The FDA has pledged $23 million toward 21 new clinical trial research grants. | Courtesy of Shutterstock
+ Technology/Innovation
Mark Iandolo | Oct 21, 2016

FDA pledges $23 million toward 21 new clinical trial research grants

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently awarded 21 new clinical trial research grants focusing on rare disease product development -- worth more than $23 million over the next four years.

“We are proud of our 30-year track record of fostering and encouraging the development of safe and effective therapies for rare diseases through our clinical trials grant program,” Gayatri Rao, director of the FDA’s Office of Orphan Product Development, within the Office of Special Medical Programs, said. “The grants awarded this year will support much-needed research in 21 different rare diseases, many of which have little, or no, available treatment options.”

Of the new grant awards, 24 percent will go toward studies enrolling patients with cancer, of which 40 percent will target devastating forms of brain cancer. One of these studies will focus on children with recurrent or progressive malignant brain tumors.

Additionally, 43 percent of the year’s grants will go toward studies that enroll pediatric patients as young as newborns.

A total of 68 grant applications were received, and the FDA was successfully able to fund 31 percent of them.

Organizations in this story

More News