Elizabeth R. Griffin Research Foundation

The Elizabeth R. Griffin Research Foundation^[1][2] is a grants foundation for professional research and biosafety training managed by executive director, Jim Welch.

The grants foundation is named in honor of the deceased Yerkes Research Center Research Assistant, Beth Griffin (1975-1997),^[3] set up in the Griffin family hometown of Kingsport, Tennessee.

Beth Griffin died from exposure to the Herpes B virus after an eye splash from an infected primate on December 10, 1997.

Griffin was wearing a lab coat, mask, boots and gloves but no protective goggles when she contacted the virus. Before her death, the only known transmissions of the virus from monkeys to humans occurred from a bite or scratch. Only 40 cases of such transmissions have been recorded since 1933.

After her death, Yerkes ordered its employees to use eyewear for protection during tasks previously not considered risky for transmission of the herpes B virus.

The virus is common and usually harmless to monkeys, but it is fatal in 70 percent of cases involving humans. Symptoms include small blisters near the site of the infection, redness of the eyes, flu-like aches, headaches, and lack of coordination.

There is no known cure, but at least two infected people recovered after being treated with Acyclovir, a drug commonly used to treat the human herpes simplex virus. However, it is unknown if the drug was responsible for their recoveries^[4]

References

1. http://www.ergriffinresearch.org/
2. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-R-Griffin-Research-Foundation/150220618355436
3. http://www.ergriffinresearch.org/aboutelizabeth.htm
4. "Second monkey researcher exposed to virus: First Yerkes Primate Center employee died". CNN affiliate WSB-TV. Retrieved December 31, 1997. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help); Check date values in: |access-date= (help)