The Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch (EIDB) is part of the Viral Diseases Program at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) has an explicit mission to survey, anticipate and counter the mounting threat of emerging infectious diseases of key importance to U.S. forces in the homeland and abroad.
Building on decades of prescient investments into a broad, product-oriented research and development infrastructure, the U.S. Army and WRAIR have been able to consistently maintain a posture of readiness and response to the most pressing pathogens that threaten U.S. and allied forces.
With a vast international network, state-of-the-art research competencies and a robust network of cross-sector partnerships, EIDB and WRAIR are uniquely positioned to prepare for and rapidly respond accelerating and intensifying onslaught of emerging infectious diseases (i.e. COVID-19, Ebola, Lassa, Zika) that threaten the U.S. Military and global health.
EIDB works across the WRAIR enterprise to develop and advance effective solutions—such as vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, therapeutics and diagnostics—to counter these growing threats. It accomplishes this through key partnerships within and outside the US government and with and critical support services from the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc. (HJF).