The National Academies are seeking suggestions for experts to participate in a new consensus study on the current state of research, development, and stockpiling of smallpox medical countermeasures. The resulting committee of experts will conduct a study to examine lessons learned from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and recent mpox multi-country outbreak to inform an evaluation of the current state of research, development, and stockpiling of smallpox medical countermeasures (MCMs).
The study committee will develop a report with its findings and conclusions on priorities for additional research or activities to improve the U.S. Government readiness and response posture against smallpox, and on the composition of the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to ensure appropriate smallpox MCM response options.
Staff are looking for expertise particularly in the following areas:
• Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
• Virology (especially poxviruses)
• Infectious Diseases and Healthcare
• Public Health Preparedness and Epidemiology
• Vaccine and Drug Research, Development, and Production
• Medical Countermeasures
• Whole Genome Sequencing and Diagnostic Technologies
• Biosecurity and Biosafety
• Emerging Technologies
• Biomedical Ethics
• Regulatory Science
• Risk Assessment
The call for experts closes on November 3.