Q: The Mycobacteria Research Laboratories at CSU are known around the world for work on tuberculosis, leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases. How are you tapping into that expertise?

Jackson: Twenty-one faculty work in the Mycobacteria Research Laboratories and the combined expertise in genetics, physiology and immunology as it relates to mycobacterial infections is tremendous. Were now exploiting all of this knowledge from the MRL team.

My labs expertise is in mycobacterial genetics and physiology, which places us in a good position to generate the BCG vaccine candidates. Another researcher, Angelo Izzo, specializes in the testing of new vaccine candidates for TB and their comparison to BCG. He knows a lot about BCG and is a great resource. Dr. Mary Ann De Groote, an infectious disease clinician and mycobacterial infections specialist, currently treats COVID-19 patients in several locations across the Front Range. Finally, other MRL researchers like Marcela Henao-Tamayo, Brendan Podell, Randy Basaraba, Mercedes Gonzalez-Juarrero and Diane Ordway have longstanding experience studying the immune responses to mycobacteria, including the BCG vaccine.

The scientific environment at CSU couldnt be more optimal to undertake this vaccine project.

Link:
'We have to try it': Tuberculosis expert explores coronavirus vaccine research - Source