AIDS Research Act of 1988

(Reported to House from the Committee on Energy and Commerce with amendment, H. Rept. 100-815)

AIDS Research Act of 1988 - Amends title IV (National Research Institutes) of the Public Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to expedite the award of grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements for research projects relating to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Provides for time limitations for submission of and final action on applications submitted in response to a solicitation by the Secretary. Allows the Secretary to adjust the limitations.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to create a new title on research with respect to AIDS. Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) or the Administrator of General Services to respond within 14 days to any request for the allocation of personnel or for administrative support to carry out activities with respect to AIDS (priority requests) made by the Administrator of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration (ADAMHA), the Director of the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, or the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Requires such requestors to transmit a copy of each priority request to the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for Health. Prohibits the Director of OMB from taking any action to prevent requests.

Authorizes specified minimum numbers of additional personnel for the CDC, the NIH, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the ADAMHA, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.

Directs the Secretary, through the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), to establish the AIDS Clinical Research Review Committee to: (1) advise the Director on research; (2) review research, issue reports, conduct studies, and convene meetings regarding clinical treatment; and (3) establish a telephone number to provide information to health professionals.

Directs the Secretary, through the Directors of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the NIAID, to establish in each Institute a clinical evaluation unit. Authorizes appropriations.

Directs the Secretary, through the Director of the NIAID, to establish a program for the evaluation of drugs which are not approved by the Commissioner for AIDS treatment and which are being used by individuals infected with the etiologic agent for AIDS. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements for the purpose of conducting the drug evaluations. Includes as eligible for the grants, contracts, and agreements nonprofit private organizations established for the purpose of evaluating AIDS treatments and consisting primarily of individuals infected with the etiologic agent for AIDS. Directs the Secretary to establish scientific and ethical guidelines for the evaluations. Authorizes appropriations.

Directs the Secretary, through the Director of the NIH, to make grants to and enter into contracts with international organizations concerned with public health: (1) for international research on vaccines and treatment; and (2) to support projects for training individuals in skills and technical expertise and to support epidemiological research. Authorizes the provision of technical assistance for foreign governments. Requires support provided by the Secretary to be in furtherance of the World Health Organization's Special Programme on Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1989 through 1991.

Directs the Secretary, through the Director of NIAID, to make grants and enter into contracts for centers for basic and clinical research into, and training in, advanced diagnostic, prevention, and treatment methods for AIDS. Prohibits the grants and contracts from being used to provide training for which National Research Service Awards may be provided. Authorizes appropriations.

Directs the Secretary, acting through the National Library of Medicine, to establish the International Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Research Data Bank to collect and disseminate information to the public, general practitioners, and investigators. Directs the Secretary to establish a schedule of charges for foreign users of the data bank. Authorizes appropriations.

Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the CDC, directly or through cooperative agreements and contracts, using representative sampling and other methods, to provide for the continuous collection of data on the U.S. incidence of AIDS and of infection with the etiologic agent. Directs the Secretary to encourage each State to enter into a cooperative agreement or contract with the Secretary. Requires publication of the data collected at least once a year.

Directs the Secretary, through the Director of the CDC, to develop an epidemiological data base and provide for long-term studies. Authorizes grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Authorizes grants for long-term research into treatments for AIDS developed from knowledge of the genetic nature of the etiologic agent for AIDS. Directs the Secretary, through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to make grants for scientific research into the psychological and social sciences as such sciences relate to AIDS. Authorizes appropriations.

Directs the Secretary, through the Director of the CDC, to establish fellowship and training programs to develop skills in epidemiology, surveillance, testing, and laboratory analysis relating to AIDS. Directs the Secretary, through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to conduct or support fellowship and training programs to train individuals at the graduate or postgraduate level to conduct scientific research into the psychological and social sciences as such sciences relate to AIDS. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1989 through 1991.

Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the NIH, to develop and expand clinical trials of treatments and therapies for infection with the etiologic agent for AIDS, including for women, infants, children, hemophiliacs, and minorities. Authorizes the Director to: (1) establish or support efforts using specialized biological materials; (2) support research and training outside the United States; (3) encourage and coordinate research by industrial concerns; (4) acquire and maintain real and personal property; (5) make grants for the construction or renovation of facilities; (6) acquire buildings in or around the District of Columbia; and (7) enter into contracts and cooperative agreements as necessary to expedite and coordinate research. Requires the Director of the NIH to establish projects to promote cooperation in research. Sets forth reporting requirements.

Defines "acquired immune deficiency syndrome," for the purposes of the new title added by this Act, to include any condition arising from infection with the etiologic agent for such syndrome.

Directs the Secretary, through the Director of the CDC, to conduct a study of AIDS mortality rates among various groups, among geographic areas, and among individuals with varying financial resources for the payment of health care services.

Directs the Secretary, through the Director of NIAID, to conduct a study of the consensus among health care professionals on clinical treatment for preventing the development of symptoms arising from infection with the etiologic agent for AIDS.

Directs the Secretary to request the National Academy of Sciences and other similar institutions to report regarding the establishment of consortia for research and development. Sets forth reporting requirements.