UNMC_Acronym_Vert_sm_4c
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska Public Health Laboratory

The Nebraska Public Health Laboratory is a cooperative partnership among the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and Nebraska Medicine. This partnership was formed in 1997 when the state legislature and governor established the lab in Omaha.

The original focus of testing was to provide support for state-sponsored prevention programs for the detection of sexually transmitted diseases, enteric diseases such as salmonellosis, and respiratory diseases such as influenza. In 1999, testing at NPHL was expanded to include testing for bio-threat agents in environmental samples and the detection of chemical agents in human specimens through grant funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This unique arrangement between UNMC and NE-DHHS has resulted in saving millions of tax dollars and has leveraged expertise of existing UNMC personnel and state-of-the-art equipment for the benefit of all Nebraskans.

The Nebraska Public Health Laboratory is on the eighth floor of the Durham Research Center II tower, where it is hosted by the UNMC Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology. 

The lab has an extensive outreach and education program throughout Nebraska.

NPHL Directorship

Professor, UNMC Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
Senior Biosafety Officer, UNMC / UNO
Director, Nebraska Public Health Lab

Iwen Laboratory

Peter C. Iwen, MS, PhD, D(ABMM), F(AAM)
Emily McCutchen, MS

Laboratory and Quality Manager, NPHL

402-559-9691