Research scientists at the IRF-Frederick work with a number of viruses: An electron micrograph of Ebola virus (virus green, cell purple) is in the upper left and SARS-CoV-2 (virus orange, cell blue) is in the lower right.
The Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick) is part of the NIAID’s Division of Clinical Research (DCR) within NIH. The mission of the IRF-Frederick is to serve as a responsive and collaborative resource that facilitates multidisciplinary research to understand, treat, prevent, and eradicate diseases caused by novel, emerging, and highly virulent viruses.
The IRF-Frederick serves as a collaborative resource for internal (NIAID) and extramural investigators to conduct research on viruses, such as those causing high-consequence disease (e.g., Ebola virus and SARS-CoV-2) and those included on the NIAID Priority Pathogens list.
The IRF-Frederick has the capability to conduct biosafety level (BSL)-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 research. It is one of the few facilities in the world able to perform medical imaging to evaluate animals in BSL-4 containment. In addition to animal models of disease, the IRF-Frederick uses innovative approaches—including high-throughput drug screening, targeted genomic sequencing, custom immunological and serological analyses, and organ-chip model development—to examine pathogenesis of viral pathogens.
Main Areas of Focus
- Facilitating the development of effective countermeasures to mitigate major public-health events related to emerging or reemerging infectious diseases or biological weapons attacks
- Advancing medical diagnostics and cutting-edge technologies for high-consequence pathogens
- Using imaging technologies to understand infectious disease pathogenesis and to assist in the rational design of medical countermeasures and therapeutic strategies
- Supporting clinical trials and research studies that lead to improved patient outcomes
- Building local, national, and international capacity to respond to diseases caused by NIAID Priority Pathogens and other emerging viral pathogens
How To Work With Us
The IRF-Frederick provides unique expertise and capabilities to address scientific questions. The IRF‑Frederick has an established yet adaptable process that sets the research agenda through the identification and review of suitable collaboration projects that fit the IRF‑Frederick mission.
COVID-19 Research at the IRF-Frederick
IRF-Frederick is investigating potential therapeutics to treat COVID-19 as well as vaccines to prevent infection. The team is testing therapeutics and vaccines for suitability and efficacy as well as performing animal studies to understand SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis.