The more levels of mismanagement, there are, the more difficult to get to the source.
Except in the case of this administration. Just as in “it’s Bush’s fault”, the cream rises to the top. The buck stops where?
Don’t sweat it. The Government is on top of this Ebola thingie. From Oct. 24th.
DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY
BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT
HDTRA1-15-EBOLA-BAA https://www.fbo.gov/utils/view?id=911d64b9ded9491e7f6278dec44bbc1a
They want answers in 3-6 months.
If you read the requirements, the review just to get approval to use animals in the study is expected to take 2 to 4 months!
13.1. If the proposed research involves the use of live nonhuman vertebrate animals, Offerors are required to describe the proposed animal use and type of animals being used. The Animal Care and Use Review Office (ACURO), a component of the USAMRMC Office of Research Protections (ORP), must review and approve all animal use prior to the start of working with animals. Therefore, the contractor will be required to complete and submit the animal use
appendix titled “Research Involving Animals”, after award of contract, which can be found on the ACURO website:
https://mrmcwww.army.mil/index.cfm?pageid=Research_Protections.acuro&rn=1.
Allow two to four months for regulatory review and approval processes for animal studies.
Offerors are to build the review time into their project schedules.
A few other things the Government would like to know more about:
“2.2.3.5. Topic: CBI-05, Hospital Disease Transmission
DTRA requires data, methods, and tools to better simulate hospital transmission of the infectious agents as a function of level and quality of health care available for a local area, country, and/or region.
2.2.4. Ebola Characterization
The means by which Ebola virus is maintained in nature remains unclear. One reservoir of this zoonotic pathogen is believed to be in bats, but it is unknown what other natural reservoirs exist. Distinct Ebola viral sequences have been identified in infected but healthy mice and shrews. (Pourrut et al., 2005) indicating there may be other unknown reservoirs. A better understanding of Ebola persistence under a variety of environmental conditions may help us identify other possible reservoirs and hosts to research reservoirs and other modes of transmission. While current science indicates the disease can only be transmitted by contact with contaminated body fluids, it remains unclear if other transmission modes are feasible. Filoviruses are able to infect via the respiratory route and are lethal at very low doses in experimental animal models, however the infectious dose is unknown. There is minimal information on how well filoviruses survive within aerosolized particles, and in certain media like the biofilm of sewage systems. Preliminary studies indicate that Ebola is aerostable in an enclosed controlled system in the dark and can survive for long periods in different liquid media and can also be recovered from plastic and glass surfaces at low temperatures for over 3 weeks (Piercy, et al., 2010).
2.2.4.1. Topic: CBS-01, Determination and Understanding of Quantitative Infectious Dose
This topic explores the physical, biological and molecular interactions of Ebola and related filoviruses to determine which of these interactions play a key role in the determination and understanding of quantitative infectious dose. The focus is on proposed efforts that aid in determining how many viable virions are required to cause human illness. Efforts that combine both experimental and computational techniques to explore molecular and physiological interactions and biochemical pathways using non-human primate models and a systems biology approach will be given priority.
2.2.4.2. Topic: CBS-02, Persistence and decay or survival rates in the Environment
The research should generate knowledge on Ebola persistence in the environment and knowledge to help predict potential mutations or changes to the viron. Studies should determine persistence and decay or survival rates of Ebola virus and other filoviruses in the environment. Research areas may include (but are not limited to):
• Assessment under a range of controlled environmental conditions, including, but not limited to the dark, simulated solar radiation, and ranges of temperature and humidity.
• Identification of environmental factors that contribute to persistence
• Assessing persistence of Ebola on fomites/ surfaces after aerosolization
• Assessing persistence in other media such as water, sewage biofilm, and other priority surfaces.
2.2.4.3. Topic: CBS-03, Molecular Determinants for Persistence
This topic focuses on understanding the molecular determinants that govern the ecology and environmental persistence of filoviruses. The research should focus on the molecular identities and mechanisms that promote environmental persistence of filoviruses. Research areas may include (but are not limited to):
• Genomic and proteomic analyses to investigate the regulation of genes and proteins upon exposure to varying environmental conditions
• Use of phylogenetics to identify potential genes involved in environmental persistence
• Elucidation of mechanisms that contribute to environmental persistence
• Metagenomic analysis of potential reservoir environments
• Elucidation of mechanisms and environmental conditions that promote mutations in animal reservoirs”.