Considerations in developing medical countermeasures against chemical ocular toxicity.

The Chemical Countermeasures Research Program (CCRP) was established in 2006 by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID/NIH) on behalf of the National Institutes of Health Office of the Director (NIH OD). It is a trans-NIH initiative to expedite the discovery and early development of medical countermeasures (MCMs) that can reduce mortality and serious morbidity during and after large consequence public health emergency involving the deliberate or accidental large-scale release of highly toxic chemicals (HTCs).

The National Institutes of Health Chemical Countermeasures Research Program (NIH CCRP): A collaborative opportunity to develop effective and accessible chemical medical countermeasures for the American people.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) leads the nation in preventing, preparing for, and responding to the adverse health effects of public health emergencies and disasters. In addition to biological, radiological and nuclear agents, the risk of a high consequence public health emergency due to the intentional and/or accidental release of chemical agents is a major growing concern of the US government. As such, the federal government is fully committed to address public health security threats posed by chemicals. To enhance chemical emergency preparedness and response, HHS oversees the interdepartmental research, advanced development, regulatory review and approval, procurement, and stockpiling of medical countermeasures (MCMs). Within the National Institute of Health (NIH/HHS), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is responsible for the fundamental research and early development of MCMs to prevent deaths and/or treat injuries during and after emergencies due to large scale chemical exposure. This commentary provides an overview of the NIAID/NIH Chemical Countermeasures Research Program (CCRP) and resources to facilitate the research, discovery, and early development of chemical MCMs. Available product development resources include research funding opportunities, expert advice from the NIH, and preclinical and efficacy service support cores to reduce opportunity costs and entry barriers for prospective developers interested in entering or accelerating the development of chemical MCMs.

Supporting Fundamental Chemical Toxicology Research To Inform Medical Countermeasure Developments: The National Institutes of Health Chemical Countermeasures Research Program.

A high-consequence chemical emergency is a major public health concern. In the United States, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases within the National Institutes of Health pioneers discovery and early development of critical medical countermeasures against chemical threats.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Executive Meeting Summary: Developing Medical Countermeasures to Rescue Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression (a Trans-Agency Scientific Meeting)-August 6/7, 2019.

On August 6th, 2019, a two-day trans-agency scientific meeting was convened by the United States (U.S.) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID/NIH) on the research and development of medical countermeasures (MCMs) and treatment strategies to mitigate synthetic opioid-induced toxicities. This trans-agency meeting was an initiative of the Chemical Countermeasures Research Program (CCRP) and organized by the NIAID in collaboration with the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). The CCRP is part of the larger NIH biodefense research program coordinated by NIAID, which also includes MCM research and development programs against biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. Its overarching goal is to integrate cutting-edge research and technological advances in science and medicine to enhance the nation's medical response capabilities during and after a public health emergency involving the deliberate or accidental release of toxic chemicals. The potential of a mass casualty public health event involving synthetic opioids is a rapidly growing concern. As such, the overall goals of this trans-agency meeting are to better understand opioid-induced toxicities and advance the development of MCMs to mitigate and reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD) to prevent consequential mortality. The primary objectives of the meeting were (1) highlight the latest research on mechanisms of OIRD and related toxicities, animal models, diagnostics, delivery technologies, and emerging new treatment options to prevent lethality; (2) identify current knowledge gaps to advance medical countermeasure development; (3) hear from the U.S. FDA on regulatory considerations to support new technology and treatment approaches; and (4) provide a forum for networking and collaborative partnerships. To accomplish this, a diverse group of almost 200 US domestic and international subject matter experts spanning fundamental and translational research from academia, industry, and government came together in-person to share their collective expertise and experience in this important field. This report briefly summarizes the information presented throughout the meeting, which was also webcast live in its entirety to registered remote attendees.