Biodefense Product Development

The core challenge of the National RCE Biodefense Network Program is the development of biodefense products with national priority by consortia of academic researchers in conjunction with pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Great expectations rest on the National Institutes of Allergy & Infectious Diseases to achieve this goal in the extramural program using primarily academic investigators. The GLRCE is responding to this challenge not only through research conducted on the frontiers of scientific progress, but also through research that has the potential for rapid product development.

Product development is the measure for success in the National RCE Program. Some biodefense products, for example synthesis and testing of new vaccines or immune therapeutics, can occur with breathtaking speed. Other products, for example diagnostic technologies, at least in their proof-of-principle phase, can be developed with equally astonishing speed. In contrast, the development of novel enzyme assays, the screening of large libraries for inhibitory lead compounds, and medicinal chemistry development of compounds for clinical trials of completely new classes of drugs require large commitments in time and financial resources for biodefense research to succeed. The GLRCE funds research programs that will provide potential products rapidly, as well as investing in programs that require longer time commitments for product development.

Biodefense Product Pipeline

Product development is resource intensive. Although GLRCE funding support is considerable, the disbursed funds alone would not be expected to sustain product development in the private sector. A new paradigm is being tested in the National RCE Program whereby teams of investigators from multiple institutions synergize their resources from multiple different programs to enable drug development, vaccine and diagnostic technology platforms that can be used as a Biodefense Product Pipeline that rapidly implements national defense against bioterrorism. Each of the GLRCE Research Projects, Developmental Projects and Cores have a number of outstanding basic science projects, some of which will serve as a rich source for future translation into products.

Vaccines and Immune Therapeutics
Diagnostics
Drug Development
Research Products
Training and Educational Products