Research
Regional Biocontainment Lab

Executive Director 

Dr. David S. Perlin, PhD is Executive Director of the UMDNJ RBL. He also serves as Director of the Public Health Research Institute (PHRI), a specialized Center for infectious diseases research and is a Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. Dr. Perlin is an internationally recognized research scientist in infectious diseases, and has played a major role in advancing the national research agenda in biodefense and emerging infectious diseases. Dr. Perlin helped establish PHRI as a leading tuberculosis (TB) and opportunistic infections research organization, and he was instrumental in the creation of the International Center for Public Health at New Jersey Medical School. His primary expertise is in fungal infections and rapid diagnosis of opportunistic pathogens in high-risk patients. His laboratory is supported by grants from the NIH, pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. Dr. Perlin was a special consultant to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee's investigation of the 2001 anthrax outbreak and served as consulting microbiologist for the New Jersey Environmental Clearance Committee, which oversaw the anthrax clean-up of the Hamilton Township postal facility. Dr. Perlin lectures on the global impact of infectious diseases, and regularly comments in mainstream media outlets, such as the New York Times. He serves on numerous scientific advisory boards for pharmaceutical, biotech, government and academia.