpox genomic...( ROCHESTER Minn. -- Vaccine researchers...)

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Vaccine researchers at Mayo Clinic have been awarded a $10 million federal contract to study genetic susceptibility to smallpox and genomic-based risks to the smallpox vaccine. "This award underscores the confidence of the National Institutes of Health in our research capabilities and our track record, specifically our published research on vaccines for smallpox, anthrax and measles," said Gregory Poland, M.D., head of Mayo's Vaccine Research Group and lead researcher on the project. "This further strengthens Mayo Clinic's mission in improving and protecting the health of people worldwide."

The contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is for $10.2 million over five years and supports establishment and operation of a Population Genetics Analysis Program. The programs would investigate immune-response gene polymorphisms that affect an individual's susceptibility to infection, as well as their response to vaccination. Researchers also will study potential cellular and hormonal responses to smallpox vaccination.

Dr. Poland says Mayo Clinic's research expertise was a factor in the NIAID decision. "A major strength is our 12 years of experience in performing exactly these types of studies with other live viral vaccine models."

Mayo Clinic's resources as a genomics research center will also be integral in the effort. Genotyping of genomic DNA will be performed by the Mayo Genotyping Share Resource (GSR), a core laboratory under the direction of co-investigator Julie Cunningham, Ph.D. Other aspects of the research including bioinformatics -- the processing of the huge number of data points in this type of genomic research -- will involve Mayo biostatisticians and the Mayo Advanced Genomics Technology Center (AGTC).

"This award to Dr. Poland is another tangible confirmation that Mayo is fast becoming a leader in applying the tools of Genomics to the most pressing issues in
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Contact: Bob Nellis
newsbureau@mayo.edu
507-284-5005
Mayo Clinic
4-Oct-2004

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