The National Center for Biodefense Communications for Rural America (the Center) is a strategic initiative to bring to bear Internet-based technologies for early detection of significant human and animal health events through basic and applied research, and to issue authorized, secure, non-public, bioterror alerts and notifications to authorized and appropriate policymaker, healthcare and first-responder recipients. The Center is particularly focused on bioterror surveillance and event detection and response to events originating in rural America.

Research fostered by the Center will bridge the basic and applied sciences, with the intent of realizing practical outcomes in connection with Homeland Security and human/animal health. In this connection, the research will be directed toward:

• Increasing the competitiveness of U.S. agriculture, by reducing the threats of bioterrorism which could significantly impact the US agriculture sector.

• Improving human health and well-being through an abundant, safe, and high-quality food supply, and through improving the early detection of bioterror events arising in rural America.

In addition to surveillance and reporting, the Center will utilize the collected data for research and training purposes at participating universities and institutions; carry out basic and applied research related to Biodefense, disaster preparedness, and risk communications for the public; and enhance academic programs in public health and biomedicine at participating universities through its research and service activities.

The Center's data capability will provide the foundation for enhanced teaching in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security’s Research University Network in health informatics and related disciplines, including information assurance, information sharing between organizations, and the sociology of bioterrorism.

The Center will also advance local agency-driven, multi-state information sharing across all jurisdictional and subject matter boundaries, and will implement forward-looking, cross-sector human and animal health data practices, such as Identity Management, Critical/Key Infrastructure Protection and All Hazards Emergency Management, at the local level.

Jackson State University has a distinguished history, rich in the tradition of educating young men and women for leadership, having undergone seven name changes as it grew and developed. Founded as Natchez Seminary in 1877 by the American Baptist Home mission Society, the school was established as Natchez, Mississippi for the moral, religious and intellectual improvement of Christian leaders of the colored people of Mississippi and the neighboring states.

In November 1882, the school was moved to Jackson; in March 1899, the curriculum was expanded and the name was changed to Jackson College. The state assumed support of the college in 1940, assigning to it the mission of training teachers. Subsequently, between 1953 and 1956, the curriculum was expanded to include a graduate program and bachelor's programs in the arts and sciences; the name was then changed to Jackson State College in 1956.

Further expansion of the curriculum and a notable building program preceded the elevation of Jackson State College to university status on March 15, 1974. In 1979, Jackson State was officially designated the Urban University of the State of Mississippi. Presently, Jackson State University, a public, coeducational institution, is supported by legislative appropriations supplemented by student fees and federal and private grants.

The National Center for Biodefense Communications ("NCBC") is a strategic initiative to: 1) apply Internet-based technologies for the early detection of significant human and animal health events, 2) issue authorized, secure, non-public alerts and notifications to appropriate policymaker, healthcare and first-responder recipients; and 3) conduct basic and applied research related to Biodefense and disaster preparedness, education, skills training and risk communications for diverse populations in rural America.

With FY03 U.S. Department of Agriculture ("USDA") funding approved by Congress, the NCBC has been organized as a strategic initiative of Jackson State University in cooperation with the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, the Science & Engineering Alliance ("SEA"), and the National Sheriff's Association Pegasus Program. This Briefing Paper outlines NCBCs request for FY05 USDA continuation and expansion funding.