Our Mission

The mission of the Institute for Biosecurity is to provide public health and emergency response professionals with the education needed for preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation of emerging public health threats, and for the Institute to conduct research that will contribute to the development of national policies to address these threats.

About the Institute for Biosecurity

The Institute for Biosecurity at Saint Louis University School of Public Health was established in 2000 with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Institute's original mission was to carry out bioterrorism and preparedness research, but has since evolved to include addressing emerging infectious diseases, naturally occurring or introduced by terrorists.

While the focus of the Institute is emerging infections, the Institute also develops educational material that covers management of the consequences of chemical, radiological, and nuclear terrorism. In the fall of 2005, the Institute initiated a Master of Science degree in Biosecurity and Disaster Preparedness.

The objectives of the degree are: to educate professionals about the history and contemporary threats of terrorism and emerging infectious diseases; to teach the skills required to assess the risks and develop measures to manage the consequences of a homeland defense crisis; and to develop skills that allow for effective communication between professionals and the public about these threats.

Our Location

Institute for Biosecurity
Saint Louis University School of Public Health
3545 Lafayette Suite 465
St. Louis, MO 63104
Phone: (314) 977-8135
Fax: (314) 977-8150
E-mail: bioterr@slu.edu