Notice of Intent to Publish Funding Opportunity Announcements for Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Cooperative Research Projects (U01) and Research Centers of Excellence (U54)

Notice Number: NOT-NS-10-011

Key Dates
Release Date: March 5, 2010

Issued by
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) (http://www.ninds.nih.gov)

Purpose
 
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intends to issue two Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) in the spring of 2010: “Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Research Centers of Excellence (U54)” and “Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Cooperative Research Projects (U01)”.  The goal of both initiatives is to provide support for translational research to develop therapeutics for reducing mortality and morbidity caused by acute exposures to chemical threat agents. Chemical threats are toxic chemicals that could be used in a terrorist attack or accidentally released from industrial production, storage or shipping.  The scope of the research supported within this milestone-driven translational program includes target and candidate identification and characterization, through candidate optimization and demonstration of in vivo efficacy, through Investigational New Drug (IND) submission and clinical trials when appropriate.   See www.ninds.nih.gov/counteract for a description of the CounterACT program. 

The CounterACT research program will utilize Research Centers of Excellence (U54) and Cooperative Research Projects (U01) to support up to 5 years of translational research.  Chemical threats to be covered include pulmonary agents (e.g. chlorine, phosgene), toxic industrial chemicals (e.g. cyanide, pesticides), chemical nerve agents (e.g. sarin, VX), and others.  The NIH intends to commit approximately $12 million per year in Fiscal Years 2011, 2012, and 2013 to fund new and/or competing renewal U01 and U54 awards.  Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend on the number, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received.  It is anticipated that several other NIH Institutes, including the National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), may also participate in this funding opportunity announcement. 

This notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop responsive projects. 

APPLICATIONS ARE NOT BEING REQUESTED AT THIS TIME.

Inquiries

Direct inquiries regarding this Notice to:

David A. Jett, Ph.D.
Program Director, NIH CounterACT Research
National Institutes of Health, NINDS
6001 Executive Blvd.
NSC, Room 2177, MSC 9527
Bethesda, MD 20892-9527
Telephone: 301-496-6035
Fax: 301-402-1501
jettd@ninds.nih.gov