Rapid Assessment of Zika Virus (ZIKV) Complications (R21)

Funding Opportunity PAR-16-106 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to provide an expedited (rapid) funding mechanism for research on Zika virus (ZIKV) and its complications.ZIKV is a single-stranded RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted to humans primarily through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitos, though both perinatal/in utero and sexual transmission have been reported.Initially discovered in 1947, it has been reported in the Americas since 2014, with a major outbreak in Brazil starting in 2015.Disease is seen in about 20% of infected people and is usually self-limited.However, a possible association between ZIKV infection in pregnant women and severe microcephaly in their babies has been very concerning and prompted the World Health Organization to declare this potential complication a public health emergency. Additionally the virus has been found in blood, fueling growing concerns about the risk of transfusion-transmissionwith particular concern over severe outcomes in at risk transfusion recipient populations such as women who are pregnant.
Source: NIH Funding Opportunities (Notices, PA, RFA) - Category: Research Source Type: funding