Contraceptive research projects were awarded $1.5 mil. by Ford Foundation

The Population Council received a $700,000 grant for a contraceptive leads program carried out by the International Committee for Contraceptive Research. The program, a multicountry effort, will test the effectiveness of an under-the-skin contraceptive implant, a vaginal contraceptive ring, an antipregnancy vaccine, and other products. The Program for the Introduction and Adaptation of Contraceptive Technology received $262,000 to modify contraceptive devices to fit the needs of different cultures around the world. 10 universities and research labs in 6 countries received $544,932 for basic research and training in reproductive biology. The University of California received $21,500 to study endocrine-immunological relationships during pregnancy; The University of Dublin received $95,000 to study implantation; the Institute of Biology and Experimental Medicine (Argentina) received $48,000 for research on sperm maturation; Mahidol University (Thailand) received $78,430 for research on the structure of nuclear proteins in mammalian sperm; the Clinical Research Institute of Montreal received $31,000 to study testicular factors affecting hormonal secretion; and the University of Rochester received $34,000 to study the pineal gland and reproduction. The University of Texas received 2 grants totaling $151,000 for research and training in reproductive biology; The University of Toronto received $56,000 for research on male and female reproductive tissues, and the Zoological Society of London received $30,000 to study epididymal protein secretions in the rabbit. The Ford Foundation has committed more than $225 million over the past 25 years to programs aimed at limiting fertility.