Columbia has been selected to lead New York City’s first Pandemic Response Institute, according to an announcement released on Sept. 29 by Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The institute—which will be led by the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs at Columbia, the Mailman School of Public Health’s Center for Infection and Immunity, and various other University programs—will work to protect the city against future public health crises and transform New York City into a leader in global health.