Rapid Assessment of Zika Virus (ZIKV) Complications (R21)

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The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to provide an expedited (rapid) funding mechanism for research on Zika virus (ZIKV) and its complications.ZIKV is a single-stranded RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted to humans primarily through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitos, though both perinatal/in utero and sexual transmission have been reported.Initially discovered in 1947, it has been reported in the Americas since 2014, with a major outbreak in Brazil starting in 2015.Disease is seen in about 20% of infected people and is usually self-limited.However, a possible association between ZIKV infection in pregnant women and severe microcephaly in their babies has been very concerning and prompted the World Health Organization to declare this potential complication a public health emergency. Additionally the virus has been found in blood, fueling growing concerns about the risk of transfusion-transmissionwith particular concern over severe outcomes in at risk transfusion recipient populations such as women who are pregnant.

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