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Global Center for Health Security

- Our Expertise Overview
- Why Nebraska?
  Nebraska’s difference is an all-star, all-volunteer team that dedicated itself to being ready for any biocontainment crisis at any time.
- Leadership
  The Global Center is led by experts in biopreparedness and high-consequence infections research, education and clinical care.
- Scholars
  Our scholars are leading advancements in global health security.
- Affiliates
  Our affiliates are innovative experts collaborating to advance global health security.
- C-STARS
  C-STARS, the Center for Sustainment of Trauma Readiness Skills- Omaha is a collaboration between UNMC, Nebraska Medicine, and the Air Force Research Laboratory’s School of Aerospace Medicine. C-STARS Omaha works closely with UNMC’s Global Center for Health Security, iEXCEL, and the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit to take advantage of the medical center’s capabilities and expertise in biopreparedness training and research.
- Our Team
  Our team consists of a variety of professionals providing support and project management to further the Global Center for Health Security’s mission.
- Domains Overview
- Clinical Operations
  The Global Center for Health Security is the premier U.S. institution for management of high-consequence infections. Further, our clinical capabilities include biological, chemical, burn, and radiation domains.
- Education & Training
  Our expertise is now sought worldwide and officially sanctioned by the U.S. government. The GCHS is the home base to the national Training, Simulation, and Quarantine Center and the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit.
- Research
  The GCHS has laser-focused existing work by our leading scientists in fields like chemical weapons, drug discovery and public health.
- Innovation & External Partnerships
  The GCHS has partnered with many academic groups at UNMC and external partners to tackle the most pressing problems in emerging infectious diseases.
Programs
- Health Emergencies Overview
- Outbreaks to Watch
  Find information about emerging pathogens, diseases and outbreaks from around the world. Stay updated on the most recent information on worldwide global health and emerging pathogens outbreaks.
- COVID-19
  Explore our COVID-19 page for recent news, resources, manuals, and playbooks. Biweekly overviews of new data and developments presented by James V. Lawler, MD, MPH, FIDSA can now be found on the Health Emergencies page.
- HPAI H5N1- Avian Influenza
  Learn more about the current worldwide outbreak of HPAI H5N1- Avian Influenza and explore resources, news, webinars, and our unofficial map.
- Marburg Virus Disease
  Explore this page for more information, resources, news, and situational updates about the current Marburg outbreak in Rwanda.
- Mpox
  The Global Center for Health Security is currently monitoring the spread of mpox. Learn more by viewing our resources.
- Dengue Fever
  The GCHS is currently monitoring the rise of Dengue Fever. This page provides information, resources, and news.
The Transmission
- News Overview
- Highlights
  Read recent highlights, articles, events, recognition and updates on the work of our programs and partners.
- Events
  Find scheduled and past events involving the Global Center for Health Security.
- Annual Reports
  Find annual reports for our center and several of our programs.

— Global Center for Health Security — About Us — Scholars — Rachel Lookadoo, JD

Rachel Lookadoo, JD

•Assistant Professor, UNMC College of Public Health, Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health College of Public Health
•Director, Public Health Policy, Water, Climate and Health Program Deputy Director, Center for Preparedness and Emergency Response Solutions (CPERS)
•Director, Legal and Public Health Preparedness
•Global Center for Health Security Scholar

Rachel Lookadoo

Rachel Lookadoo is a public health lawyer and a Scholar of the UNMC Global Center for Health Security. She has worked as an educator, researcher, and subject matter expert, providing guidance to public health and healthcare entities across the United States. At the University, she teaches public health law, disaster law, environmental health law, and emergency preparedness. As a researcher, her interests focus on the various legal and regulatory issues that can arise in emergency preparedness and response.

In addition to her teaching and research roles, Ms. Lookadoo serves as the Director of Legal and Public Health Preparedness for the Center for Preparedness and Emergency Response Solutions and the Director of Public Health Policy for the Water, Climate, and Health program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In addition to her work in general legal preparedness, she specializes in crisis standards of care, healthcare surge events, isolation/quarantine law, combatting health mis-/dis-information, and public health impacts of climate change and extreme climate events.

One of the primary aims of Ms. Lookadoo’s work is to translate preparedness policy and research findings into practical tools and education for healthcare workers, public health practitioners, and the broader community. Ms. Lookadoo co-led the development of the Nebraska state crisis standards of care plan, which was codified into state law as the Nebraska Health Care Crisis Protocol in 2021. She also co-authored the first comprehensive drought and health assessment in the United States, along with corresponding messaging guidelines for frontline healthcare workers to use with patients in drought-stricken communities. Ms. Lookadoo received her Juris Doctor degree from American University Washington College of Law.