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Publication Date - 12/3/1999

16. NIH/ NIAID/NCI/NIAAA & NCRR - Small Business Innovation Research: Animal Models of HCV Infection

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) invite applications targeting the development/identification of one or more small animal models of hepatitis C infection and disease progression including acute and chronic states, fibrosis/cirrhosis, and liver tumor development--not necessarily all in the same model.

Identification of a small, animal model for hepatitis C research is critical to the progress of exploration of this pathogen. It is needed to study the pathogenesis, immunology, natural history, and viral replication of hepatitis C as well as to act as a model for the testing of new therapies and, hopefully, vaccine candidates. To date, the chimpanzee, expensive and of limited access, is the only non-human model. This request for applications (RFA) provides a flexible system within the SBIR program to cover the extensive needs and complex development processes needed to identify/define and develop a novel animal model of a hazardous infection-hepatitis C.

It is expected that $3.2 million from the SBIR set-asides of the participating Institutes will be designated for this RFA. Approximately 10 awards will be made in FY 2000. Phase I applications in response to this RFA will be funded as Phase I SBIR Grants (R43) with modifications: a project period up to two years, a budget not to exceed a total cost of $300,000 per year, and contractual costs greater than 33 percent when those costs are necessary to support development and evaluation of animal models. Phase II applications may have a project period up to three years, a budget not to exceed $1 million per year total costs, and consultant and contractual costs greater than 50 percent when necessary to support animal model development and evaluation, including clinical studies in academic institutions.

A Letter of Intent to Apply is requested to arrive at the NIAID on or before JANUARY 24, 2000. Applications are due at the NIH Center for Scientific Review on or before FEBRUARY 24, 2000.