FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                     Contact:  Michele Peters, ISIS
651-209-9259
mpeters@isis.org

The United States Congress awards $500,000 to ISIS to aid in developing a global animal information system

Eagan, Minnesota (3 January 2005) — The United States Congress has directed US $500,000 to the International Species Information System (ISIS) for development of its Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS). The funds were part of the US $388 billion federal funding bill signed December 8, 2004 by President Bush.

ZIMS, a Web-based international database, is being developed with the cooperation of 500 experts from the worldwide zoological community. ISIS is a network of 640 zoological institutions in 71 countries, including more than 250 in the US. When complete, this new ISIS software – ZIMS – will contain accurate, comprehensive information on 2 million animals and will improve animal care in the US and worldwide.

ZIMS also has great potential for tracking new and emerging diseases in animals, which will assist in protecting animal health and also has important public health implications. The funding will be made available through the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and the Centers for Disease Control. The project is projected for completion mid-2006.

According to Nate Flesness, ISIS executive director, “By awarding ZIMS funds, the US Congress has recognized the important role that zoos and aquariums increasingly play in the protection of wild animal species, and the potential benefit of this new system to benefit other federal agencies.”

Gerald Borin, executive director, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said “ISIS is grateful to Congress for its endorsement of the ZIMS Project and is especially appreciative of the efforts of Congressman Ralph Regula (R-OH), who guided ZIMS through the appropriation process, and the strong support of Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-OH).”

This funding will help ISIS meet its capital funding goal of $10 million for this project. ISIS has also secured a $300,000 grant from the US National Science Foundation, $500,000 through a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and $4 million from 133 members of the worldwide zoological community to build ZIMS.

According to Congressman Ralph Regula (R-OH), “I am pleased to have included this funding for the ZIMS database project. As has become extremely evident in recent public health emergencies, many animal health issues directly impact human health.  The ZIMS system will allow public health officials to work proactively to protect both human and animal health.”

Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-OH) said, "This project will help not only wildlife preservation and public education, but will provide a line of defense for public health that does not exist now. Dedicated public and private resources can work together to achieve the end goal of an effective database of information."

About ISIS
Founded in 1974, the International Species Information System (ISIS) is an organization of more than 600 zoological institutions from more than 70 countries that have come together for the preservation of animal species.  For more information on ISIS and the ZIMS Project, visit www.isis.org.

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background on ZIMS and detection of infectious disease