Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (DMID)
Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Clinical Research Programs and Networks
The Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens Research Unit (BRPRU) at the University of Iowa focuses on the major themes of: bacterial carriage, progression to lower respiratory tract disease, and development of prevention strategies that optimize the protective immune response (including innate and mucosal immunity).
Biodefense Product Development Clinical Trials
Since 2002, NIAID has funded clinical trials focused on the advanced development of specific medical countermeasures. These trials have included the development of therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases such as anthrax, plague, tularemia, smallpox, and dengue.
CEIRS is an integrated network of centers designed to bring together multidisciplinary teams of researchers to study host immune responses, pathogenesis, and the factors that control the emergence and transmission of influenza viruses among animal reservoirs. The overall goal of the network is to provide information and public health tools needed to control the impact of epidemic influenza and the threat of pandemic influenza. CEIRS also provides scientific support for the research and public health response to newly emerging influenza viruses with pandemic potential.
Collaborative Antiviral Study Group (CASG)
The Collaborative Antiviral Study Group is a multicenter clinical trials group that conducts Phase I–IV pediatric and adult research trials to evaluate novel therapeutic regimens for viral infections in over 100 clinical centers across the country and in select international sites. The emphasis is on infections caused by the herpesvirus family, but other viral illnesses may also be addressed.
NIAID has awarded four grants to establish the Enteric Research Investigational Network (ERIN), which is designed to bridge gaps between basic and clinical research on bacteria and viruses that gain access to the host via the gastrointestinal tract and cause a variety of diseases.
The International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research are a global network of independent research centers in malaria-endemic settings, established to generate critical knowledge, tools, and evidence-based strategies to support intervention and control programs by government organizations and healthcare institutions.
Established in 1980, the International Collaborations in Infectious Disease Research program supports substantial international collaboration with overseas institutions in tropical medicine and emerging infectious disease research. The goals of the ICIDR program are to: support high-quality, collaborative research that will lead to or result in prevention, amelioration, and/or improved treatment of infectious diseases; increase relevant and collaborative research experience for both U.S. and foreign investigators; and facilitate and enhance scientific linkages between U.S. and foreign investigators to enhance the independent research capacity of the collaborating foreign institutions and foster further international collaborative research projects.
The Phase I Clinical Trial Units for Therapeutics assess the safety of therapeutic products (excluding biologics) within the scope of viral (other than HIV), bacterial, parasitic, and fungal pathogens, including NIAID priority biodefense pathogens and emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinical Trials Group (STI CTG)
The Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinical Trials Group is a collaboration of institutions that work together to identify, support, and administer clinical trials that will contribute to the reproductive health of people and specifically lead to prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections.
Targeted Clinical Trials to Reduce the Risk of Antimicrobial Resistance
NIAID supports eight Targeted Clinical Trials to Reduce the Risk of Antimicrobial Resistance. The trials are part of an initiative intended to help answer key questions about proper antimicrobial doses, treatment duration and whether antimicrobial treatment is necessary in all cases. The investigators are testing new regimens involving the use of already licensed, off-patent antimicrobial therapies to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance developing in the diseases of interest.
The Tropical Medicine Research Center program was established in 1991 to bring together relevant biomedical knowledge and technology to develop and evaluate new approaches for the detection, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases of recognized importance to the health of people living in less developed countries. In 2012, NIAID funded eight Tropical Research Medicine Centers (TMRCs) to support research on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in endemic areas. The Centers are designed to facilitate research on the cause, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of NTDs, and to create and sustain in-country research capacity.
The Tuberculosis Clinical Diagnostics Research Consortium (CDRC) evaluates diagnostic tests and strategies in tuberculosis (TB) endemic countries. CDRC sites serve diverse populations of patients, including HIV-positive and negative patients, pediatric patients and patients with other co-infections and co-morbid conditions. CDRC also provides information to the greater community of TB investigators about TB diagnostic development.
Located at Case Western Reserve University, the Tuberculosis Research Unit supports multi-disciplinary research combining epidemiologic studies and clinical trials in TB endemic countries with modern microbiology, immunology, and genetics.
The Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units conduct a broad range of studies including Phase I, Phase II, Phase III, and Phase IV clinical trials of bacterial, viral, and parasitic vaccines, therapeutics, and other biologics and drugs as preventive and therapeutic measures against infectious diseases in people of all ages and risk categories. The VTEUs can also undertake a variety of other studies that support product development such as evaluations of novel investigational product delivery systems and reevaluation of current vaccine formulations and schedules of delivery.
Located at Baylor College of Medicine, the Viral Respiratory Pathogens Research Unit focuses on the major themes of: viral pathogenesis, evaluation of new and/or improved vaccines and therapeutics, and development of strategies that optimize the protective immune response.