On October 24, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response announced that starting this year, $21 million would be awarded annually through Congressional appropriation to expand the programmatic efforts of the Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers or RESPTCs nationwide. As a part of this award, the Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit (BCU) saw its overall baseline funding double to $1.2 million.
With this additional funding, the BCU will expand its role in the region and grow its partnerships with facilities, health systems and state/regional jurisdictions to improve the overall special pathogen preparedness of the Mid-Atlantic region. This is in addition to its continued role as a regional special pathogen treatment center for Health and Humans Service Region 3, which includes Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.
