Department of Veterans Affairs December 14, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Center for Occupational Health and Infection Control, [administered by the Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)], is seeking to partner with commercial organizations that have respirator design and manufacturing capabilities through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), under the authority of the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986, Public Law 99-502, 100 Stat. 1785 (codified as amended in scattered sections of 15 U.S.C. (the FTTA). The CRADA is on a research endeavor called Better Respiratory Equipment using Advanced Technologies for Healthcare Employees (or Project B.R.E.A.T.H.E.) that aims to develop a new respirator for health care workers. The genesis and emphasis of Project B.R.E.A.T.H.E. grew from recommendations issued by the Institute of Medicine in November 2007 in its report Preparing for an Influenza Pandemic: Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers, which articulates the next steps to be taken toward better respiratory protection for health care workers.