Here's a typical USAID contract:
| Cooperating Agency | Eastern Virginia Medical School | Duration | 6/92-5/99 |
| Project Number | 936-3044 | Geographic Scope | Worldwide |
| Agreement Number | CCP-3044-A-00-2015-00 |
Purpose: To develop improved and new methods of family planning for use in developing countries. In addition, the program supports research leading to technologies which may prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV.
Description: The primary focus of the CONRAD program is the early stages of contraceptive research and development, beginning with targeted or applied research studies and progressing through the first two phases of clinical testing in humans. This program supports subprojects conducted by collaborating investigators worldwide, as well as laboratory and clinical research conducted at the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, EVMS. Areas of research that are considered to be important for the development of better, safer, and more acceptable methods of contraception include, but are not limited to: 1) new barrier methods and spermicides with virucidal properties; 2) long-acting injectable and implantable contraceptives for women and men; 3) nonsurgical and/or reversible sterilization techniques; 4) methods suitable for lactating women; and 5) immunocontraceptives directed against human gamete antigens and gonadotropins. CONRAD also supports research on the mechanisms and control of heterosexual transmission of HIV, and on the effect of contraceptive use on heterosexual transmission of HIV and other STDs. CONRAD sponsors international workshops and technical meetings which bring together collaborating scientists and other leading experts to focus research efforts and disseminiate technical information.
CONRAD's website is at www.conrad.org.
http://www.conrad.org/CICCRbien9900.html#other:
Sperm-Oocyte Binding
One of the earliest steps in mammalian fertilization is the binding of the spermatozoon to the extracellular matrix surrounding the oocyte, the zona pellucida (ZP). Once bound to the ZP, the spermatozoon undergoes the acrosome reaction (AR). Blockage of the AR or its premature occurrence prevents sperm-oocyte binding. Antibodies generated against ZP glycoproteins can block the interaction of gametes in vitro and inhibit fertility in vivo, but immunization with ZP proteins results in altered ovarian function and varying degrees of ovarian pathology in some species, including non-human primates. A twinning project between U. S. and Mexican investigators is underway to identify peptide epitopes associated with human ZP (hZP) that are important to the hZP-sperm interaction. The goal is to find peptides that can be used as immunocontraceptives without having an adverse effect on ovarian function.