NB: Concepts represent early planning stages for PAs, RFAs, or RFPs for Council 's input. Council approval does not guarantee that a concept will become an initiative.
If NIAID publishes an initiative from one of these concepts, we link to it below. For a full list of initiatives, go to NIH Funding Opportunities Relevant to NIAID.
Table of Contents
Immune Mechanisms of Viral Control
For the published initiative, see the April 16, 2008, Guide announcement.
Request for Applications
Contact: Lara R. Miller
Phone: 301-496-7551
Email: lrmiller@niaid.nih.gov
Objective: To establish a synergistic network of research teams focused on basic immunological parameters of viral infection, virally induced inflammation, and protective vaccination using NIAID Category A, B, or C viruses. The goal is to discover and define novel basic immune mechanisms that will lead to new potential targets for developing future vaccines and therapeutics.
Description: This program will support single (U01) or multiple (U19) project cooperative agreement grants to discover and define the immune mechanisms that generate effective responses to viral infection and vaccination and provide potential new targets for future vaccine and therapeutic drug development. In the context of defining new immune mechanisms relevant to NIAID Category A, B, or C viral diseases in humans, areas of research interest include, but are not limited to:
- Innate immunity.
- Interface between innate and adaptive immunity.
- T and B cell memory.
- Mucosal immunity.
- Immunity in populations with altered immune status.
Antibody Epitopes and Mechanisms of Protection
For the published initiative, see the July 21, 2008, solicitation, B Cell Epitope Discovery and Mechanisms of Antibody Protection.
Broad Agency Announcement
Contact: Donald Collie
Phone: 301-496-0992
Email: dcollie@niaid.nih.gov
Objective: To support basic research aimed at the discovery of novel B cell epitopes and elucidation of mechanisms of antibody-mediated protective immunity. This program emphasizes epitope discovery for NIAID Category A, B, and C priority pathogens and emerging/re-emerging infectious diseases.
Description: This program will support the identification of linear and conformational B cell epitopes, coupled with basic studies to understand protective immunity mediated by antibodies. Investigators may utilize recent technological advances for epitope discovery, such as genome-wide scanning, structural genomics and proteomics, phage-display libraries, and combinatorial synthetic peptide library screens or develop new or improved technologies, including computer-based B cell epitope prediction algorithms for the identification of novel B cell epitopes. Epitope discovery methods must be accompanied by basic studies in appropriate animal models or using human cells to validate the epitope as a target of antibody-mediated protective immunity and to understand the mechanisms by which the antibodies induce immune protection. Supported investigators will be required to attend an annual program review meeting at NIH and submit their epitope information to the Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (www.immuneEPITOPE.org).
Large Scale T Cell Epitope Discovery Program
For the published initiative, see the July 21, 2008, solicitation.
Broad Agency Announcement
Contact: Phil Hastings
Phone: 301-496-0194
Email: phastings@niaid.nih.gov
Objective: To continue support of a contract program for the discovery of novel T cell epitopes. This program emphasizes epitope discovery for most NIAID Category A, B, and C priority pathogens and emerging/re-emerging infectious diseases. T cell epitope discovery of pox viruses and development of novel or improved MHC class I epitope prediction algorithms are excluded from this program because these areas were covered extensively under two previous epitope discovery programs awarded in FY 2004.
Description: This program will consist of identification of immunodominant and subdominant T cell epitopes, which bind class I, class II, or non-classical MHC/HLA molecules. Epitope discovery methods must be accompanied by validation studies in appropriate animal models or using human cells to confirm the contribution of the epitopes to the generation of protective immunity. Investigators supported under this program will be required to attend an annual progress review meeting at NIH and to submit their epitope data to the Immune Epitope Database (www.immuneEPITOPE.org).
Innate Immune Receptors and Adjuvant Discovery
For the published initiative, see the July 31, 2008, solicitation.
Broad Agency Announcement
Contact: Bryan Jones
Phone: 301-451-3682
Email: jonesbry@mail.nih.gov
Objective: To establish a pipeline of new adjuvants that exploits the natural capacity of the innate immune system to initiate and sustain T and B cell responses.
Description: This program will support the discovery and development of potential new vaccine adjuvants for NIAID Category A, B, and C priority pathogens.
Successful proposals are required to:
- Use high throughput screening with multiplexed readouts to discover and analyze agonists of mammalian innate immune receptors, focusing on the basic mechanisms of action.
- Evaluate the cellular responses activated through receptor ligand binding.
- Identify and optimize lead compounds.
- Pursue the most promising lead compounds through pre-clinical testing.
There have been recent successes in identifying agonists of a few well characterized toll-like receptors and it is anticipated that more such agonists may be discovered under this new solicitation. However, prospective investigators will also be encouraged to screen for agonists of additional families of innate immune receptors. Identification of agonists to these newly discovered or recently characterized cell surface and cytoplasmic receptors will broaden our ability to differentially stimulate and fine tune an immune response. The areas of programmatic interest include, but are not limited to:
- Adjuvants that stimulate focused immune responses, such as Th1 versus Th2.
- Agonists of newly discovered or recently characterized cell surface, vesicle restricted, or cytoplasmic pattern recognition receptors in mammalian systems.
- Validation of lead compounds in animal models and in human cells.
- In vivo studies to measure the lead compound’s activity as an adjuvant in combination with a vaccine against one or more NIAID Category A, B, and C priority pathogens.
- In vivo studies of lead compounds that include toxicity, metabolism, dose, route, and formulation, to prepare for FDA investigational new drug applications.
