Seattle BioMed, a South Lake Union-based nonprofit which conducts infectious disease research, announced today the organization has rebranded as the Center for Infectious Disease Research.
“Our 250 scientists and staff work tirelessly every day to make scientific breakthroughs that lead to the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases across the globe”
“We’re excited to enter the next chapter in our organization’s history,” said Alan Aderem, PhD, president and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research. “Our new brand represents the purpose, promise and global reach of our organization and betters position us to raise public awareness and support for the critical, life-saving research that is essential to improving health and saving lives.”
14 million people lose their lives every year to infectious diseases. The Center for Infectious Disease Research focuses on making transformative scientific advancements in the development of vaccines, drugs and diagnostics to treat and prevent HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other emerging and neglected diseases.
“Our 250 scientists and staff work tirelessly every day to make scientific breakthroughs that lead to the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases across the globe,” said John Aitchison, PhD, scientific director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research.
The organization is officially introducing the new name and brand to the public on Thursday, April 30 at an event in Seattle. The event will feature speeches from Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, Ana Mari Cauce, interim president of the University of Washington and a coalition of global health leaders including Lisa Cohen, executive director of Washington Global Health Alliance and Allan Jones, CEO of the Allen Institute for Brain Science, discussing the need to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health.
“With so much work still to be done, it is important we use our public brand launch to highlight the critical funding challenges facing the National Institutes of Health,” said Dr. Aderem. “The NIH has seen its funding capacity drastically diminished in recent years and can now only fund one in six research requests. The stakes couldn’t be higher – there are millions of lives depending on new scientific breakthroughs, which require increased funding capacity.”
During the brand launch event, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and its coalition of global health organizations and leaders is launching a petition urging Congress to increase funding for the NIH.