Partnership between U.S. State Department, and the Paul G. Allen Ebola Program, developed by MRIGlobal improves medevac capabilities for U.S. healthcare workers in the field
Kansas City, Mo. – Today, the U.S. Department of State, the Paul G. Allen Ebola Program and MRIGlobal unveiled first of-their-kind biocontainment units at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia. This unique public-private partnership brought together diverse resources and advanced thinking to develop the next generation of biocontainment, greatly improving U.S. medevac capability and better preparing us for global health threats in the future.
Effectively addressing global public health challenges, such as Ebola, requires the commitment of medical professionals. A major recruitment challenge has been limited access to medical evacuation should health workers become ill and need access to medical treatment. To help solve this challenge, a $5 million dollar private-public partnership grant between Paul G. Allen and the State Department was established for the development and manufacture of these innovative systems, which are owned and operated by the U.S. State Department and housed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base.
Designed by MRIGlobal, the units are state-of-the-art, flight-ready Containerized Biocontainment Systems (CBCS) that roll on and off planes. The units can contain highly-contagious pathogens and are extremely durable and safe, which will allow for the secure transport of healthcare workers abroad.
The completion of these biocontainment units highlights the numerous outcomes that can be achieved through collaborative, strategic, and agile, public-private partnerships.
Supporting Quotes:
“The world’s primary medical evacuation system for bringing patients infected with Ebola out of West Africa to the United States or Europe for medical treatment not only saved the lives of many of those evacuated, it also provided reassurance to countless other Ebola responders that they could be evacuated in case of need, and thus increased the flow of essential personnel to the region. We are proud to have participated in such a unique partnership. These units will be crucial in specialized air transport and medical precautions required for Ebola and other virus infections.” –U.S. Department of State, Under Secretary for Management, Patrick Kennedy
“Today, some of the most dangerous adversaries we face are contagious diseases. These new medevac units are an extraordinary example of partnership and innovation in action. We applied lessons learned from Ebola today to better prepare for the future and save lives.” –Barbara Bennett, Vulcan Inc., President and Chief Operating Officer
“The creation of the CBCS units highlights our expertise and aligns well with our mission. We are honored to be a part of this collaboration toward global health.” –Thomas M. Sack, Ph.D., MRIGlobal President and Chief Executive Officer
“Dobbins Air Reserve Base and the 94th Airlift Wing stand ready to assist our partners in strategically positioning the bio-containment units at Dobbins. We are proud to assume the vital role of providing logistical and security support for this important capability.” –Col Brent Merritt, 94th Airlift Wing Commander
For more information on the project, including photos and video, visit:
- Paul G. Allen Ebola Program: www.paulallen.com/medevac-units
- State Department Ebola Response: www.state.gov/p/af/rt/health/ebola/