History of the Center
On September 23, 2001, the TTU Chancellor and President appointed the Task Force for Anti-Terrorism and Public Security to determine how Texas Tech University could best respond to the needs of the community, state and nation through our research and education resources. Among the recommendations from the Task Force was the formation of a Center to address law and public policy issues in biodefense.
From that recommendation, the Center for Biodefense, Law and Public Policy was established in September 2002 as an initiative of Provost Marcy, and Dr. Victoria Sutton was appointed the first Director. Center faculty are from not only the law school but from throughout the Texas Tech System from multiple disciplines such as mass communications, microbiology, medicine, forensic science, pathology, animal science, food science and plant science.
Since 2002, during our first five years, the Center’s budget has more than doubled through grants and other support.
In Spring 2004 the Law and Biodefense Certificate was established by the law faculty.
In March 2005, the Center established a Core in Law, Policy and Ethics to support the work of the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases through the Western Regional Center of Excellence in Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, based in University of Texas-Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas.
Inaugural Event
In September 2001, Chancellor David R. Smith appointed the Task Force for Anti-Terrorism and Public Security to determine how the university – as a public institution – could best respond the needs of the community, state and nation through our research, education and community service resources. Among the recommendations from that Task Force was the formation of such a Center to address law and public policy issues.The establishment of the Center is intended to provide an opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration to move in the direction of solutions for the complex, and cross-disciplinary area of biodefense. The disciplines of law, public policy, mass communications, political science, microbiology, medicine, forensic pathology, animal and food science and plant science comprise the range of academic fields represented by the faculty associated with the Center.
Victoria Sutton was appointed director of the Center in September 2002. Activities planned include the inaugural lecture, symposium, Legal Issues in Bioterrorism, in February 2003. The Center is exploring collaborations with other academic centers across the nation. The Center faculty are available for consultation in these areas with government, industry and associations.