Global Virus Network Launches HQ at USF

New partnership positions USF Health as permanent home for leading virology network

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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The Global Virus Network (GVN), a coalition of top virologists from over 40 countries, has established its new international headquarters at the University of South Florida (USF) Institute for Translational Virology and Innovation. The partnership aims to advance research, collaboration, and pandemic preparedness through USF's scientific ecosystem.

Why it matters

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for sustained global scientific cooperation to address viral threats. Locating GVN's headquarters at USF, a leading research institution, provides a permanent hub to strengthen surveillance, accelerate research, and improve the world's ability to respond to future outbreaks.

The details

The new GVN headquarters is housed within the USF Health Institute for Translational Virology and Innovation, founded and directed by renowned virologist Dr. Robert Gallo. The partnership will connect USF students, researchers, and clinicians with GVN's network of over 90 Centers of Excellence and Affiliates across 40+ countries, advancing the network's mission of confronting viral diseases worldwide.

  • The GVN marked the opening of its International Headquarters on March 5, 2026.
  • USF was selected in 2024 to host the network's International Headquarters.

The players

Moez Limayem

President of the University of South Florida.

Robert C. Gallo

Founder of the USF Health Institute for Translational Virology and Innovation and international scientific director of the Global Virus Network.

Charles J. Lockwood

Executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

Mathew Evins

Chief executive officer and managing executive of the Global Virus Network.

Global Virus Network

A coalition of eminent human and animal virologists from more than 90 Centers of Excellence and Affiliates across over 40 countries, working to advance research, collaboration and pandemic preparedness.

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What they’re saying

“We are proud that the Global Virus Network has chosen to establish its international headquarters at USF, connecting our students, researchers and clinicians with leading virologists and institutions around the world.”

— Moez Limayem, President of the University of South Florida (Mirage News)

“The establishment of the Global Virus Network's International Headquarters at USF Health reflects the strength of the scientific and clinical ecosystem we are building here in Tampa.”

— Charles J. Lockwood, Executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine (Mirage News)

“This is a very important and meaningful day for the Global Virus Network and for me personally. When we founded GVN fifteen years ago, our goal was simple but ambitious: to unite the world's leading virologists into a consequential scientific network dedicated to confronting viral threats.”

— Robert C. Gallo, Founder of the USF Health Institute for Translational Virology and Innovation and international scientific director of Global Virus Network (Mirage News)

“The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for independent, globally connected scientific infrastructure that exists between outbreaks, not just during crises. As we cut this ribbon, we are establishing a permanent hub for collaboration, a place where scientists strengthen surveillance, accelerate research and improve the world's ability to respond to viral threats.”

— Mathew Evins, Chief executive officer and managing executive of Global Virus Network (Mirage News)

What’s next

The new GVN headquarters at USF will serve as a permanent hub for global scientific collaboration, strengthening surveillance, accelerating research, and improving the world's ability to respond to future viral threats.

The takeaway

The establishment of the Global Virus Network's international headquarters at USF Health underscores the university's leadership in global health research and pandemic preparedness. This partnership aims to unite the world's top virologists to confront current and future viral diseases through sustained international cooperation.