Bret K Purcell, M.D., Ph.D.

Bret Kevan Purcell, Ph.D., M.D., COL (Ret.), Medical Corps., U.S. Army

COL (Ret.) Bret K. Purcell is currently a Research Associate Professor, Applied Therapeutics Specialist for Emerging Pathogens and Assistant Director ITI Select Agent Program at the University of Florida, Institute of Therapeutic Innovation, Department of Medicine, Lake Nona Campus, Florida. His research areas of interest include development and evaluation of countermeasure therapeutics for bio-threat agents, animal model development, and licensure of new products under the FDA Animal Rule, as well as human clinical trials. While in the Army he served as the Principal Investigator overseeing a wide variety of biodefense research projects totaling over $24M; clinical research monitor / Principal Investigator for 7 different investigational new drug protocols; Chief of the Therapeutics Department; Deputy Chief of the Bacteriology Division; as well as of chairperson of the Institutional Review Board for Investigational New Drugs. He participated in and led a team of U.S. scientists and laboratory technicians who provided laboratory and medical instruction to establish the Central Reference Laboratories for public health in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia and Baku, Azerbaijan under the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Threat Agent Detection and Response program. He also served as White House Weapons of Mass Destruction Medical Countermeasures Biologics Working Group Member; Certifying Official for the USAMRIID Biosurety Personnel Reliability Program; U.S. Army Surgeon General Investigational New Drug Support Team Physician; 15-6 Investigative Officer for MRMC Command and as a Travel Medicine, Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease Physician at the Barquist Army Health Clinic, Ft. Detrick, MD. He served both in Iraq and S. Korea as an Army medical clinic physician.

His final assignment for the Army prior to arriving at the University of Florida in March, 2020 was as Chief of the Medicine Division at USAMRIID. At that time he managed 65 personnel to include enlisted soldiers, junior officers, both military and civilian medical and nursing staff as well as administrative personnel. He was responsible for oversight of the medical operations for both the IND vaccine program administered to USAMRIID and external partner personnel but also as the subject matter expert in Select Agent exposure or infections. During his time in service he was awarded 2 Army Achievement Metals, 4 Army Commendation Metals, 2 Meritorious Services Metals, the A Proficiency Designator (8H) and the Order of Military Medical Merit. In 2019, he was honored with the Army Legion of Merit. He is author on 33 peer reviewed papers, 4 textbook chapters and 33 national meeting presentations/abstracts. Dr. Purcell currently holds a medical license in both Texas and Florida as well as a license as a Select Agents Registered Principal Investigator for the CDC. He was recently granted clinical privileges at the Orlando VA Hospital. In 2001, he completed his infectious disease fellowship at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX. In 1995, Dr. Purcell received his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and in 1987, received his Doctorate in Philosophy Degree in Microbiology from the University of Iowa.