Three contracts in support of a Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) botulinum neurotoxin countermeasure research consortium will receive funding extensions through the end of 2015, according to a recent announcement from the U.S. Army.
The supported effort is entitled “Development of Medical Countermeasures for Botulinum Neurotoxin Intoxication Focused on Therapeutics and Neuroregenerative Medicines.” Under the multicenter consortium, the following three organizations were selected for FY2015 research contracts to be conducted in coordination with U.S Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD) collaborators:
Montclair State University is contributing to the botulinum drug discovery effort by synthesizing small molecule drug candidates for treatment of botulinum toxin exposure and optimizing their pharmaceutical properties.
The Institute of Advanced Sciences will support the efforts at the USAMRICD by performing high throughput screening of natural product and small molecule libraries.
Ossianix Inc. will provide an alternative to traditional inhibitors by developing small single chain shark antibodies as potential inhibitors for catalytic activity.
The extension through December 31, 2015 is to allow additional research for USAMRICD to complete the first cycle of this consortium effort. After discussions between the collaborating parties it was determined that additional time and funding would be needed to obtain the necessary objectives prior to the next research cycle.
Funding in the amount of $75,000 for MSU and $75,000 for the Institute of Advanced Sciences will be provided to complete the first cycle of the research. Ossianix will be receiving a completion date extension using the funding made available at the time of initial contract. Once approved, these three research contracts will end on December 31, 2015.
Research contracts to be performed in Fiscal Year 2016 to support the development of medical countermeasures will be addressed competitively through the U.S Army Medical Research and Materiel Command’s (USAMRMC’s) Broad Agency Announcement 15-1.
