The NCBC was established with a $347,000 USDA appropriation by Jackson State officials in the aftermath of Sept. 11 as an extension of the work conducted by the school's Institute of Epidemidology and Health Services Research, according to Okojie. He explained that Jackson State officials sought the appropriation in a request to Congress just last year.

"We had been thinking about a national center prior to 9/11 since we were doing the epidemiology research through the institute. The center was a natural progression for us because we had the basic infrastructure in place," Okojie says, noting that a half million-dollar epidemiology laboratory had been established at the institute.

"After 9/11, it made sense to expand the scope of the institute," he adds.

Currently, the NCBC has funding proposals pending with both the Centers for Disease Control and the DHS. Okojie says Jackson State is not yet competing to become a HS-Center of Excellence, but expects to submit a proposal when a request is made for a center based on the institutional and research strengths the school has already cultivated. In recent years, Jackson State has established a positive reputation for its capacity to conduct health-related research with regard to minority and disadvantaged populations.

Dr. Phyllis Gray-Ray, FAMU's vice president for research, says she expects the Tallahassee-based HBCU to compete for designation as a HS-Center of Excellence when an appropriate request is posted by the DHS. She cites FAMU's prowess in pharmacy, engineering and basic science research among its core strengths. FAMU's scientists and engineering professors already have an established record on Defense Department projects.

"We're confident we can become a leading name in homeland security," Gray-Ray says.