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The Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment (CAMRA)

EPA Grant Number: R832362
Center: Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment
Center Director: Rose, Joan B.
Title: The Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment (CAMRA)
Investigators: Rose, Joan B. , Gerba, Charles P. , Gurian, Patrick , Haas, Charles N. , Koopman, James , S. Eisenberg, Joseph N. , Todd, Ewen , Weber, Rosina
Current Investigators: Rose, Joan B. , Atwood, Michael , Bolin, Carole , Casman, Elizabeth , Choi, Christopher Yeonsik , Downs, Julie , Gerba, Charles P. , Gurian, Patrick , Han, Hyoi , Hashsham, Syed , Keim, Paul , Koopman, James , Nazaroff, William , Nicas, Mark , Pepper, Ian L. , S. Eisenberg, Joseph N. , Small, Mitchell J. , Todd, Ewen , Weber, Rosina
Institution: Michigan State University , Carnegie Mellon University , Drexel University , Northern Arizona University , University of Arizona , University of California - Berkeley , University of Michigan
EPA Project Officer: Baumel, Irwin
Project Period: September 1, 2005 through August 31, 2010
Project Amount: $10,000,000
RFA: DHS-EPA Cooperative Center of Excellence on the Methods and Science to Conduct Microbial Risk Assessment in Support of Homeland Security Objectives (2004)
Research Category: Health Effects , Drinking Water

Description:

Objective:

CAMRA is a consortium of scientists who have extensive expertise in quantitative microbial risk assessment (MRA) methods, bio-security, and infectious disease transmission through environmental exposures. CAMRA has two main goals. The first is a technical mission to develop critically reviewed and interpreted sets of models, tools, and information that will be used in a credible risk assessment framework to reduce or eliminate health impacts from deliberate use of biological agents of concern (BAC) as bioterrorist agents in the indoor and outdoor environment. The second mission is to build a national MRA network for knowledge management, learning, and transfer for scientists, students, and professionals in the field and in our communities.

Approach:

There are five major research projects which will define the objectives and activities of CAMRA. Each project objective has been developed through collaborative efforts of scientists and will be integrated via a management structure that facilitates interaction. These research projects address exposure, methods and models; dose-response; population outcomes; risk frameworks; and knowledge management, transfer and learning. Through these projects we will:

  1. Document the sensitivity and specificity of risk exposure methods and their ability to address levels of safety;
  2. Create a research toolbox with validated surrogates for BAC;
  3. Evaluate the fate and transport of bioterrorist agents in water distribution systems, air, and buildings;
  4. Develop a suite of models for characterizing exposure via aerosols and the indoor environment that are validated with real-world data where available, describing disease transmission through dynamic stochastic and deterministic models, and assessing controls such as vaccines, decontamination, and quarantines; and
  5. Produce an inventory of critically analyzed dose-response relationships for Category A agents and mechanistic dose-response models.

Expected Results:

Overall these projects will focus on assessment, lessons learned, new science and research, databases, tools and methods and finally knowledge building for learning and communication purposes. We anticipate that CAMRA will produce a suite of outcomes for government officials and first responders as well as the research, education, and professional communities.

Relevant Websites:

Assessing the Risk from Biological Threats: A Government/Academia Partnership for Homeland Security (PDF) (2 pp., 372KB)


Journal Articles: 3 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Other center views: All 44 publications 4 publications in selected types All 3 journal articles

Type Citation Sub Project Document Sources
Journal Article Boone SA, Gerba CP.  Significance of fomites in the spread of respiratory and enteric viral disease.  Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2007;73(6):1687-1696. R832362 (2007)
  • Full-text: ASM Full Text
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  • Abstract: NIH Abstract
    • Journal Article Sinclair R, Boone SA, Greenberg D, Keim P, Gerba CP.  Persistence of category A select agents in the environment. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2008;74(3):555-563. R832362 (2007)
  • Abstract: NIH Abstract
    • Journal Article Weber RO.  Addressing failure factors in knowledge management. Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management 2007;5(3):333-346. R832362 (2007)
  • Full-text: EJKM Full Text PDF
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  • Abstract: EJKM Abstract
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    • Supplemental Keywords:

    biological agents, bioterrorism, quantitative microbial risk assessment, pathogens, dose-response, exposure assessment, risk management, , Water, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Drinking Water, Ecological Risk Assessment, Environmental Monitoring, drinking water contaminants, water quality, bioterrorism, drinking water distribution system, analytical methods, environmental awareness, biological agents of concern, biopollution, air pollution, pathogens, microbial risk management, microbial risk assessment, homeland security, drinking water monitoring

    Progress and Final Reports:
    2007 Progress Report

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    The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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