By Joyce Kryszak
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-665571.mp3
Buffalo, NY – The Hauptman Woodward Institute is getting a $3 million federal grant to help the military combat the mutation of deadly diseases.
Congresswoman Louis Slaughter was in Buffalo Thursday to announce the Defense Department appropriation. Top researchers will be recruited to work on the two to three year project to identify how viruses jump from animals to humans.
The protein mutations have led to such deadly diseases as HIV and SARS. Slaughter says the Department of Defense understands the need for proactive research.
"When a new virus hits, it's imperative to have a rapid response to save lives," Slaughter said.
Slaughter says the grant recognizes the cutting edge research already being done by scientists in the Buffalo Niagara region.