The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE - The University of Louisville Center for the Deterrence of Biowarfare and Bioterrorism was named Friday one of seven specialty centers for public health preparedness by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Louisville is unique in its resources and capabilities to research and prepare for a terrorism-related biological disaster," said Jerry Hauer, an official with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The center at U of L was established last year after anthrax scares in Florida and Washington following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., helped secure the center's initial $1.5 million grant from the CDC.

Five of the center's faculty - Ron Atlas, Rick Clover, Paul McKinney, Bill Smock and Jim Snyder - each serve on a national advisory council to the federal government.

Since the center's establishment, more than 1,000 physicians, nurses and emergency-response personnel have received training to respond to a bioterror attack.