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Novel Screen Approach to Inactivate Whole Viral Vaccines by Supralethal Irradiation

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Contract: HDTRA1-15-P-0033
Agency Tracking Number: T14B-002-0034
Amount: $150,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: DTRA14B-002
Solicitation Number: 2014.2
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2014
Award Year: 2015
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2015-09-17
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2016-08-16
Small Business Information
P.O. Box 100
Ithaca, NY 14850
United States
DUNS: 000000000
HUBZone Owned: Yes
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: Yes
Principal Investigator
 Man-Hee Suh
 (607) 272-0002
 msuh@agavebio.com
Business Contact
 Michael Oshetski
Phone: (607) 346-3311
Email: moshetski@agavebio.com
Research Institution
 Cornell University College of Veter
 Gary Whittaker
 
C5 181 Veterinary Medical Cent Cornell University
Ithaca, NV 14853
United States

 (607) 253-4019
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

Future vaccine development should focus on rapid upscale production, long-term and broad protection, and sufficient global distribution to prevent and reduce the impact of many infectious diseases and potential epidemics. Agave BioSystems proposes to develop a novel whole-microorganism vaccine inactivation strategy involving high-throughput screen of extensive radio-protectant matrices and radiation doses using synchrotron X-ray irradiation, and subsequent in vitro analyses to determine the ideal condition for large-scale production on a gamma irradiator. To demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the resulting vaccines, Agave BioSystems will collaborate with our STTR partner Dr. Gary Whittaker and Dr. David Topham to use influenza viruses for proof-of-concept validation in Phase I. Our rapidly adaptable vaccine development strategy is applicable to a broad range of viruses and microorganisms, especially those particularly pathogenic and unsuitable for other conventional inactivation methods. The whole-organism based inactivation strategy enables both immediate and long-term immune protection. The process can be easily scaled up on a continuous irradiator to accommodate increased global needs.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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