The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is seeking proposals for the development of a SHERLOCK Assay for the detection of high threat orthopoxviruses. This solicitation is for Phase I SBIR proposals only, and Fast-Track proposals and Phase I clinical trials will not be accepted. The anticipated number of awards is 1.
The budget for Phase I is up to $243,500 for a duration of up to 6 months, while Phase II has a budget of up to $1,927,828 and a duration of up to 2 years. Proposals that exceed the budget or project duration may not be funded.
The purpose of this research is to develop a field-deployable diagnostic assay using non-overlapping reagents for the rapid detection of infection in outbreak or response settings. The assay should be able to detect Variola virus (VARV), the causative agent of smallpox, as well as monkeypox virus (MPXV), which is a growing global health threat. The SHERLOCK test should incorporate multi-pathogen panels and be adjustable to different levels of specificity based on oligonucleotide sequences. The technology should be capable of working with a variety of pathogens, and the assay design could include two targets, one specific for MPXV and another for non-MPXV pathogens.
For more information and to submit a proposal, interested parties can visit the SBIR topic link provided. The open date for proposals is August 25, 2023, and the close date is November 14, 2023.