§285f–5 Research centers for pathogens of pandemic concern

Summary

The Institute's Director must set up and run a team-based research program, working with other NIH leaders, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and the BARDA Director. The program must fund research centers with grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to speed up discovery and early testing of medical products for virus families and other viruses that could cause a pandemic. The centers will do basic and preclinical work, develop platform technologies, find targets for treatments like antivirals, look for existing products that might work (including outpatient options), and do other related product research the Director approves. The Director must help the centers share information and require regular reports. When awarding money, priority should go to applicants with existing partnerships or frameworks. The Director must also work with other federal leaders to pick priority viruses and coordinate with BARDA on research needs and manufacturing capacity. Any funding must add to, not replace, other public or private support.