Allyn: Ebola work of Army medical researchers saved lives

By Ms. Lisa Ferdinando (ARNEWS Org Page)May 26, 2015

Allyn: Ebola work of Army medical researchers saved lives
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Allyn: Ebola work of Army medical researchers saved lives
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SILVER SPRING, Md. (Army News Service, May 21, 2015) -- Army medical researchers have made remarkable strides in protecting Soldiers and populations around the globe, said the Army's vice chief of staff, citing a promising vaccine under development for Ebola.

"The rapid development of a promising vaccine illuminates the incredible ability and capacity of this team," Gen. Daniel B. Allyn told researchers after touring the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research May 20.

A clinical trial at WRAIR of VSV-EBOV, a promising Ebola vaccine, preceded large-scale vaccine trials in Africa now. New vaccines like this one may help stave off future Ebola epidemics, Army researchers said.

The work of Army Medical Command, WRAIR and the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease helped get the Ebola outbreak in West Africa under control, saving hundreds of thousands of lives, Allyn said.

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa was projected to reach 1 million cases, Allyn said.

"This team … helped stop it at 11,000 -- that's 989,000 lives saved," he said. "What the Medical Command, specifically this team of professionals, achieved is absolutely remarkable."

Ebola diagnostics and research in Liberia by the Army Medical Command led to rapid identification of infected individuals and helped get a handle on the epidemic according to MEDCOM officials. This Army Ebola response made managing a deadly infection successful, they said.

PROTECTING SOLDIERS

Allyn and the Army surgeon general, Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho, spoke with researchers about biosecurity, vaccine development and manufacturing capability, and research on HIV, behavioral health, traumatic brain injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Ebola support.

"Army medical research plays a foundational role in the success of our all-volunteer force," Allyn said. "The success of our Army relies on trust -- trust between Soldiers and the military institution, and trust between the military and the American public."

Allyn said the trust relies on a promise the Army will never send Soldiers on a mission unprepared. "And that we will do everything in our power to avoid a fair fight with our adversaries -- be it an enemy with tanks and mortars, a deadly disease like Ebola, or an invisible injury like post-traumatic stress."

The research and medical advances, Horoho said, allow the Army and the armed forces to have a posture that allows for deployments around the globe.

"You all bring that dedication each and every day," she said.

Researchers focus on futuristic capabilities, Horoho said, and answer the tough questions and have the persistence of not to give up because many trials fail.

"It's the persistence and expertise that we show every day that allows us to get to success," she said, noting those traits were displayed during the Ebola response and elsewhere around the world, allowing service members to deploy with confidence.

RESEARCH CRITICAL FOR TRANSITIONING ARMY

The role of researchers is more important than ever, Allyn said.

"Today we have just over 140,000 Soldiers forward-stationed and deployed globally across nearly 150 countries, so we will remain diligent as we posture our force to remain ready and protected from the diseases that exist around the globe," he said.

In addition, Allyn said, researchers have done groundbreaking work for treating traumatic brain injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

"Our understanding of how to treat these invisible injuries is directly attributable to the research done here," Allyn said.

Col. Steven E. Braverman, commander of WRAIR -- the largest and most diverse biomedical research laboratory in the Department of Defense -- said the work of researchers makes a difference around the world.

"I think we're all proud to say that we had a hand in Liberia being announced last week as being Ebola free," Braverman said.

Related Links:

Army Medicine

Army News Service

Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Daniel B. Allyn

Army.mil: Health News

STAND-TO!: Ebola Epidemic Response Efforts

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