The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) selected Robert Bonomo as the Director of the Coordinating Center for the VA Science and Health Initiative to Combat Infectious and Life-Threatening Diseases (VA SHIELD), a cental biospecimen and data repository.
Dr. Bonomo is Chief of the Medical Service and Director of the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the Cleveland VA Medical Center as well as a member of the ARLG Laboratory Center Consortium Team. His work in antibacterial resistance includes research on the mechanistic basis of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and beta-lactamase inhibitors, the molecular epidemiology of multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacteria, and the implementation of molecular diagnostics in clinical care of patients with infectious disease. Dr. Bonomo has received more than 70 honors and awards including the 2020 Mark Wolcott Award for Excellence in Clinical Leadership.
The VA SHIELD houses specimens and data related to COVID-19 and other emerging diseases to help VA investigators and other collaborators develop diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventative strategies for use in clinical care. The new initiative will support the VA’s national emergency preparedness efforts by helping to facilitate a faster, more coordinated response to emerging diseases.
“By understanding emerging disease data as it relates to large patient populations, VA can accelerate its research efforts to combat future outbreaks in a more coordinated, expedited fashion,” said Dr. Bonomo. “The Coordinating Center of VA SHIELD will be responsible for positioning VA to respond rapidly to national and international biological events and threats and to substantially contribute to clinical research and development”.