Research Announcements
Regulation of Host Response as a Medical Countermeasure Approach
Regulation of Host Response as a Medical Countermeasure Approach
Synopsis:
Added: Oct 07, 2009 10:19 am
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is seeking medical countermeasures that (1) enhance innate and adaptive immunity for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, or (2) attenuate final common pathways of pathogenesis to reduce the severity of disease, in support of the Transformational Medical Technologies Initiative (TMTI) program. The TMTI mission is to protect the Warfighter from potent known, naturally emerging and genetically engineered threats by providing a capability that includes rapid response and the development of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medical countermeasures. High priority organisms include hemorrhagic fever viruses and intracellular bacteria on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Category A and B high priority pathogen list.
Information Sought:
Specifically, the program is interested in the discovery and development of pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis that enhance innate and adaptive immunity, effectively priming the immune system to safely respond to unknown, emerging or bioengineered threats. The program is also interested in medical interventions that target host pathways constituting final common pathways of pathogenesis, e.g., attenuation of inflammatory and coagulation cascades to enhance survival. The intended use may be administration as a stand alone or adjunctive therapy. An alternative approach may be the development of supportive therapies to prevent or treat end-organ failure complicating septic shock or vascular endothelial dysfunction, or prevention or treatment of end-organ damage due to diverse etiologies (e.g., trauma, shock, ischemia, radiation; e.g. “shock liver”, myocardial or cerebral infarction). Solutions from domains outside of biodefense related-research (e.g. HIV, cancer, sepsis, and trauma) are encouraged. Approaches may include new discoveries or repurposing of FDA approved treatments or candidates in late development.
Posted Oct 12, 2009