Professor wins CDC grant to combat emerging infections.

2003 DEC 15 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A St. Louis University professor has received a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to study emerging viruses that could threaten the U.S. population.

Thomas Chambers, MD, associate professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at St. Louis University School of Medicine, will investigate over the next 5 years how "flaviviruses" are responsible for causing hemorrhagic fever, encephalitis and West Nile illness. His work could lead to new and improved vaccines to prevent these diseases.

Chambers said the grant fits into the federal biodefense program because several of …