This Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Consortium Leadership Group (IDCRCLG or LG) is a new, collaborative national partnership of leading infectious diseases, human immunology and clinical research experts from eight outstanding academic institutions providing experience, guidance, global connectivity and innovative approaches to address NIH/NIAID clinical research priorities. The emphasis (and strength) of the IDCRCLG is to facilitate, plan and help implement clinical research for respiratory and enteric infections, malaria/tropical diseases, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and to respond to emerging infectious diseases (EID). Priority research will include interventional trials and clinical research studies for vaccines, biologics, therapeutics, diagnostics and devices targeting these infectious diseases. The LG?s experts and their programs at the eight universities and beyond have a historic record of accomplishment in vaccine and therapeutic clinical research, and immunologic and pathogenesis studies for these NIAID-priority infectious diseases. The LG brings extensive expertise with the conduct of Phase I-IV clinical trials including first- in-human studies, cutting-edge human immunology, pharmacokinetics; engagement with diverse populations both nationally/internationally, sIRBs, innovative public-private partnerships, and Investigational New Drug applications (INDs). The group also has strong connectivity to and will leverage NIH/NIAID-supported networks; extensive experience in collaborating with industry partners and foundations, and leadership of complex administrative consortia. This cadre of diverse infectious diseases experts proposes to establish and operate with NIAID and the reconstituted Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units (VTEUs), an integrated, highly- functional, efficient IDCRC to develop innovative scientific and operational strategies in priorities such as vaccines and STI clinical research. The organizational structure supporting the science and operations of the IDCRCLG is composed of a Leadership Operations Center including Expert Working Groups, a Clinical Operations Unit, a Laboratory Operations Unit, and a Statistical and Data Science Unit. Key functions of the LG are to propose, review and prioritize innovative concepts; to enhance integration and efficiency in operations; to form collaborative teams; to ensure quality and timely protocol implementation; to disseminate the results; to promote integration of all populations in IDCRC research across the human lifespan; and to attract, engage and retain the next generation of scientists in infectious diseases clinical research. In addition, the LG?s experience with EID threats, links to global partners/sites, access to the highest-level clinical and laboratory containment facilities and to large populations will help the IDCRC to respond rapidly (surge capacity) during a public health emergency. The LG?s decades of experience with public health, regulatory agencies, product development pipelines further enhance this capacity. The IDCRCLG and the institutions they represent are committed through dedicated PI/leadership effort, space, infrastructure and direct funds to develop the IDCRC.
Infectious diseases such as influenza, pneumonia, infectious diarrhea, sexually transmitted infections and emerging infectious diseases (e.g. Ebola, Zika) remain a major threat to public health. This new, influential leadership group (IDCRCLG) represents infectious diseases expertise at eight leading academic institutions and beyond to focus on clinical research to address these threats. The IDCRCLG will, through innovative approaches, support the planning, implementation and dissemination of clinical research to address the priorities of NIH/NIAID in evaluating vaccines, biologics, therapeutics, diagnostics and devices for the treatment and prevention of these infectious diseases; and to respond rapidly during an epidemic threat.
