The GMP promotes public/private-sector partnerships in microbicide research and development. It is anticipated that these new products will be applied vaginally and/or rectally and will be formulated in such a manner as to be safe, acceptable, and non-irritating to users.

Types of Funding Available

Project support can be in the form of feasibility grants or larger awards. Feasibility grants support innovative, higher-risk research. Since the purpose of these grants is to permit a researcher to test a concept, such awards may be limited in time and amount. Once the concept is shown to provide a viable lead, larger amounts of funding can be provided.

Larger awards are available to support clinical trials, toxicology, synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients under good manufacturing practice, or any of the other stages required for product development. Unlike funding through CICCR, the GMP does not require collaboration by an industrial partner, but such collaboration is strongly encouraged.

Grants are awarded to either for-profit or not-for-profit institutions worldwide. Awards are made to an institution for the benefit of the investigators, and not directly to the investigators.

Project Monitoring

A scientific advisory group made up of experts in the fields of STI research, immunology, and virology provides oversight for the GMP. CONRAD staff reviews the progress of individual projects every six months and defines future studies in consultation with the investigators.

For more information about the GMP, please refer to the main GMP page or contact:

Michael J.K. Harper, Ph.D., Sc.D.
Director, GMP
CONRAD Program
1611 N. Kent St., Suite 806
Arlington, VA 22209-2111
Phone: (703) 276-4022
Fax: (703) 524-4770
E-mail: mharper@conrad.org