U19AI162130

Evaluating Modes of Influenza Transmission (EMIT-2) Using Innovative Technologies and Designs in Controlled Environments - Project Summary/Abstract – Overall Component

We propose multidisciplinary studies to comprehensively evaluate the roles of contact, fomite, sprayborne, and aerosol transmission and how they interact with ventilation to facilitate human-to-human influenza transmission. We will utilize a suite of innovative technologies for improved sampling, fractionation, culture, and characterization of influenza virus aerosols. These studies leverage our highly diverse team of experts in bioengineering, aerosol science, human challenge and clinical trials, influenza virology and immunology, infectious diseases epidemiology, aerobiology, and computational fluid dynamics.

The proposal is organized around two research projects and three cores. In Research Project 1, "Evaluating Modes of Influenza Transmission Using a Randomized Controlled Trial (EMIT-2-RCT)," we will study the impact of two interventions: a) ventilation and air sanitation, and b) hand hygiene and face shields on the transmission of circulating seasonal influenza from naturally infected cases to serologically susceptible volunteers. We will use the RCT to test hypotheses that aerosol transmission is the dominant mode, is associated with a greater frequency of fever and systemic symptoms in secondary cases, and that in the absence of hemagglutination inhibiting antibodies, antibodies against other targets will strongly correlate with protection from infection and disease.

In Research Project 2, "Developing and Applying Analytical Models of Influenza Transmission," we will use computational fluid dynamics and novel aerosol measurements to: a) design interventions and sampling strategies for the RCT enabling us to distinguish short- and long-range aerosol transmission from sprayborne transmission, b) define the Wells-Riley aerosol quantum of infection in terms of measurable quantities and assess risk at the recipient breathing zone level in both well-mixed and non-well-mixed indoor air conditions, and c) extend our models to household and animal studies and create practical analytical tools for public health scientists to collect data and assess risk in the field.

The research projects will be enabled by an Advanced Bioaerosol Technology Core (ABTC) that will develop new viral aerosol sampling and culture systems and methods for both ambient and exhaled breath sampling. These systems will validate the RCT design and provide critical inputs to the analytical models. A Clinical and Biostatistics Core (CBC) will provide the clinical infrastructure to perform the complex quarantine studies. The Administrative Core will manage these tightly integrated components to mold transdisciplinary insights into the dynamics and drivers of influenza transmission between humans.

College Park University Of Maryland

TO ASSIST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO ESTABLISH, EXPAND AND IMPROVE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS, TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS. TO ASSIST PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS, TO PROVIDE RESEARCH SERVICES AS REQUIRED BY THE AGENCY FOR PROGRAMS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND CONTROLLING DISEASE CAUSED BY INFECTIOUS OR PARASITIC AGENTS, ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS. PROJECTS RANGE FROM STUDIES OF MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE TO COLLABORATIVE TRIALS OF EXPERIMENTAL DRUGS AND VACCINES, MECHANISMS OF RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS AS WELL AS RESEARCH DEALING WITH EPIDEMIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS OR COMMUNITY POPULATIONS AND PROGRESS IN ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES. BECAUSE OF THIS DUAL FOCUS, THE PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES BOTH BASIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL RESEARCH. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM EXPANDS AND IMPROVES PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. THE SBIR PROGRAM INTENDS TO INCREASE AND FACILITATE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM STIMULATES AND FOSTERS SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. RESEARCH CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTISTS DURING THE FORMATIVE STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS. INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS (NRSAS) ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO APPROVE APPLICANTS FOR RESEARCH TRAINING IN SPECIFIED BIOMEDICAL SHORTAGE AREAS. IN ADDITION, INSTITUTIONAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS ARE MADE TO ENABLE INSTITUTIONS TO SELECT AND MAKE AWARDS TO INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE TRAINING UNDER THE AEGIS OF THEIR INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM.

93.855 - Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [HHS - NIH]

College Park, Maryland 207420001 United States

Single Zip Code

Multidisciplinary Studies to Improve Understanding of Influenza Transmission (U19 Clinical Trial Optional) (RFA-AI-20-008)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 403% from $3,024,086 to $15,223,601.