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.

 

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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

News & Events

 Latest News

SPECTRE BLOG "Not Just Practice-Preparation: June's BCU Training at UTMB"

In June, the SPECTRE program led a training for UTMB’s Biocontainment Care Unit (BCU) Team, bringing critical preparedness efforts into focus for both the university and the broader HHS Region 6. The hands-on session walked team members through a full patient care workflow—from a scenario-based admission in EPIC Playground to bedside assessments, specimen collection, and safe packaging for transport.

Team members also refreshed their understanding of specimen handling protocols, reinforcing the importance of clinical safety and research integrity in a high-consequence infectious disease response. These trainings are more than skill-building—they're part of a larger effort to keep UTMB and its partners across the region ready to respond when it matters most.