The United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) and the Pharmaceutical Systems Project Management Office (PSPMO) are conducting market research to assess the availability of technologies to improve vector-borne pathogen detection and identification.
At a minimum, candidate vector pathogen detection systems must have demonstrated proof-of-concept in a well-controlled bench performance study and be suitable for use in austere environments. Ideally the technology will be able to detect multiple pathogens per test, be easy to use with minimum training, and be at or near commercialization.
“Arthropod-borne diseases pose a significant threat to deployed military forces. Development of a vector pathogen detection capability for use in a deployed setting is one materiel solution being considered in a family-of-systems approach,” states the Army announcement. “In the absence of approved drugs and vaccines for most arthropod-borne diseases, assessment, identification and mitigation of the risk using actionable data remains the best option to prevent transmission of these diseases to US forces.”
Prioritized pathogens of interest under the effort include: Tularemia, Malaria, Leishmaniasis, Rift Valley Fever, Dengue, Chikungunya, and Tick-Borne Encephalitis.
Further details are available under Solicitation Number: W81XWH-13-R-0024. The deadline to respond is January 25, 2013.
