NIH CounterACT Program

Active Funding Opportunities for CounterACT U01, U54, R21, and SBIR/STTR Projects!

Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Research Network

The increased risk of a terrorist attack in the United States involving chemical agents has created new challenges for many departments and agencies across the federal government. Within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the NIH is taking a leadership role in pursuing the development of new and improved medical countermeasures designed to prevent, diagnose, and treat the conditions caused by potential and existing chemical agents of terrorism. In addition, many of the same chemicals posing a threat as terrorist agents may also be released from transportation and storage facilities by industrial accidents or during a natural disaster. The NIH has developed a comprehensive CounterACT Research Network that includes Research Centers of Excellence, individual research projects, SBIRs, contracts and other programs. The CounterACT network conducts basic, translational, and clinical research aimed at the discovery and/or identification of better therapeutic and diagnostic medical countermeasures against chemical threat agents, and facilitates their movement through the regulatory process. The overarching goal of this research program is to enhance our medical response capabilities during an emergency. This program is a trans-NIH effort, involving participation from the National Eye Institute , National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases , National Institute of Child Health and Human Development , National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences , National Institute of General Medical Sciences , National Library of Medicine , and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke .

Higher Priority Chemical Threats

• Anti-cholinesterase and GABA-inhibiting agents that cause seizures and neuropathology such as sarin, parathion, aldicarb, and tetramine (TETS)
• Metabolic poisons and agents that target the blood such as cyanide, sodium fluoroacetate, arsenic trioxide, and strychnine
• Agents that target the respiratory tract and cause pulmonary edema such as chlorine, ammonia, and phosgene
• Vesicating agents that cause blisters and other skin pathologies such as Lewisite and nitrogen/sulfur mustards

Scope of Research

• Mechanistic research to identify targets for therapeutic/diagnostic development
• Development of in vitro and animal models for efficacy screening
• Efficacy screening of therapeutics/diagnostics using new and validated in vitro and animal models
• Advanced efficacy studies with animal models including non-human primates using current Good Laboratory Practices (cGLP)
• Clinical studies, including clinical trials

Special consideration will be given to research relevant to people who are particularly vulnerable, including the young, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.

Also see:  NIH Strategic Plan and Research Agenda for Medical Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (PDF 3MB)

---

Program Review Articles

Jett DA, Yeung DT. (2010) The CounterACT Research Network: Basic Mechanisms and Practical Applications. Proc Am Thorac Soc. 7(4): 254-6.  Abstract

Jett DA. (2010) Finding new cures for neurological disorders: A possible fringe benefit of biodefense research? Sci Transl Med. 2(23): 23ps12. 

---

Recent CounterACT Publications

Silbergleit R, Durkalski V, Lowenstein D, Conwit R, Pancioli A, Palesch Y, Barsan W; NETT Investigators. (2012) Intramuscular versus intravenous therapy for prehospital status epilepticus. N Engl J Med. 366(7):591-600.  Abstract

Zolkowska D, Banks CN, Dhir A, Inceoglu B, Sanborn JR, McCoy MR, Bruun DA, Hammock BD, Lein PJ, Rogawski MA.(2012) Characterization of seizures induced by acute and repeated exposure to tetramethylenedisulfotetramine. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. [Epub ahead of Print]  Abstract

2007 ; 2008 ; 2009 ; 2010 ; 2011 ; 2012