Biological Team
About the Biological Team
The Biological Specialty Team supports Region 7 through three key partners: the Region VII Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC), the National Emerging Special Pathogen Training and Education Center (NETEC), and the UNMC Global Center for Health Security (GCHS). Nebraska Medicine serves as the Region 7 RESPTC and is available through the Medical Call Center to provide expertise and support. NETEC offers national leadership in special pathogen preparedness through education, training, consultation, and targeted technical assistance, while GCHS develops resources and timely information on emerging outbreaks and public health threats.
Together, the RESPTC and Biological Specialty Team provide healthcare facilities and EMS agencies throughout Region 7 with training, education, outreach, and preparedness resources to strengthen response capabilities for current and future biological threats. Through the Region 7 RESPTC, the team develops educational content, training materials, and other tools tailored to the needs of regional stakeholders.
TEAM LEAD
Jackson Gruber, BS
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R7 RESPTC augmented the R7DHRE website that answered three technical assistance requests across R7 that were collected from the website, and added virtual education to the R7DHRE website for management of Category A waste.
Provided monthly updates on available education and activities provided by the R7 RESPTC to the R7 HCCs and public health partners.
During the November 2024 Lassa fever response in Iowa, provided bi‑state command and control while supporting the RESPCT through technical assistance and consultation.
Unified leadership across GCHS, NQU, and NBU to posture BST and treatment facilities for rapid response as operational needs evolved. Also convened Region 7 RESPCT medical directors to review biological threat materials, including symptomatology, onset, and medical countermeasures for R7 Poison Centers, and later presented regional special pathogens situational awareness and preparedness at the Kansas Fusion Center quarterly meeting
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The National Special Pathogen System (NSPS) helps the country prepare the health care system, protect the health care workforce, and respond to special pathogen events by coordinating special pathogen care across the United States.
The NSPS consists of a tiered System of Care, made up of health care facilities across the country, and is operationalized by the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) as its Coordinating Body. Other health care and public health partners with capabilities in readiness, response, and recovery play a key role in supporting health care facilities across the country to respond to special pathogen events.
Learn more:
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The Nebraska Biocontainment Unit (NBU), a partnership between Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, serves as the Region VII Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC) and provides specialized care for patients with highly hazardous communicable diseases. Established in 2005 through federal infectious disease preparedness funding, the NBU is designed to safely manage diseases such as Ebola virus disease, Lassa fever, smallpox, and MERS, whether resulting from natural outbreaks, laboratory exposures, or bioterrorism events. In addition to its clinical mission, the NBU strengthens regional preparedness by sharing expertise and best practices through training programs, webinars, educational resources, and expert-led discussions for healthcare and public health professionals.
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PARTNERS
