UPMC Center for Health Security joins GHTC

The Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) is excited to announce that the UPMC Center for Health Security has joined the coalition as its 26th member. The Center is an independent nonprofit organization that works to protect people’s health from the consequences of epidemics and disasters and to ensure that communities are resilient to major challenges.

“At the UPMC Center for Health Security, we examine how scientific and technological innovation can strengthen health security,” said Anita Cicero, chief operating officer and deputy director at the Center. “Our goal is to contribute independent research and analysis that will impact both policy and practice over a range of health challenges, including emerging infectious diseases, pandemic flu, and the potential for biological accidents or threats. An important part of our mission is connecting diverse communities of health and science experts, industry representatives, and government officials to strengthen collective efforts to improve health security. Therefore, we are thrilled to join the Global Health Technologies Coalition and look forward to working with GHTC and its members to advance innovations and policies that strengthen our ability to prevent and respond to existing and emerging health challenges.”

Based in Baltimore, Maryland, the Center was originally founded in 1998 as an organization dedicated to diminishing the public health consequences of biological threats. In 2003, the Center was recruited to join the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and became the Center for Biosecurity of UPMC. Over the next decade, the Center expanded its work to address a broader range of issues in the health security field, including the global rise in emerging infectious diseases, a continued risk of pandemic flu, major natural disasters, dependence on vulnerable infrastructure, outbreaks of foodborne illness, and the potential for biological, chemical, or nuclear accidents or intentional threats. In 2013, the Center changed its name to the UPMC Center for Health Security to reflect these expanded priorities.

“GHTC welcomes the UPMC Center for Health Security to our community of nonprofit product developers, think tanks, academic institutions, and advocacy organizations working to advance innovations that save lives,” said Erin Will Morton, Coalition Director of GHTC. “The Center’s independent research, analysis, and policy recommendations are highly valued by decision makers in the health and security fields, and the Center’s perspective will add tremendous value as GHTC educates policymakers and advocates for research and development of new tools to prevent, diagnose, and treat global diseases.

For more information about the UPMC Center for Health Security, visit www.upmchealthsecurity.org.