---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 285f–5"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "285f–5"
heading: "Research centers for pathogens of pandemic concern"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/285f-5"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter III — National Research Institutes"
  - "Part C — Specific Provisions Respecting National Research Institutes"
  - "Subpart 6 — national institute of allergy and infectious diseases"
---

# §285f–5. Research centers for pathogens of pandemic concern

- (a) **In general—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Institute, in collaboration, as appropriate, with the [directors](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of applicable institutes, centers, and divisions of the National Institutes of Health, the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) for Preparedness and Response, and the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, shall establish or continue a multidisciplinary research [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to advance the discovery and preclinical development of medical products for priority virus families and other viral pathogens with a significant potential to cause a pandemic, through support for research centers.
- (b) **Uses of funds—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Institute shall award funding through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to public or private entities to provide support for research centers described in [subsection (a)](#a) for the purpose of—
  - (1) conducting basic research through preclinical development of new medical products or technologies, including platform technologies, to address pathogens of pandemic concern;
  - (2) identifying potential targets for therapeutic candidates, including antivirals, to treat such pathogens;
  - (3) identifying existing medical products with the potential to address such pathogens, including candidates that could be used in outpatient settings; and
  - (4) carrying out or supporting other research related to medical products to address such pathogens, as determined appropriate by the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5).
- (c) **Coordination—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Institute shall, as appropriate, provide for the coordination of activities among the centers described in [subsection (a)](#a), including through—
  - (1) facilitating the [exchange](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-21) of information and regular communication among the centers, as appropriate; and
  - (2) requiring the periodic preparation and submission to the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of reports on the activities of each center.
- (d) **Priority—** In awarding funding through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Institute shall, as appropriate, give priority to applicants with existing frameworks and partnerships, as applicable, to support the advancement of such research.
- (e) **Collaboration—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Institute shall—
  - (1) collaborate with the heads of other appropriate Federal departments, [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), and offices with respect to the identification of additional priority virus families and other viral pathogens with a significant potential to cause a pandemic; and
  - (2) collaborate with the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority with respect to the research conducted by centers described in [subsection (a)](#a), including, as appropriate, providing any updates on the research advancements made by such centers, identifying any advanced research and development needs for such countermeasures, consistent with [section 247d–7e(a)(6) of this title](/usc/42/247d–7e.md?p=a-6), and taking into consideration existing manufacturing capacity and future capacity needs for such medical products or technologies, including platform technologies, supported by the centers described in [subsection (a)](#a).
- (f) **Supplement, not supplant—** Any support received by a center described in [subsection (a)](#a) under this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other public or private support for activities authorized to be supported.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, § 447D, as added Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title II, § 2301, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5756.)