Notice of NICHD, NINDS, NIDCR and NIAID's Interest to Prioritize Zika Virus (ZIKV) Research Areas
Purpose
NICHD, NINDS, NIDCR and NIAID are issuing this Notice to highlight interest in research on Zika virus (ZIKV) as it relates to the mother-infant dyad and sequelae of infection.
Areas of high priority include, but are not limited to, the following:
Demonstrate causative role of infection in pregnancy with Zika virus (ZIKV) in the etiology of fetal microcephaly
Basic research to understand the ZIKV infection pathogenesis and transmission to the fetus, whether in-utero, postpartum, or breastfeeding
Population-based studies to characterize the epidemiology of ZIKV infection in the mother-infant dyad
Clinical studies to improve the understanding of the mechanisms and risks of maternal to child transmission of ZIKV
Determine the timeline for when and how women transmit ZIKV to the fetus
Strategies to prevent transmission of ZIKV to the fetus after infection in the mother
Studies to determine the optimal screening for and management of ZIKV infection in pregnant women and in exposed fetuses
Studies to understand the mechanisms by which ZIKV affects the developing nervous system and other organ systems
Research to develop lab-based or point-of-care diagnosis for ZIKV using saliva as a biofluid
Studies to characterize the outcome of viral infection on craniofacial skeletal and dental phenotype with or without microcephaly
Studies to understand pregnancy outcomes in women infected with ZIKV
Studies to identify sequelae in infants infected with ZIKV as well as potential sequelae in exposed but uninfected infants
Strategies to identify neurologic and other manifestations in infants with and without microcephaly such as developmental delays and other neurologic or physical disorders
Studies to assess and characterize the natural history and long-term neurodevelopmental consequences of ZIKV infection in children
Strategies to identify effective treatments for exposed infants with and without microcephaly as they develop into childhood. Such strategies must take into account cultural acceptance and resources
Investigations of mediating and moderating factors affecting variability in neurodevelopmental, behavioral, and socio-emotional impact of ZIKV exposure on infants prenatally and postnatally
Develop novel, simple, feasible and cost-effective testing methods and/or strategies for infection screening during pregnancy
Develop novel, simple, rapid, feasible and cost effective testing methods and/or strategies for infection screening in the infant
Research to develop lab-based or point-of-care diagnosis for ZIKV using saliva as a biofluid
Develop culturally sensitive strategies to increase knowledge about the relative efficacy of contraceptive methods, and use that knowledge to plan for pregnancy
Strategies to integrate the discussion of risk of ZIKV infection into contraceptive counseling and pre-pregnancy and prenatal care at medical facilities in ZIKV endemic areas
Determine long-term implications of ZIKV infection in non-pregnant women and men including impact on fertility and subsequent pregnancy
Studies to ascertain if ZIKV is present in reproductive fluids such as semen, cervical mucus, vaginal secretions and/or follicular fluid; persistence of ZIKV in these fluids; and the mechanisms by which ZIKV enters the reproductive tract
Studies on effects of ZIKV on in vitro fertilization
Studies on whether ZIKV can be transmitted by direct sexual contact or artificial reproductive technology procedures
Once causality is demonstrated, studies on vaccine development in pregnant women and children
Once causality is demonstrated, development of methods to explain risk of ZIKV infection and risk of harm to the fetus to pregnant women and women who are planning to become pregnant
Possible funding opportunities that can be used to pursue these research activities include:
PA-16-031, Advancing Understanding, prevention, and management of Infections Transmitted from Women to their Infants (R21)
PA-16-032, Advancing Understanding, prevention, and management of Infections Transmitted from Women to their Infants (R01)
NOT-TW-16-001, Parallel Funding Initiative for Collaborative Research Between Investigators in the USA and in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil
PAR-16-061, Natural History of Disorders Identifiable by Screening of Newborns (R01)
PAR-14-331, Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R21)
PAR-14-332, Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R01)
PAR-15-192 , Immune System Plasticity in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Complex Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Diseases (R01)
PAR-15-193, Immune System Plasticity in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Complex Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Diseases (R21)