U.S.-Poland Bio-Defense Cooperation Thriving

12 October 2010

Deputy Chief of Mission William Heidt (center) touring the newly opened lab.

In late September, the Polish Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (WIHiE) celebrated its 65th anniversary and 15 years of cooperation with the United States.  A commemorative conference was held on September 28 in Warsaw and the next day in Pulawy, where Deputy Chief of Mission William Heidt and WIHiE Director Col. Janusz Kocik opened a new virology laboratory refurbished with U.S. assistance.  The lab has become part of the Global Emerging Infectious Surveillance System and will provide vital information to protect Polish and allied forces stationed in Poland and abroad. In his remarks at the opening, Mr. Heidt noted the many successes of U.S. – Poland bio-defense cooperation and pointed out they have “strengthened bio-terrorism combat capabilities and our mutual bio-defenses.” Besides the ODC, the conference was attended by representatives of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center (AFHSC), Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF), and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).