Headquartered just off U.S. 15, the DVC building covers a total of 60,000 square feet in the small business park, paralleling Thomas Johnson Drive.

With over 87,000 employees worldwide, according to senior manager of communications April Finnen, "DVC is a world-class provider of solutions for the development of biopharmaceutical products."

The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Computer Sciences Corp.

With vast experience in the advanced development of vaccines and plasma-derived protein therapeutics, "DVC has one of the most comprehensive biodefense portfolios in the world," Finnen said.

Beyond biodefense, however, Finnen said the same model that has proven successful for biodefense products can be used for all public health requirements, including emerging threats and transformational medicine.

In addition to a long list of biodefense and other scientific capabilities, DVC has impressive clientele.

From its 200-plus associations with subcontractors, research centers and universities across the globe, DVC has been the prime systems contractor for the Department of Defense Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program since its origin in 1997, Finnen said.

Future DVC contracts may later extend into an alliance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines, along with a list of other public and private organizations.

More than specializing in vaccines for biological defense, Finnen said more recently DVC has begun to specialize in chemical defense and emerging infectious diseases.

Although DVC does not actually conduct its own research, DVC's president and chief scientific officer, Robert House, said the company subcontracts all its laboratory work out to specialty labs.

"We are responsible for designing most of the experiments, as well as interpreting the results," House said. "In this respect, you might saywe are conducting our research via remote control."

House is personally involved in those activities, and publishes papers and books, and gives presentations at scientific conferences.

House said that although the company is still in its primitive years, DVC is constantly evolving.

"We began a decade ago as a one-contract company developing only vaccines and vaccine-related products for the (U.S. Department of Defense)," he said.

"We are now structuring the company to begin offering our services to a much wider market," he said.

"Along the way, we are setting the standard for biopharmaceutical products development in a number of areas."

Five years from now House promised that DVC will continue to build its expertise in biodefense and scientific project management, "providing world-class biopharmaceutical product development to our customers."

House intends for DVC to grow significantly in revenue, staff, and reputation, and become the preeminent biopharmaceutical services provider.

Post your comments » Round 2: Snow expected to fall today, Wednesday Fast on the heels of the largest 24-hour snowfall to hit the Frederick County since 1983, meteorologists are predicting another round of heavy snow and wind to hit today. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Monday afternoon for the area, including Frederick County, and said 10 to 20 inches of snow is possible by Wednesday night. Weather-related closings, delays A list follows of weather-related closings and cancellations for this week. Fire and police blotter Police search for robber School closures cause makeup schedule revision Even though Frederick County Public Schools are closed today -- using the sixth snow day this school year -- the school system will not hold school on the Monday Presidents Day holiday as the first scheduled snow makeup day. Crowds pay respect to fallen marine Even U.S. Marines couldn't hold back tears Monday at the viewing of their colleague, Sgt. David Smith. The procession to the Frederick Christian Fellowship Church was led by Frederick County Sheriff's deputies. Dressed in full military regalia, Marines carried Smith's casket into the church followed by family members as more Marines stood at attention.