About From the molecular level to ecosystems
New and re-emerging diseases pose significant threats to tourism, health and economies, especially in regions with warmer climates and diverse agriculture. With factors like shifting weather patterns, global trade and travel facilitating the spread of pathogens, the UF Emerging Pathogens Institute fuses key disciplines to drive research, education and outreach efforts to safeguard global health and economic resilience.
Working toward one Global Health
Founded in 2006 with a $60 million grant from the Florida legislature, the Emerging Pathogens Institute has become a global leader in infectious disease research. Originally established to address the urgent need for pathogen research in Florida, the EPI has since grown into a 90,000-square-foot facility with state-of-the-art labs dedicated to studying epidemics, public health and emerging pathogens. With over 300 faculty members from 13 UF colleges, the EPI conducts cutting-edge research through a One Health lens across over 50 countries. Since 2011, its interdisciplinary team has published over 5,000 papers, solidifying the EPI’s reputation as a world-class hub for innovation and public health.
Advancing Infectious Disease Research
Fighting infectious diseases takes poise.
To address the critical challenges faced in Florida and across the globe, we are committed to fighting infectious diseases with POISE: Perseverance, Opportunity, Integrity, Service and Excellence.
Perseverance: In a world of constant change, we are dedicated to tackling the most challenging infectious disease threats, pushing forward with determination and resilience in the face of obstacles.
Opportunity: Microorganisms don’t respect state or national boundaries, so we’ve viewed it as an opportunity to innovate, leveraging new technologies and global partnerships to expand our mark on global health.
Integrity: We uphold the highest ethical standards in all our research, ensuring transparency, accountability and trustworthiness in everything we do.
Service: We serve the global community by applying our expertise to protect public health, advancing solutions that benefit people, animals and plants worldwide.
Excellence: We strive for excellence in all aspects of our work, from research to education, ensuring that our contributions move Florida and the whole world forward.
Institutional Purpose
Emerging Pathogens Institute
Mission
To facilitate a world class research and training environment that promotes the interdisciplinary study of the emergence, impacts, and control of human, animal and plant pathogens of concern to Florida and the world.
Emerging Pathogens Institute
Vision
Research. Education. Outreach. From the molecular level to ecosystems, the EPI will lead the fight against infectious diseases.
Following the Four “C’s” in actualizing our vision.
We envision a world where groundbreaking research, transformative education and meaningful outreach lead the fight against infectious diseases. We will tackle global health challenges from the molecular level to entire ecosystems with the “Four C’s”: Collaboration, Competence, Courage and Curiosity.
Collaboration: Biologists, epidemiologists, geographers, biostatisticians, mathematicians, physicians, veterinarians and other scientists create the strong collaborative spirit of EPI.
Competency: We believe in improving the quality of health of all eight billion lives that share our world, empowering groundbreaking research and effective solutions to global pathogen threats.
Courage: Only by understanding the global picture can we anticipate and prevent problems in Florida, so we’ve embraced a forward-thinking research model that tackles the most pressing infectious diseases, regardless of complexity or risk.
Curiosity: Fueled by a passion for discovery, the EPI fosters a culture of intellectual curiosity that prioritizes pursuing new knowledge and safeguarding global health.
Meet the Interim Director
Interim director
Marco Salemi, Ph.D.
Marco Salemi aims to continue the tradition and excellence of the EPI during his tenure as interim director.
The Legacy of our FOUNDING director
Founding Director
J. Glenn Morris, Jr., M.D.
J. Glenn Morris, Jr., M.D., founded the Emerging Pathogens Institute in 2006 and served as director for 17 years.
“Controlling the spread of new diseases in the 21st century require global vision. Microorganisms do not respect state or national boundaries. Only by understanding the global picture can we anticipate and prevent problems in Florida.”
~ Dr. J. Glenn Morris, Jr.