Population Genetics Analysis Program: Immunity to Vaccines/Infections
Request for Proposals
Contact: Wanda Neal
Phone: 301-451-3685
Email: wneal@niaid.nih.gov
Objective: To characterize polymorphisms in human immune response genes, including the expression patterns of innate and adaptive immune response genes after natural infections with, or vaccination against, pathogens, and to examine the functional significance of these polymorphisms. These studies will provide a better understanding of immune responses to infection and vaccination, which may lead to identification of novel immunotherapeutic targets for vaccines and drugs to prevent and treat infections.
Description: This program will support studies on the association of genetic polymorphisms with host immune responsiveness to infections and vaccination. The focus will be on NIAID Category A-C agents of bioterrorism and emerging/reemerging infectious diseases. Human specimens for these studies will be obtained from patients with a history of natural infections; individuals currently enrolled in vaccine trials; and/or previously vaccinated high-risk groups, such as military, laboratory, and health care personnel. Genomic information from mouse model systems will be used to facilitate identification of relevant human immune response genes. Particular emphasis will be placed on studies identifying host immune factors that play a role in controlling, protecting, or predisposing to an infection; exacerbating disease; determining resistance to treatments; or that might serve as targets for passive immunotherapy. Interdisciplinary teams that combine diverse scientific expertise (e.g., microbiology, immunology, genetics, mathematics, computer science) will be encouraged.
Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence
For the published initiative, see the April 11, 2008, Guide announcement.
Request for Applications
Contact: David Johnson
Phone: 301-496-7104
Email: drjohnson@niaid.nih.gov
Objective: To renew the Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence in FY 2009.
Description: This initiative will renew NIAID's successful Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence (ACEs), a cooperative network of integrated basic, pre-clinical, and clinical research centers that:
- Conduct single site and multi-site cooperative clinical trials and studies of mechanisms of action of tolerance induction and new immune modulation interventions in multiple autoimmune diseases.
- Accelerate early translation of basic findings into clinical application.
- Facilitate the utilization of clinical materials for basic research studies.
- Enhance the exchange of information between basic scientists and clinicians and among various specialists involved in treating autoimmune diseases.
- Promote a collaborative approach to clinical and basic research among multiple institutions in various geographic areas.
Each center will include multidisciplinary, interactive research projects focused on elucidation of the basic mechanisms of autoimmunity; understanding of self tolerance and/or immune modulation in autoimmune disease; and an integrated clinical component for piloting new and novel immunotherapies for autoimmune diseases. The inclusion of basic or clinical central cores and an integrated clinical network facilitates basic investigation, clinical studies/trials, and the translation of basic research findings into the clinic. There is no restriction on the particular autoimmune disease studied, and programs focusing on more than one disease are encouraged.
Cooperative Centers for Translational Research on Human Immunology and Biodefense
For the published initiative, see the February 29, 2008, Guide announcement.
Request for Applications
Contact: Helen Quill
Phone: 301-496-7551
Email: hquill@niaid.nih.gov
Objective: To establish a network of Centers that will provide infrastructure and research support for clinical immunology studies focused on the host immune response to NIAID Category A-C pathogens. This program will facilitate the development of vaccines and immunotherapeutic interventions for biodefense against infectious agents and their toxins.
Description: This program will support a centralized research infrastructure to develop, standardize, and apply appropriate reagents, assays, and technologies to the study of human immunity. The Centers will facilitate translation from animal studies to human studies, and translation from basic research to clinical applications. In addition, novel research projects will be supported to investigate the molecular control of immunoregulation in the human and identify immunotherapeutic targets relevant to the prevention of disease caused by, or control of, NIAID Category A-C pathogens and their toxins. An education program for basic and clinical fellows and visiting scientists is also included. One component of the program will support small, exploratory pilot projects. Each Center will focus on a particular area of human immunity, such as innate immune mechanisms of protection or long-term immune memory, and will provide specialized expertise in the area and develop new methods for use by the Centers’ network and the scientific research community.
Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Radiation Injury from a Nuclear Accident or Terrorist Attack
For the published initiative, see the October 1, 2007, Guide announcement.
Request for Applications
Contact: Andrea Dicarlo-Cohen
Phone: 301-451-9199
Email: cohena@niaid.nih.gov
Objective: To support investigator-initiated research and development of medical countermeasures against radiological and nuclear terrorist threats to the civilian population.
Description: Basic, applied, and translational research will be supported through this initiative to generate new countermeasures from academic and commercial research groups. Countermeasures may include novel biodosimetry devices, radioprotectant drugs, drugs or therapies that mitigate the effects of radiation when given soon after exposure, and drugs or therapies that treat radiation-induced tissue damage.
Studies of Immunosenescence and Other Late Effects of Acute Radiation Exposure in Atomic Bomb Survivors
JOFOC
Contact: Dante Stumpo
Phone: 301-594-6309
Email: stumpod@niaid.nih.gov
Objective: To support research into the late effects of acute radiation exposure in atomic bomb survivors and the development of medical countermeasures and/or therapeutic strategies to mitigate such effects.
Description: This program will focus on determining the effects of radiation and aging on the immune and other organ systems and the contribution of such effects to disease development in persons exposed to an atomic bomb explosion. In the first phase of the project, research will be conducted to better understand the mechanisms of radiation and aging and how these factors impact immune aging, to determine how immune dysfunction results in a persistent inflammatory state, and the resulting diseases and infections that may occur with immunosenescence in those who survived an Atomic bomb explosion. Specimens obtained from atomic bomb survivors will be used and correlative basic science studies will be performed in animal models to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of radiation-induced immunosenescence. Subsequent phases of the project may entail research on the delayed manifestations of acute radiation exposure in other organ systems. |
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