Boston University Names Leading Virologist to Position at National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories
For Immediate Release – September 25, 2007
Contact: Kira Jastive, 617-358-1240, kjastive@bu.edu
David Goldberg, 617-638-8491, david.goldberg@bmc.org
(Boston) – Boston University today announced the appointment of Dr. Elke Mühlberger as associate director of the Biomolecular Production Core Laboratory and Investigator at the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL) currently under construction on the university’s medical campus. Dr. Mühlberger, a renowned expert on the Ebola and Marburg viruses, will also join the faculty of the Boston University School of Medicine as associate professor of microbiology.
Dr. Mühlberger will join BU on March 1, 2008 from the University of Marburg in Germany where she is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Virology. In addition, she has served as a group leader for the department since 1993 and oversees a seven-member research team as well as the biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) training program for postdoctoral scientists and graduate students.
“Dr. Mühlberger is one of the world’s leading molecular virologists studying the hemorrhagic fever viruses. She brings a wealth of knowledge and talent to Boston University School of Medicine,” said Mark Klempner, M.D. director of the NEIDL and associate provost for research of Boston University’s Medical Campus. “With over 14 years of experience in high-containment BSL-4 laboratory environments, she is also an outstanding mentor for scientists who are working toward understanding how hemorrhagic fever viruses cause disease.”
As associate director of the NEIDL’s Biomolecular Production Core Laboratory, Dr. Mühlberger will oversee the day-to-day administrative and research activities of the lab. The Biomolecular Production Core Laboratory will specialize in infectious virology research with an expertise in how viruses spread, the molecular biology of infectious viruses, and the production and purification of viral proteins and glycoproteins. In addition, Dr. Mühlberger will serve as an investigator at the NEIDL where she will develop an independent research program.
Dr. Mühlberger holds a Doctor rerum naturalium (equivalent to a Ph.D.) and a Diploma degree (equivalent to an M.S.) in Virology from the University of Marburg.
The NEIDL is part of a national network of secure facilities that study infectious diseases —whether they occur naturally or are introduced through bioterrorism. The mission of the NEIDL is to establish a research facility with the highest attention to community and laboratory safety and security to perform cutting-edge research and develop diagnostic tests, treatments and vaccines to promote public health through combating infectious diseases.
Founded in 1839, Boston University is an internationally recognized institution of higher education and research. With more than 30,000 students, it is the fourth largest independent university in the United States. Boston University contains 17 colleges and schools along with a number of multi-disciplinary centers and institutes which are central to the school’s research and teaching mission.
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