In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, host Jill Morgan sits down with Abbey Lowe, Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the lead for the Special Pathogens Research Network (SPRN) Work Group One. Together, they break down the often-overlooked world of clinical research in special pathogens response—demystifying everything from Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) to the essential preparedness required for rapid research and ethical problem-solving during outbreaks.

Whether you’re a healthcare professional, researcher, or just curious about what happens “behind the scenes” when new pathogens emerge, this episode is packed with insight. Abby Lowe offers a candid look at how networks like NETEC and SPRN prepare to blend the slow, methodical processes of research oversight with the urgent demands of outbreak response. The conversation also highlights the importance of ethics, patient consent, rapid protocol development, and how future expansion to more treatment centers might change the game.

Tune in to learn how unglamorous but vital groundwork in research and ethics lays the foundation for saving lives—and improving care—when it matters most.

Abbey Lowe, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the College of Allied Health Professions, Department of Allied Health Professions Education, Research, and Practice, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a UNMC Global Center for Health Security Scholar.

She is affiliate faculty of Medical Humanities at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Abbey’s interests are at the intersection of ethics, health policy, and health security, and her research focuses on ethics in public health emergencies. Her research is grounded in mixed methods research leveraging her expertise in conducting structured and semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and facilitation. Abbey’s work has been published in the AMA Journal of Ethics, the Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics, and the Journal of Public Health Policy, among others.

Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, GA

Jill Morgan is a registered nurse and a subject matter expert in personal protective equipment (PPE) for NETEC. For 35 years, Jill has been an emergency department and critical care nurse, and now splits her time between education for NETEC and clinical research, most of it centering around infection prevention and personal protective equipment. She is a member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), ASTM International, and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).

1. NETEC Special Pathogens Research Network
2. NETEC Resource Library: Research Design Resources
3. Transmission Interrupted Podcast
4. NETEC YouTube
5. NETEC Email Newsletter

The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center’s mission is to set the gold standard for special pathogen preparedness and response across health systems in the U.S. with the goals of driving best practices, closing knowledge gaps, and developing innovative resources.

Our vision is a sustainable infrastructure and culture of readiness for managing suspected and confirmed special pathogen incidents across the United States public health and health care delivery systems.

For more information visit NETEC on the web at NETEC.org.

Assess and Advance Your Readiness for Special Pathogens with Free, Expert Consulting.

NETEC offers free virtual and onsite readiness consulting to help health care facilities and EMS agencies prepare for special pathogen events. Our targeted support services are delivered by experts selected and assigned to each inquiry based on the unique needs of your organization. Have a question? Ask a NETEC expert.

For more information visit NETEC's Consultation Services.