Combat Casualty Care Research Program: WBPR Investigator Initiated Award

With this Program Announcement/Funding Opportunity, the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) is seeking to fund biotechnology research that culminates in outcomes and products that may qualify as advanced development activities within the Department of Defense (DoD). The results of this research will support medical protection and treatment requirements and needs by leveraging the skills and talents of U.S. based businesses and teaching-research academic institutions. The intent is to create enduring initiatives and collaborations that will develop and support sustained business and enterprise solutions.

The results of the research funded through this Program Announcement/Funding Opportunity are expected to increase the body of knowledge available to professionals and practitioners in health, medical science and related fields. The research impact is expected to benefit both civilian and military communities, particularly as it relates to the priority topic area described below.

This topic area contributes in a step-wise manner to the long-term goal of the Department of Defense to develop a FDA (Food and Drug Administration) licensable pathogen reduction device/ methodology wherein whole blood may be treated and then further processed as needed to produce pathogen-reduced red cells, platelets, plasma, and whole blood for transfusion. Specifically, the present program is for the development of methodology for whole blood and the production of FDA licensable red cells. By the end of the award period, the product should have completed FDA phase I and II clinical trials, or equivalent, in accordance with FDA requirements. The requirements identified in this topic area are to develop a process of pathogen reduction for treating emergency fresh whole blood with a safe, non-toxic (in humans) methodology, (a) to inactivate parasites (i.e..Babesia, Malaria, T. Cruzi),(b) to inactivate donor white blood cells,(c) to inactivate/reduce the amount of virus load (i.e. HCV, HBC, HIV), (d) to inactivate clinically significant bacteria, (e) to demonstrate viability and suitability of derived red cells and (f) to demonstrate potential for further development for production of platelets, plasma, and whole blood.