Reading Room Production — page 494

BACKGROUND INFORMATION HHS/White House Medical Countermeasure Initiative (MCM) Briefing Friday, April 16, 2010 9:00 am - 10:00 am ACTION REQUIRED BY THE DIRECTOR: None PURPOSE OF MEETING: The purpose of the meeting is to brief NIH Director on NIAID's role in the HHS/White House Medical Countermeasure (MCM) Initiative. BACKGROUND: NIAID has participated in weekly meetings with The White House (National Security Staff - NSS) and HHS staff to create a "transforming" initiative on how the US government responds to deliberate and naturally occurring biological threats through the development of medical countermeasures (MCM). The initiative was driven predominantly by Heidi Avery (Deputy to John Brennan) and NSS Staff who will soon seek new money from OMB to support this new initiative. The "Program" includes 4 elements: 1) boosting regulatory science; 2) developing Transformational Centers of Excellence for Advanced Development and Manufacturing of MCM; 3) establishing an independent strategic investment firm (i.e. a government venture capital-like organization) for innovation in MCM; 4) the development of a "concept exploitation focus" to help stimulate discovery and translation. PARTICIPANTS: Anthony S. Fauci, MD, Director, NIAID Michael G Kurilla, MD-PhD Director, Office of BioDefense Research Affairs Associate Director for BioDefense Product Development , NIAID DISCUSSION POINTS/TALKING POINTS (using concise/to the point bullets): Attachments: • Bios • Relevant correspondence • Supplemental Information • Etc. Thank you, Nicholas DiCrosta