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Published on: October 11, 2013
A Framework for Assessing Viral Pathogens: A Key Element of the BARDA Emerging Infectious Diseases Strategy
Richard C White1, Gerald Kovacs1, Suchismita Chandran1
1Richard C. White, PhD, is an Interdisciplinary Scientist, Medical Countermeasures Program; Peter L. Adams, PhD, and Karl J. Erlandson, PhD, are Interdisciplinary Scientists, and Ramya Natarajan, PhD, is a Health Scientist, Influenza and Emerging Infectious Diseases Division; Kyla A. Britson, PhD, Rushyannah Killens-Cade, PhD, and Malen A. Link, PhD, are Interdisciplinary Scientists, and Daniel N. Wolfe, PhD, is Deputy Director, Division of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Countermeasures; Derek L. Eisnor, MD, is a Medical Officer, Division of Clinical Development; Brenda L. Fredericksen, PhD, is Program Director, Nonclinical Research Program, and James Little, MS, is a Senior Scientific Advisor, Division of Nonclinical Development; John S. Lee, PhD, is Program Director, Molecular Diagnostics Program, and Julie M. Villanueva, PhD, is a Scientific Advisor, Detection, Diagnostics, and Devices Infrastructure Division; Kimberly L. Sciarretta, PhD, is Program Director, Launch Office, Division of Research, Innovation, and Ventures; and Robert A. Johnson, PhD, is Director, Medical Countermeasures Program; all at the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, Washington, DC. Gerald R. Kovacs, PhD, is a Senior Advisor; Huyen Cao, MD, is a Senior Clinical Studies Analyst; Christopher Dale, PhD, and Mark Michalik, MBA, are Senior Subject Matter Experts; Mario H. Skiadopoulos, PhD, is a Preclinical Drug Development Subject Matter Expert; and Xiaomi Tong, PhD, is a Senior Regulatory Affairs Subject Matter Expert; all at Tunnell Government Services, Berwyn, PA. Suchismita Chandran, PhD, is a Lead Associate, and Michael Rowe, MS, is a Senior Consultant; both at Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, VA. Ethan J. Fritch, PhD, is an ORISE Fellow, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN. George Robertson, PhD, is Chief Scientific Officer, Cambra Consulting, Inc., Woodbridge, VA.
Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the need for nations to prepare more effectively for emerging infectious diseases. Preparing for these threats requires a multifaceted approach that includes assessing pathogen threat, building flexible capabilities for rapid medical countermeasure (MCM) development, and exercising, maintaining, and improving those response capabilities. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) promotes the advanced development of MCMs in response to natural and manmade threats. In this article, the authors describe a BARDA threat assessment tool that, in conjunction with other factors, facilitates portfolio management and decisionmaking related to the advanced development of MCMs for emerging infectious diseases. The tool was designed to use readily accessible public data and information related to the threat posed by pathogens. It can be adjusted to modify the specific areas of interest (eg, removal/addition of parameters) to facilitate cross-pathogen analysis and can be updated to reflect changes (eg, new outbreak) that may impact the overall threat assessment. Finally, assessment of certain pathogens is included.
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