NIHS News

NIHS has executed the contract for the Natural Antimicrobials to Mitigate Biological Threat Agents Project

Date:  January 6, 2010

NIHS has executed the contract for the Natural Antimicrobials to Mitigate Biological Threat Agents project.  This project will be led by Dr. Melissa Newman with the University of Kentucky. 

The UofL Pandemic Planning and Preparedness Project hosts a Community-Wide Immunization Event

Date:  January 5, 2010

Distribution and administration of H1N1 immunization has been a challenge for communities of all sizes in every state.  Ensuring access to vaccine by targeted high risk groups, using methods that are reliable and accessible, and meeting the expectations of the community has been particularly difficult.  Louisville Kentucky, a metropolitan area with a population of close to one million, chose to utilize a unique approach to community-wide immunization.  On November 11-12, 2009, the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMDPHW) partnered with the Univ

Dr. Carrico with the Pandemic Planning and Preparedness project participates in a television panel regarding nH1N1

Date:  December 11, 2009

On Tuesday, October 20, 2009 Dr. Ruth Carrico participated in a live call-in television show on Kentucky Educational Television (KET) to answer questions about nH1N1 symptoms, vaccinations and preventive measures. Callers from around the Commonwealth asked a variety of questions regarding the pandemic and Kentucky’s plans to vaccinate high-risk groups against the virus. Information was also disseminated regarding the Commonwealth’s toll-free 2009 Flu Hotline where residents could call after the television show ended to ask further questions.

KCI Semi-Annual Project Review Conference was a great success

Date:  November 23, 2009

The Kentucky Critical Infrastructure Protection Program (KCI) had its Semi-Annual Project Review Conference on Nov. 18-20, 2009 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Arlington, VA. Twenty-one projects were presented, ranging from but not limited to Biometrics, Public Health, Food and Agriculture Safety and Blast Mitigation. The leading Principal Investigator from each project gave DHS and other Government Agencies updates on their project, following with a Q&A session.  There were over 110 attendees at the Project Review Conference.

NIHS Receives 3rd Place in overall booth appearance at the APHA Conference

Date:  November 23, 2009

The NIHS received 3rd place in overall booth appearance at the APHA Conference in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Nov. 6-11, 2009.  NIHS staffed the booth at the conference promoting the Pandemic Planning and Preparedness Project with the University of Louisville. 

The APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition is the oldest and largest gathering of public health professionals in the world, attracting more than 13,000 national and international physicians, administrators, nurses, educators, researchers, epidemiologists, and related health specialists. APHA's meeting program addresses current and emerging health science, policy, and practice issues in an effort to prevent disease and promote health.

Drs. Paul McKinney and Ruth Carrico with the University of Louisville are leading an effort to provide operation plans if a pandemic were to occur in the foreseeable future. This program is focused on helping communities prepare and respond to pandemics. Areas of emphasis are detection, preparedness, protection, response and recovery.   

 In the photo below, people visiting the booths at the APHA Conference.

The Challenge

The task of assuring the security of our homeland involves protecting the citizens of the United States, the nation's critical infrastructure and key assets. This is necessary to sustain the nation's vitality against terrorism and other threats. This protection must originate at the community level. It requires discovering, developing and deploying new technology that will support first responders and key decision makers in local communities.

The Mission

NIHS' mission is to discover, develop and deploy solutions that protect and preserve the critical infrastructure of the nation's communities.

The Institute

NIHS aligns projects and research objectives with the needs and requirements of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The strategy is to manage a distributed research enterprise that effectively transitions research and development into solutions. NIHS works with DHS to determine technology needs at the community level. Then, teams are quickly assembled from multiple universities to develop solutions to the needs.

The Strategy

Through management of the Kentucky Critical Infrastructure Protections Program (KCI), the National Institute for Hometown Security (NIHS) provides an ongoing, integrated program dedicated to developing new technologies and devices. NIHS works through qualified academic institutions to accomplish the technological objectives.