Antiviral Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology – DCAI (81)
Ends after the June 2023 review meeting
The Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology [DCAI (81)] study section reviews applications that are concerned with the identification of novel antiviral (excluding HIV) agents for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases using biochemical, pharmacological, structural, cell-based, and animal model approaches.
Applications submitted for June/July 2023 due dates will be reviewed in Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology A (DMPA) and Anti-Infective Resistance and Targets (AIRT) study sections
Review Dates
Topics
- Discovery of novel antiviral agents including small molecule inhibitors, natural products, antiviral peptides, antibodies, DNA and RNA-based therapeutics, receptor decoys, adjunct therapeutics, drug combination regimens, repurposed drugs, and CRISPR-based antiviral technologies
- Molecular characterization of antiviral agents, including mechanism of action, structural characterization, and confirmation of target engagement
- Optimization of antiviral agents, including structure-guided drug design, medicinal chemistry, hit-to-lead optimization, adjunct therapeutics, and combination regimens
- Discovery of novel agents for host-directed therapies, including immunotherapies, to counter viral infections
- Development of novel assays and models to test drug efficacy, including cellular, organoid, and animal model systems
Shared Interests and Overlaps:
There are shared interests in drug development with Advancing Therapeutics [MCST (81)]. Applications that emphasize late-stage drug development efforts may be reviewed in MCST (81). Applications that emphasize early-stage antiviral drug development, such as discovery of novel agents and characterization of mechanism of action may be reviewed in DCAI (81).
There are shared interests in addressing the mechanism of action of antiviral drugs with Anti-Infective Resistance and Targets (AIRT). Applications that emphasize the biology underlying drug resistance or that aim to establish novel drug targets may be reviewed in AIRT. Applications that emphasize discovery and optimization of new antiviral drugs may be reviewed in DCAI (81).
There are shared interests in drug design with Chemical Biology & Probes (CBP). Applications that emphasize drug synthesis with limited biological assessments may be reviewed in CBP. Applications that emphasize drug function and antiviral potential may be reviewed in DCAI (81).
There are shared interests in drug target characterization with Molecular and Cellular Biology of Virus Infection (MCV), Viral Dynamics and Transmission (VDT), and Viral Pathogenesis and Immunity (VPI). Applications that emphasize understanding fundamental viral processes or pathogenesis mechanisms using known drugs as probes may be reviewed in MCV, VDT, or VPI. Applications that emphasize developing new antiviral drugs may be reviewed in DCAI (81).
