Yale University Joins Global Virus Network as Center of Excellence

The Global Virus Network (GVN), comprising eminent human and animal virologists from more than 80 centers of excellence and affiliates in over 40 countries, today announced the addition of Yale University as one of four new GVN Centers of Excellence.

The other new Centers of Excellence are Duke University School of Medicine, The National Institute of Virology and Bacteriology (a consortium of research institutes from the Czech Republic), and the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

“We are pleased to announce GVN’s newest Centers of Excellence,” said Robert C. Gallo, MD, co-founder of the GVN and chair of the organization’s Scientific Leadership Board. "By fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and advancing scientific understanding, we are strengthening and enhancing the global health infrastructure. Each of these four new centers brings invaluable expertise, and together, we will expand the frontiers of virus research and control, ensuring the protection of future generations from emerging threats."

Located on the campus of the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, the GVN brings together some of the most talented medical virologists in the world to leverage their individual expertise and coalesce global teams of specialists on the scientific challenges, issues, and problems posed by pandemic viruses.

Founded in 1701, Yale University is one of the world’s premier universities. Its leadership position in education and research, its collegial environment, and its closely interconnected campus make Yale ideally suited to provide the intellectual and physical infrastructure for effectively integrating clinical and basic science collaborative research efforts, the GVN said in a news release. Yale is home to diverse leading virologists in public health, medicine, ecology & evolution, and beyond. The new Yale Center of Excellence will be co-led by Chantal Vogels, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology (microbial diseases) at Yale School of Public Health, David Martinez, PhD, assistant professor of immunobiology, Inci Yildirim, MD, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics (infectious diseases) and public health (epidemiology of microbial diseases), and Craig Wilen, MD, PhD, associate professor of laboratory medicine and immunobiology, all from Yale School of Medicine. Yildirim also has an affiliation with Yale School of Public Health. Wilen is affiliated with Yale Cancer Center. Together with virologists across the Yale campus, they are committed to finding innovative solutions to better prevent and control viral diseases through collaborative research and training.

“I am thrilled to establish the Yale GVN Center of Excellence and to join forces with GVN to mitigate the burden of emerging viral diseases on public health,” Vogels said.

"We are excited to welcome these four prestigious institutions and their renowned experts, significantly strengthening our expertise in virus research and training," said Sten H. Vermund, MD, PhD, chief medical officer of the GVN and Distinguished University Health Professor and dean of the USF Health College of Public Health at the University of South Florida. "Their contributions will be invaluable to the GVN, offering essential resources and specialized knowledge to combat and mitigate viral threats while also training the next generation of virologists who will lead the battle against emerging infections. Through these partnerships, the GVN looks forward to providing our new members with impactful and unique opportunities to help end viral threats through global collaborative science, innovation, and implementation."