Commonground
Senior Moderator
Dec 02, 2025
Author: Anna Freed, Communications
The COVID-19 pandemic made one lesson starkly clear: we urgently need rapid, coordinated innovation to predict, prevent, and respond to infectious disease threats. Building on the University of Minnesota Medical School's early and effective response to that crisis, the school launched the University of Minnesota Institute on Infectious Diseases (UMIID) in July of this year.
The Institute is led by esteemed researcher Michael Gale, Jr., PhD, Director of UMIID and head of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Under his leadership, UMIID has developed programs to (i) respond to infectious disease outbreaks, including isolating, identifying, and defining the cause of the outbreak; (ii) developing infection intervention and disease mitigation strategies, including application of novel vaccines and therapeutics; (iii) to train the next generation of outbreak response professionals. Within these activities, UMIID conducts molecular surveillance and research to develop mitigation strategies against infection and disease by emerging viruses and drug resistant bacteria. UMIID researchers are also on the frontline of defining and testing strategies to cure HIV and Tuberculosis. The design of UMIID brings in local partners including the MN Department of Health, CIDRAP and the School of Public Health, and the Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, Biological Sciences, Science and Engineering, Pharmacy, and multiple institutes and centers from across the University. UMIID importantly partners globally with the US Army and research sites on each continent, giving UMN and UMIID a global presence in infectious disease response, positioning us for global communication and response against the next pandemic.
“Establishing and launching UMIID is timely because, at this point, our country no longer has a functioning infrastructure for responding to emerging infectious disease outbreaks and pandemics. UMIID is needed now more than ever, and we are positioned to serve the world to respond to infectious disease and protect public health.” - Dr. Michael Gale Jr.
Uniting the University’s vast expertise in disease research and prevention, UMIID's effort is firmly grounded in the "One Health" philosophy, which recognizes the essential link between human, animal, and environmental well-being in the fight against pathogens. Driving collaborative efforts is a key focus for UMIID. This robust infrastructure enables UMIID to operate on both a local and global scale.
UMIID's analysis of Wastewater Dashboard data is another major initiative. By surveilling wastewater across Minnesota's treatment plants, this work provides an early warning system, delivering rapid, community-level intelligence on viral activity and potential spread. The dashboard currently displays the measured concentration of COVID-19 in the water, allowing for comparison with corresponding hospitalization trends. Plans are underway to expand monitoring to include Influenza (Flu), RSV, measles, monkey pox, enteroviruses, and other dangerous emerging or reemerging agents.
Rooted firmly in the land-grant mission, UMIID embodies the University of Minnesota’s unwavering commitment to building a safer, healthier future for people across the state and the globe. This dedication is fueled by the critical need for science to move beyond the laboratory and directly confront pressing societal dangers. In a complex world, it directly meets the demand for reliable, data-driven protection.
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https://med.umn.edu/news/umiid-securing-our-health
Author: Anna Freed, Communications
The COVID-19 pandemic made one lesson starkly clear: we urgently need rapid, coordinated innovation to predict, prevent, and respond to infectious disease threats. Building on the University of Minnesota Medical School's early and effective response to that crisis, the school launched the University of Minnesota Institute on Infectious Diseases (UMIID) in July of this year.
The Institute is led by esteemed researcher Michael Gale, Jr., PhD, Director of UMIID and head of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Under his leadership, UMIID has developed programs to (i) respond to infectious disease outbreaks, including isolating, identifying, and defining the cause of the outbreak; (ii) developing infection intervention and disease mitigation strategies, including application of novel vaccines and therapeutics; (iii) to train the next generation of outbreak response professionals. Within these activities, UMIID conducts molecular surveillance and research to develop mitigation strategies against infection and disease by emerging viruses and drug resistant bacteria. UMIID researchers are also on the frontline of defining and testing strategies to cure HIV and Tuberculosis. The design of UMIID brings in local partners including the MN Department of Health, CIDRAP and the School of Public Health, and the Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, Biological Sciences, Science and Engineering, Pharmacy, and multiple institutes and centers from across the University. UMIID importantly partners globally with the US Army and research sites on each continent, giving UMN and UMIID a global presence in infectious disease response, positioning us for global communication and response against the next pandemic.
“Establishing and launching UMIID is timely because, at this point, our country no longer has a functioning infrastructure for responding to emerging infectious disease outbreaks and pandemics. UMIID is needed now more than ever, and we are positioned to serve the world to respond to infectious disease and protect public health.” - Dr. Michael Gale Jr.
Uniting the University’s vast expertise in disease research and prevention, UMIID's effort is firmly grounded in the "One Health" philosophy, which recognizes the essential link between human, animal, and environmental well-being in the fight against pathogens. Driving collaborative efforts is a key focus for UMIID. This robust infrastructure enables UMIID to operate on both a local and global scale.
UMIID's analysis of Wastewater Dashboard data is another major initiative. By surveilling wastewater across Minnesota's treatment plants, this work provides an early warning system, delivering rapid, community-level intelligence on viral activity and potential spread. The dashboard currently displays the measured concentration of COVID-19 in the water, allowing for comparison with corresponding hospitalization trends. Plans are underway to expand monitoring to include Influenza (Flu), RSV, measles, monkey pox, enteroviruses, and other dangerous emerging or reemerging agents.
Rooted firmly in the land-grant mission, UMIID embodies the University of Minnesota’s unwavering commitment to building a safer, healthier future for people across the state and the globe. This dedication is fueled by the critical need for science to move beyond the laboratory and directly confront pressing societal dangers. In a complex world, it directly meets the demand for reliable, data-driven protection.
Share this
https://med.umn.edu/news/umiid-securing-our-health