Pittsburg, PA
Vaccine researchers in Pittsburgh join new pandemic preparedness network
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — After the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc, Pittsburgh researchers are doing everything they can to help prevent another devastating pandemic from happening again.
Most of us would like to forget the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s a motivator for the people who study dangerous viruses at the Center for Vaccine Research at the University of Pittsburgh.
“People like us in the Center for Vaccine Research have to remember that it existed and have to be ready for the next one,” said Paul Duprex, director of Pitt’s Center for Vaccine Research.
Duprex is thrilled the center is joining a new National Institutes of Health network. The Research and Development of Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies for Pandemic Preparedness network, ReVAMPP, is aimed at boosting pandemic preparedness.
He said they’ll receive millions of dollars in awards over the next three to five years to come up with plans that can be used to quickly respond to virus threats.
The experts at Pitt will study prototype viruses from four troublemaker virus families — like the family that includes mumps, for example.
“If you imagine that a virus, which is very closely related to mumps but is transmissible as mumps comes along and we don’t have natural immunity to that because the mumps vaccine that we have is not protective, we can take that knowledge, which we identify for mumps, and use it to quickly generate a new vaccine,” Duprex said.
To put it simply, they’re using examples to prepare for something that emerges in the future.
“We can take all of that knowledge and pivot that knowledge into this new virus that we’ve never seen before,’ he said.
Duprex said CVR’s regional bio-containment lab will benefit the program greatly. Researchers there worked with coronavirus, SARS, MERS and more.
“We take advantage of all of that knowledge that we built, all of that expertise we have, not to look backwards but to look forwards,” he said.
He said the “prototype pathogens” model is similar to the one that accelerated vaccines to fight the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases expects to commit $100 million per year to fund the ReVAMPP program. Multi-million dollar rewards will go to multiple research groups that make up the network across the U.S.
Duprex is proud Pitt researchers are a part of this new network. They’re ready to suit up in full protective gear and develop blueprints that could be life-saving.
“If you think about it as seven families, lots of scientists, lots of virology, lots of vaccinology, lots of preparation with a view to be ready to move. It’s super exciting. It’s just wonderful that we get to play a part in it,” Duprex said.
One of Pittsburgh’s biggest goals before hosting the NFL Draft was to modernize Market Square. It is just one of the spaces in the downtown area that is being transformed for the massive event.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
2026 NFL Draft Pittsburgh regional transportation plan unveiled
With the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh quickly approaching, city officials and Pittsburgh Regional Transit unveiled its regional transportion plan.
Extensive road closures will be in place around Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium from April 22-25 as the 2026 NFL Draft brings three days of excitement and football fans into the city of Pittsburgh.
During NFL Draft events, the city’s Downtown and North Shore areas will convert to a walkable “Draft Campus,” with motorized traffic limited to Pittsburgh Regional Transit vehicles, the city’s light rail system (the “T”) and other official providers.
Therefore, many streets into and around the “Draft Campus” are closed to vehicle traffic starting April 22. Traffic patterns will be adjusted to allow Pirates fans to access PNC Park for baseball games held during the road closures, according to NFLDraftPittsburgh.com.
In addition to these streets, the Interstate 279 and Interstate 579 High Occupancy Vehicle lanes into the city are closed to vehicle traffic all week; only authorized bus traffic and emergency vehicles will be permitted to use those lanes.
People planning to use the Beaver County Transit Authority bus to reach downtown Pittsburgh for the NFL Draft events can find more information about the authority’s bus service plans on the BCTA website.
Here is the list of road closures in place from April 22-25, according to NFLDraftPittsburgh.com, which has a complete guide to getting into and around the city during NFL Draft events.
- Art Rooney Avenue
- West General Robinson Street to Tony Dorsett Drive
- Scotland Avenue
- Casino Drive, from Sproat Way
- North Shore Drive, from Chuck Noll Way
- Reedsdale Street to Tony Dorsett Drive
- Chuck Noll Way
- Tony Dorsett Drive
- Sproat Way
- Allegheny Avenue from Ridge Avenue
- North Shore Drive, from Chuck Noll Way to Mazeroski Way
- Mazeroski Way
- West General Robinson Street
- Lacock Street, from Federal Street
- Federal Street, from Lacock Street
- Merchant Street
- I-279 southbound exit 1B ramp
- I-279 northbound exit 1B ramp
- Route 65 southbound ramp to Fort Duquesne
- Route 65 northbound ramp from Fort Duquesne Bridge
- T1 ramp from Reedsdale Street and Ridge Avenue
- Sixth Street Bridge, aka the Roberto Clemente Bridge
- Seventh Street Bridge, aka the Andy Warhol Bridge
- Isabella Street
- Sixth Street
- Fort Pitt on ramp, from 10th Street Bypass and Fort Duquesne Boulevard
- Commonwealth Place
- Liberty Avenue extension
- Penn Avenue, from Stanwix Street to 9th Street
- Liberty Avenue/PPG Paints Arena exit off the Fort Pitt Bridge
- Smithfield Street Bridge
Pennsylvania’s 511PA.com online transportation website will feature a special NFL webpage providing real-time traffic information in and around the city during the NFL Draft.
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