Provide government funding for MIT Double-stranded RNA Activated Caspase Oligomerizer broad-spectrum antiviral research.

To provide grants and federal funding to help researchers from MIT Lincoln Laboratory to develop, demonstrate, and fast track a novel broad-spectrum antiviral approach, called DRACO (for Double-stranded RNA [dsRNA] Activated Caspase Oligomerizer). DRACO selectively induces apoptosis, or cell suicide, in cells containing any viral dsRNA, rapidly killing infected cells without harming uninfected cells. As a result, DRACO should be effective against virtually all viruses, rapidly terminating a viral infection while minimizing the impact on the patient.
DRACO has the potential to revolutionize the treatment and prevention of virtually all viral diseases, including everything from the common cold to possibly HIV.