Richard Whitley, MD (Co-Director): Dr. Whitley is Professor of Pediatrics, Microbiology, Medicine and Neurosurgery, and also serves as Vice-Chairman for the Department of Pediatrics. He has more than 30 years of research experience in anti-viral research and serves on numerous national boards including the CDC’s National Counselors of Infectious Diseases. He has brought this experience to the task of developing antiviral agents against orthopoxviruses in the SERCEB grant and is PI of the Collaborative Antiviral Study Group, which manages multiple antiviral treatment protocols.
David Franz, DVM, PhD (Deputy Director): Dr. Franz is an international expert in biological and chemical defense. He is the Chief Biological Scientist at Midwest Research Institute and Director of the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center at Kansas State University and has served as Commander of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Franz has been involved in biodefense activities on an international level and uses these opportunities to expand relationships and promote the CEIEP.
Mary Wyatt Bowers, MA (Executive Director): Ms. Bowers has more than 20 years experience in research administration of both basic science and clinical trial programs. She is a member of the Society of Research Administrators and, most recently, was asked to assist with design of a new UAB Research Coordinator’s Training program to be offered later this year.
Joel Rodgers, MA (Program Manager): Mr. Rodgers graduated from UAB with a masters degree in Health Promotion in December of 2000. He subsequently completed a three-year fellowship with the CDC during which he completed bioterrorism prevention assignments with two internal CDC offices and a field assignment in Connecticut. Mr. Rodgers is currently enrolled in UAB’s Health Behavior PhD program.
Tremayne Mackey, MPH (Program Coordinator): Mr. Mackey's professional experience ranges from community health to emergency prepapredness. He previously completed a three year fellowship with the CDC's Public Health Preventive Service in Atlanta and in Harare, Zimbabwe. Mr. Mackey's CEIEP-related duties include coordinating the day-to-day activities, developing applications for extramural grants or contracts, and assisting with the conduct of disaster research.