42 U.S.C. § 285f–5 — Research centers for pathogens of pandemic concern

(a) In general: Working with directors of relevant NIH institutes, centers, and divisions, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and the Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, as appropriate, the Institute's Director must set up or continue a research program. This program advances early-stage discovery and development of medical products for priority virus families and other viral pathogens with real pandemic potential, through funded research centers. (b) Uses of funds: The Director must award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to public or private groups to fund these centers, for (1) basic through preclinical development of new medical products or technologies, including platform technologies, for pandemic-risk pathogens; (2) identifying potential treatment targets, including antivirals; (3) identifying existing medical products that could help, including ones usable in outpatient settings; and (4) other related research the Director finds appropriate. (c) Coordination: As appropriate, the Director must coordinate activity among the centers, including by (1) helping centers exchange information and communicate regularly, and (2) requiring centers to periodically report their activities to the Director. (d) Priority: When awarding funding, the Director must, as appropriate, prioritize applicants with existing frameworks and partnerships supporting this research. (e) Collaboration: The Director must (1) work with other federal department, agency, and office heads to identify more priority virus families and pathogens with pandemic potential; and (2) work with the Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority on the centers' research — including sharing updates on research progress, identifying advanced research and development needs consistent with section 247d–7e(a)(6), and considering existing and future manufacturing capacity for the medical products or technologies the centers support. (f) Supplement, not supplant: Any support a center gets under this section must add to, not replace, other public or private support for its authorized activities.