Research Plans and Priorities
Influenza is notable in its ability to produce annual epidemics of disease in both developed and developing countries. Currently, influenza vaccination is the primary method of preventing influenza and its severe complications. However, current methods of vaccine production are time-consuming and laborious, and previous vaccination or prior infection does not guarantee protection since the virus varies from year to year.
A high-priority concern for NIAID is the pandemic potential of certain influenza viruses. In most instances when an influenza virus jumps species from an animal such as a chicken to infect a human, the result is a “dead end” infection that cannot readily be transmitted further from human to human. Mutations in the virus, however, could increase the efficiency of human-to-human transmission. Furthermore, if an avian influenza virus and another human influenza virus were to simultaneously co-infect a person, the genes of the two viruses might reassort, resulting in a virus that is readily transmissible between humans and against which the population would have no natural immunity. Such a virus could potentially cause a fast-moving, global pandemic.
For specific information regarding NIAID research on pandemic influenza viruses, please see the Pandemic Influenza Research Timeline (PDF).
Research Areas
The primary goal of the NIAID Influenza Research Program is to support research leading to more effective approaches to controlling and preventing influenza infection.
NIAID currently supports research in the following major areas:
Basic Biology
NIAID supports basic research on virus structure and function, viral pathogenesis, and the host response to infection.
Surveillance/Epidemiology
NIAID supports research to better understand the natural history and emergence of influenza viruses with pandemic potential and to evaluate community-based strategies for interrupting the spread of influenza.
Vaccine Development and Evaluation
Supporting the development of new influenza vaccines has been a major focus of the NIAID Influenza Research Program. These strategies include clinically evaluating live attenuated and recombinant vaccines, adjuvants, cell culture-based vaccines, and high doses of inactivated vaccines in elderly subjects. Basic research supported by NIAID includes the development of vaccines that protect against divergent viral strains and do not need to be updated annually. NIAID also supports the production of pilot lot vaccines against avian influenza subtypes with high pandemic potential.
Drug Discovery and Evaluation
NIAID supports contracts for the identification and development of antivirals against influenza and their evaluation in both in vitro and in vivo screening assays. In 2004, NIAID screened 170 compounds in in vitro assays and 10 compounds in in vivo assays.
Research Plans
Development of a Clinical Trial Plan for Pandemic Influenza Vaccines, NIAID
Pandemic Influenza Plan, Department of Health and Human Services
Federal, State, Individual and Planning and Response Activities, PandemicFlu.gov
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