[October 01, 2014]

Global Virus Network Joins Forces with Private Sector to Combat Viral Epidemics

The Global Virus Network (GVN), the world's leading coalition of virologists working to advance medical research and response to viral causes of human disease, has undertaken a unique initiative to engage corporate executives and business leaders in the fight against pandemic viral threats. The announcement was made today by Robert C. Gallo, MD, GVN Cofounder, Scientific Director and Director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine; William Hall, MD, PhD, GVN Cofounder and Professor of Microbiology at the University College Dublin, Ireland; and by Sharon Hrynkow, PhD, President of the GVN. The Business Leadership Council ('BLC") will provide critical intelligence and insights to members on research, prevention and prediction of viral diseases that represent a threat to public health, as well as access to the world's foremost experts in every form of current and emerging pandemic virus. The BLC will also develop customized content and events for its members, as well as host an annual conference to share information on drug and vaccine development, mitigation strategies, worker safety, and increase collaborations between companies and virologists.

As U.S. President Barack Obama and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon call on the global community to rapidly increase resources towards the Ebola crisis in West Africa, GVN's new initiative, the BLC, will provide a unique platform that will bring companies and leading virologists together to share strategies and cutting-edge information. The BLC will develop action plans to protect public health against viral diseases, including Ebola, that threaten to cause widespread illness and death on an international scale.

"As we are seeing with Ebola in West Africa as well as with recent outbreaks of SARS, Swine Flu (H1N1), MERS and Chikungunya, viral epidemics spread rapidly beyond national borders in today's interconnected world," said GVN President Sharon Hrynkow, PhD. "Their impacts can be devastating to human health, local economies and global markets. The GVN's Business Leadership Council links companies and top virologists to expand practices that work in preventing viral spread and to help companies understand when treatments and preventives against viral killers may be available."

"We are proud that UST Global is a founding member of the GVN Business Leadership Council and view this membership as a vital component of our company's epidemic preparedness strategy to safeguard our global workforce, communities, and bottom line," said Bipin Thomas, President of UST Global's Health group and founding co-chair of the Business Leadership Council. "We believe BLC membership will help further to strengthen the relationship with our clients around the world who share the same urgency to address concerns about viral pandemics," he continued.

Timothy C. Moynahan, Esq., BLC Co-Chair and Chairman of the GVN Board of Directors noted that, "As governments and their partners work to build economic capacity, the constant threat of viral disease must be considered front and center. The BLC provides companies from any sector the opportunity for direct dialogue with scientists at the leading edge of viral research and drug and vaccine development."

GVN and BLC co-chairs will host a webinar for business leaders on October 6, 2014 at 11am EDT to discuss key viral threats and answer questions from corporate leaders about the BLC. To register, contact BLC Project Director Collin Weinberger at [email protected].

For media inquiries on GVN, contact Nora Grannell, GVN Director of Public Relations, at [email protected]. For more information about the BLC, contact Collin Weinberger, BLC Project Director, at [email protected].

About the Global Virus Network (GVN)

The Global Virus Network (GVN) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, comprised of leading medical virologists from more than 20 countries. The GVN's mission is to combat current and emerging pandemic viral threats through international collaborative research, training the next generation of medical virologists, and advocacy. For more information, please visit www.gvn.org. Follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @GlobalVirusNews

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