The Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Consortium

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At a Glance
  • Status: Active Consortium
  • Year Launched: 2010
  • Initiating Organization: NIH
  • Initiator Type: Government
  • Rare disease
  • Disease focus:
    Viral Hemorrhagic Fever, Lassa Fever, Ebola
  • Location: International

Abstract

The Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Consortium was established in 2010 as a result of a five-year $15 million contract awarded to Tulane University by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This contract was awarded for Tulane's ongoing efforts to treat and prevent Lassa Fever, a disease that threatens hundreds of thousands of lives annually in West Africa and is classified as a potential bioterrorism threat.

Mission

The goal of the Consortium is to understand mechanisms related to the human immune response to Lassa virus infection. Specifically, by understanding what parts of the virus are recognized by the immune system, we can better understand mechanisms of antibody-mediated protection or pathogenesis in humans with Lassa Fever.

Consortium History

Since the consortiums beginning it has grown to encompassing more than just research to better understand the Lassa Virus.  The consortium works to discover ways to treat and prevent Lassa Virus and expanded its scope to include Ebola, Marburg, and other Arenaviruses that are of great concern to public health and bioterrorism.

Structure & Governance

The consortium is overseen by Tulane University

Financing

The consortium was awarded a 5-year, $15 million grant by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, which is part of the NIH.

Patient Engagement

During the Human Evolution Project, the consortium engaged patients to study genome biomarkers that would be useful in understanding the Lassa Virus.

Impact/Accomplishment

For news relating to the consortium, click here

Points of Contact

http://www.vhfc.org/contact

Dr. Robert Garry
Professor
Department of Microbiology & Immunology
Tulane University Health Sciences Center
1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-38
New Orleans, LA, 70112
Phone: (504) 988-2027
rfgarry@tulane.edu

Sponsors & Partners

Tulane

Scripps Research Institute

Broad Institute

Harvard University

University of California at San Diego

University of Texas Medical Branch

Autoimmune Technologies LLC

Corgenix Medical Corporation

Kenema Government Hospital (Sierra Leone)

Irruna Specialist Teaching Hospital (Nigeria)

Last Updated: 06/26/2017
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