One of the largest research contracts ever awarded to the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) was announced by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) this week, to the potential tune of more than $200 million over the next seven years.
Initially, the award will take the form of a $2.5 million contract to conduct clinical testing of influenza vaccines. It could be extended from there to up to $201 million. The research will be led by Dr. Kathleen Neuzil, a professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, director of the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) and the only U.S. member of the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization. Her research will cover the testing of improved seasonal influenza vaccines and conducting controlled human influenza challenge studies with the hopes of creating a universal vaccine for use against emerging influenza strains and improving current seasonal vaccines.