Global Virus Network (GVN) and The University of South Florida Launch Online Course "Microbiomes and Their Impact on Viral Infections"

    BALTIMORE, MD, November 23, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Global Virus Network (GVN), together with the University of South Florida (USF) Institute of Microbiomes, recently launched the self-paced online course "Microbiomes and Their Impact on Viral Infections." Taught by world-renowned instructors, this course will provide students, academics, and health professionals with the latest knowledge of the importance and role of microbiomes in preventing, mitigating, and treating diseases. The initiative also supports GVN's mission to train the next generation of virologists and better prepare mankind for future viral threats.

"This course is timely as virologists around the world work to further their investigations into the causes, catalysts, and prevention mechanisms of viral infection," said Dr. Christian Bréchot, president of GVN and professor at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. "We are pleased to collaborate with the USF Institute of Microbiomes, which houses the online, trans-disciplinary program. It is a terrific example of a much-needed training partnership critical to mitigating viral threats."

Microbiomes and Their Impact on Viral Infections is a non-credit course comprised of two sessions. The first, "Introduction to Microbiomes," consists of 11 modules while the second, "Symbiotic Evolutions in the Microbiome World," comprises nine modules and is available to students for up to eight weeks after the start date. With a transdisciplinary approach, students will have access to lectures and complementary material, and will receive a certificate and a digital badge upon course completion.

GVN awarded four course scholarships to investigators working in various stages of viral infection prevention, including, Joseph Osega, a Kenya-based technical advisor and national HIV recency coordinator, who has extensive knowledge of HIV, malaria and TB diagnostics to build capacity and develop public health infrastructure in Kenya; Nanma Cosmas, a lecturer and a doctoral candidate at the University of Jos, Nigeria, who focuses on prevention of HPV and other sexually transmitted infectious diseases among adolescent and young adults through studies of microbiome in various parts of the body; Onyekachukwu Okeke, a doctoral candidate at the University of Jos, Nigeria, who works at a medical laboratory and has been on the front line during the COVID-19 crisis; and, Sophia Osawe, a doctoral candidate at the University of Jos, who researches the effects of maternal HIV infection and prenatal immunization on the immune responses and growth of infants.

"The learning modules are designed by GVN virologists from 33 nations, 57 Centers of Excellence (CoEs), and 11 affiliated laboratories that are at the heart of GVN's strength," said Dr. Ramesh Akkina, a director with a GVN CoE at Colorado State University where he is a professor, and an instructor of the microbiomes course. "Besides furthering research, GVN members are focused on training virologists to help identify, research, and combat pandemics of the future."

"Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic more than 55 million cases have been reported, and this partnership provides a critical balance between creating new knowledge and making that knowledge available to researchers in the field," Dr. Brechot added. "I am happy that GVN and USF have come together to partner on important initiatives to advance the transfer of knowledge. The GVN is pleased to provide necessary training opportunities for tomorrow's leaders."

As the only coalition of its kind, GVN leads with scientific, evidence-based solutions to function as an essential global resource for researchers, medical practitioners and policymakers as well as students considering the field of virology as a career choice.

About the Global Virus Network (GVN)
The Global Virus Network (GVN) is essential and critical in the preparedness, defense and first research response to emerging, exiting and unidentified viruses that pose a clear and present threat to public health, working in close coordination with established national and international institutions. It is a coalition comprised of eminent human and animal virologists from 57 Centers of Excellence and 11 Affiliates in 33 countries worldwide, working collaboratively to train the next generation, advance knowledge about how to identify and diagnose pandemic viruses, mitigate and control how such viruses spread and make us sick, as well as develop drugs, vaccines and treatments to combat them. No single institution in the world has expertise in all viral areas other than the GVN, which brings together the finest medical virologists to leverage their individual expertise and coalesce global teams of specialists on the scientific challenges, issues and problems posed by pandemic viruses. The GVN is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, please visit www.gvn.org. Follow us on Twitter @GlobalVirusNews

About USF Health
USF Health's mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the Taneja College of Pharmacy, the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, the Biomedical Sciences Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs, and USF Health's multispecialty physicians group. The University of South Florida is a high-impact global research university dedicated to student success. Over the past 10 years, no other public university in the country has risen faster in U.S. News and World Report's national university rankings than USF. For more information, visit health.usf.edu.

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