AIDS and Oral Manifestations of Immunosuppression Program
Division of Basic and Translational Sciences
We are seeking Concept Clearance for a Request for Applications (RFA) that will encourage multidisciplinary highly integrated research on the oral complications of HIV infection and their prevention. Projects in each multidisciplinary program will be expected to utilize state of the art approaches such as genomics, proteomics, biomimetics, tissue engineering, and bioimaging. It is expected that this research will increase our knowledge of the basic mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of oral disorders associated with AIDS and will identify novel targets and strategies for the prevention and management of these pathological conditions.
A comprehensive approach to address the oral complications of HIV infection is timely and will expedite research in such areas as the association of these complications with chronic viral infections of the oral cavity; HIV-related salivary gland disorders; and oral mucosal immunity including novel mechanisms to enhance innate and adaptive immunity to oral microbes associated with HIV infection. While several relevant topics are currently being investigated through traditional individual funding mechanisms, the field is sufficiently mature to benefit from the use of integrated multidisciplinary projects with a common theme to advance the field.
We anticipate that this initiative will have the potential to attract distinguished investigators from diversified disciplines and will create environments that nurture young investigators in the arena of oral manifestations of AIDS.
This initiative is not designed to support clinical trials. However the use of clinical samples from patients is allowable and encouraged.