The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases today released a new strategic plan to identify and define the institute’s plan for accelerating research to diagnose, prevent and treat COVID-19.

The NIAID’s plan includes four key priorities: 

1. Improving fundamental knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, including studies to characterize the virus and better understand how it causes infection and disease. Here, the NIH institute specifically notes that small and large animal models that can recapitulate COVID-19 disease seen in humans must be developed.
2. Developing rapid, accurate diagnostics and assays to identify and isolate COVID-19 cases and track the spread of the virus.
3. Characterizing and testing potential treatments for COVID-19. 
4. Developing safe and effective vaccines to protect individuals from infection and prevent future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks.

The full NIAID Strategic Plan for COVID-19 Research can be found at this link.