Naval Medical Research Unit 2 - Naval Medical Research Center Asia

Unit Activities Summary:

Naval Medical Research Center-Asia (NMRC-A), historically known as Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU)-2, conducts infectious disease research and product development projects across U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM); studying the viruses, microbes, and insects of the region to protect the medical readiness and health of DoD service members, their families, and our partner nations.

Mission Statement:

Monitor and characterize emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases of military and public health importance, and to develop mitigation strategies against these threats in partnership with host nation, international and U.S. agencies in Asia.
 

History:

NAMRU-2 is one of six U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) biomedical laboratories located Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS). NAMRU-2 promotes U.S. diplomacy in Asia and Oceania by conducting basic and applied research, disease surveillance, and outbreak response to address infectious diseases of public health importance to the DoD and our regional partners.
 
The U.S. Navy has advanced research on tropical and emerging infectious diseases in Asia since World War II, when NAMRU-2 was established in Oca Point, Guam in 1945 under the Rockefeller Foundation. The command was later based in Taipei, Taiwan (1955); Manila, Philippines (1979); Jakarta, Indonesia (1991); and Singapore (2013 - present).
 
NAMRU-2 has a current “hub and spoke” concept of operations. This model allows the scientific portfolio to shift as needed to align with host nation and sponsor priorities while simultaneously maintaining health security objectives. From a headquarters "hub" in Singapore, laboratory-based biosurveillance and R&D projects take place across Asia and Oceania. NAMRU-2 is subordinate to the Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC) in Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S., which in turn reports to Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP) and the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED). NAMRU-2 operates in the USINDOPACOM Area of Responsibility and is under the authority of the respective U.S. ambassadors in Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. NAMRU-2 collaborates with partners in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Mongolia, and the United States.

Products:

•Risk assessment for emerging pathogens
 
•Development, testing, and validation of rapid and/or advanced diagnostics
 
•Platform for vaccine and therapeutic clinical trials
 
•Biomedical engagement and diplomacy
 
•Capacity building of partner biomedical infrastructure
 
•Enrichment of scientific knowledge through publications and presentation
 

Focus and Sponsors:

NAMRU-2’s mission is supported with competed funds from the DoD-Defense Health Agency, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency, and biotech research cooperative agreements. Science staff execute research activities to address infections of military relevance such as dengue, malaria, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza. These activities are coordinated with consideration towards USINDOPACOM and host national public health concerns, thereby providing global health security engagement opportunities across Asia and Oceania.