Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (DMID) Division of Extramural Activities (DEA) and three intramural divisions: Division of Clinical Research (DCR) Division of Intramural Research (DIR) Vaccine Research Center (VRC) The Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center is composed of four laboratories and two programs: Immunology Laboratory Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory Virology Laboratory Vaccine Production Program Laboratory Clinical Trials Program Translational Research Program Research priorities NIAID's research priorities are focused on: "expanding the breadth and depth of knowledge in all areas of infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases" "developing flexible domestic and international research capacities to respond appropriately to emerging and re-emerging disease threats wherever they may occur." NIAID's mission areas are: Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) The goals in this area are finding a cure for HIV-infected individuals; developing preventive strategies, including vaccines and treatment as prevention; developing therapeutic strategies for preventing and treating co-infections such as TB and hepatitis C in HIV-infected individuals; and addressing the long-term consequences of HIV treatment. Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases (BioD) The goals of this mission area are to better understand how these deliberately emerging (i.e., intentionally caused) and naturally emerging infectious agents cause disease and how the immune system responds to them. Infectious and Immunologic Diseases (IID) The goal of this mission area is to understand how aberrant responses of the immune system play a critical role in the development of immune-related disorders such as asthma, allergies, autoimmune diseases, and transplant rejection. This research helps improve the understanding of how the immune system functions when it is healthy or unhealthy and provides the basis for development of new diagnostic tools and interventions for immune-related diseases. Achievements NIAID has established a reputation for being on the cutting edge of scientific progress both through its intramural labs and through the research it funds at academic institutions. For example, NIAID collaborations with various partners led to the development of FDA-approved vaccines for influenza (FluMist), hepatitis A (Havrix), and rotavirus (RotaShield). NIAID also was instrumental in the development and licensure of acellular pertussis vaccines, conjugate vaccines for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b or Hib, and a preventive therapy for respiratory syncytial virus or RSV (Synagis). Additionally, NIAID partnerships with industry and academia have led to the advancement of diagnostic tests for several important infectious diseases, including malaria (ParaSight F), tuberculosis (GeneXpert MTB/RIF), and norovirus (Ridascreen Norovirus 3rd Generation EIA). NIAID has done research