DVRD - Chronic Viral Disease Branch

1. Conducts surveillance and hypothesis-driven clinical studies of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS);
2. develops novel genomic and proteomic laboratory assays to be used in studies of CFS;
3. develops bioinformatics techniques to elucidate the pathophysiology of CFS and similar medically unexplained illnesses;
4. develops, executes, and evaluates medical and public education programs to decrease morbidity associated with CFS;
5. conducts laboratory-based epidemiologic studies of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical cancer to enable effective control and prevention;
6. conducts research concerning human immune responses to HPV, CFS, and other related unexplained or chronic illnesses;
7. develops, evaluates, and improves reagents/methods for rapid diagnosis of HPV, CFS, and other related unexplained or chronic illnesses;
8. provides epidemiology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, diagnostic serology/virology, and immunology consultation and collaboration to national and international organizations concerning prevention and control of CFS, cervical cancer, and related chronic or medically unexplained illnesses; and
9. provides expert assistance and consultation to national and international investigators and organizations regarding sequelae of viral infections.