WASHINGTON -- Due to lack of funds, the Food and DrugAdministration is limiting applications for grants to fundclinical trials of orphan drugs.

The agency will consider only applicants who have alreadyreceived funding, or who have not yet received funds afterbeing approved for fiscal year 1990.

"Our funds are very limited because we received so manyapplications last year," said Carol Wetmore, programcoordinator for FDA's Orphan Products Development office."The competition for these grants is usually pretty good."

Under the program, each grant provides up to $100,000annually for up to three years to fund clinical trial research.

Closing dates for submission of competitive renewalapplications are Aug. 12 for project periods that terminatebefore Sept. 30, 1991, and Sept. 1 for project periods thatterminate before June 30, 1992.

"Hopefully, we will publish another RFA (request forapplications) to solicit new applications for FY 1992 funds inSeptember or October," said Robert Robins, an FDA grantsmanagement officer. The government's 1991 fiscal year endsSept. 30.

-- Kris Herbst BioWorld Washington Bureau

(c) 1997 American Health Consultants. All rights reserved.