As the global coronavirus pandemic emerged, NIBIB pivoted priorities to respond. Major highlights are listed below. Additional information and materials including videos and news items can be found on the COVID-19 and RADx program pages.
March 27 - Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act becomes law. The legislation appropriated $60 million to NIBIB to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally. In response, NIBIB issues three Notices of Special Interest and awards grants that are creating, adapting, and applying technologies that address critical unmet needs.
NIBIB also awarded a contract to launch the Medical Imaging and Data Resource Center (MIDRC), an ambitious effort that harnesses the powers of artificial intelligence, and medical imaging to fight COVID-19. The multi-institutional collaboration is creating new tools that physicians can use for early detection and personalized therapies for COVID-19 patients. Led by NIBIB, collaborative partners are the University of Chicago, American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
NIBIB also awarded a contract to CareEvolution, LLC for SAFER-COVID, a digital health solution that integrates self-reported symptoms, data from consumer wearable devices, electronic health record and claims data, and COVID-19 test results to indicate whether users are ready to return to work and normal activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The app was piloted and later implemented at the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD.
April 24 – The Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act becomes law. The legislation appropriated $500 million to NIBIB to accelerate research, development, and implementation of point of care and other rapid testing related to coronavirus.
April 29 – In response to the $500 million in supplemental funding, NIBIB launched the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx℠) Tech program, one of four programs under the NIH RADx Initiative. RADx Tech leverages NIBIB's existing Point-of-Care Technologies Research Network (POCTRN) to accelerate the development, validation, and commercialization of innovative POC and home-based SARS-CoV-2 tests, as well as improvements to existing clinical laboratory methods. RADx? Tech supports the full range of product development including technology validation, clinical translation, commercialization, and product distribution using a milestone-driven phased innovation funnel.
As of November, 22 projects are in Phase 2 of the RADx technology development pipeline. Additional information about funded projects can be found on the NIBIB dashboard.