• Scientists Recommend Zika Research Plan

Dr. Greg Poland working in vaccine research lab

An international group of vaccine researchers is proposing a comprehensive research plan to tackle the risks of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, now confirmed to cause birth defects. Dr. Gregory Poland, head of Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group and Editor in Chief of the journal Vaccine, has published an editorial with Ricardo Palacios and Jorge Kalil, both of the Butantan Institute, the largest biologics research center in Brazil.

The editorial – “Another emerging arbovirus, another emerging vaccine: Targeting Zika virus” – comes during the latest level of concern over Zika’s growing international risk and attempts to provide some accurate scientific background on the disease and its epidemiological history. Summary: It didn’t come out of nowhere – it has a track record.

Read more about the research editorial on Discovery's Edge.

Journalists: A broadcast quality sound bite with Dr. Poland and b-roll of him in the lab are in the downloads.