SPECTRE Special Pathogens Excellence in Clinical Treatment Readiness & Education Program

Welcome to SPECTRE!

We are SPECTRE—the Special Pathogens Excellence in Clinical Treatment, Readiness, and Education Program—housed within the Division of Infectious Diseases at UTMB. Our mission is to strengthen local and regional readiness to respond to high-consequence infectious diseases, ensuring self-sufficiency and operational resilience.

SPECTRE supports the ongoing preparedness of UTMB’s Biocontainment Care Unit (BCU) by developing targeted training and education initiatives grounded in practical, frontline care. We focus on equipping healthcare professionals, across all of Region 6, with the skills, tools, and confidence needed to act swiftly and safely during special pathogen events.

We also foster collaboration with regional healthcare partners and public health entities, promoting a unified, state-driven response framework that ensures coordination without unnecessary duplication of federal efforts. In addition, we contribute to the infrastructure needed for clinically grounded research, ensuring that emerging knowledge translates directly into improved patient care and safety protocols.

 

Susan McLellan, MD, MPH
Susan McLellan, MD, MPH
Susan McLellan, MD, MPH
Director, SPECTRE
Medical Director, Biocontainment Care Unit
Email: sumclell@utmb.edu
 Faculty Bio

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Who is SPECTRE

SPECTRE strengthens healthcare preparedness through training, education, research, and regional coordination. By equipping healthcare professionals with specialized skills, advancing infectious disease research, and leading regional preparedness efforts, SPECTRE enhances the ability to manage high-consequence infectious diseases. This video highlights SPECTRE’s mission and its role in providing healthcare professionals with the knowledge and resources needed to respond effectively. Through evidence-based education, research, and strategic partnerships, SPECTRE helps build stronger response capabilities at institutional, regional, and national levels.

What we do

Clinical Care
Training & Education
Regional Coordination
Research Infrastructure

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News & Events

 Latest News

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and NETEC Lead Regional Training on Special Pathogens Lab Skills

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, in partnership with NETEC, hosted a specialized training for lab technicians and directors focused on safely managing high-consequence infectious diseases. The training included a virtual session on key topics like the National Special Pathogen System (NSPS), diagnostic testing, and waste management, followed by an in-person hands-on workshop covering PPE use, spill response, and lab-specific techniques.

Read more about how this training strengthens lab preparedness.

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