Notice Number: NOT-HL-16-466

Key Dates
Release Date: November 17, 2016

Issued by
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Purpose

NHLBI is issuing this Notice to encourage individuals interested in research to evaluate the risk of and clinical impact of potential transmission of the Zika virus by transfusion to submit their applications using the following NIH Funding Opportunity Announcements:

• PA-16-160, Research Project Grant (Parent R01)
• PA-16-302, PHS 2015-02 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC, FDA, and ACF for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR)
• PA-15-270, PHS 2015-02 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42])
• PAR-16-440, Selected Topics in Transfusion Medicine (R01)
• PAR-16-441, Selected Topics in Transfusion Medicine (R21)

Research interests include but are not limited to characterization of the prevalence and recent or seasonal incidence of the virus among blood donors in different geographical regions; quantitation and dynamics of the evolution of viremia and viral persistence and infectivity in blood compartments over the course of infection in blood donors; transmissibility studies in relevant animal models; dynamics of viremia and immune responses post transfusion and clinical consequences of infection in pediatric and adult recipients with various underlying diseases and indications for transfusion; development of enhanced performance Zika virus screening and confirmatory assays for viral nucleic acids, antigens and antibodies including laboratory based and point of care assays; transfusion-transmission studies; and evaluations of potential strategies to reduce or prevent Zika virus transmission by blood transfusion.

Investigators interested in developing applications for Zika virus-related blood supply safety and transfusion research are strongly encouraged to discuss their ideas with the NHLBI contacts listed below.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Division of Blood Diseases and Resources
Simone Glynn, MD, MPH
Telephone: 301-435-0065
Email: [email protected]

Small Business Coordinator
Jennifer Shieh, PhD
Telephone: 301-496-2149
Email: [email protected]