Funding Opportunities
Please visit the Funding Opportunities section of this website often to view specific research and training opportunities.
PHS 2009-1, Solicitation for SBIR Contract Proposals
268 Novel Antibody Epitope Mapping Technologies
Receipt Date: November 3, 2008 at 5pm EST
The purpose of this initiative is to provide support for the development of novel epitope mapping technologies. Epitope Mapping encompasses all the major methods for the identification and definition of epitopes. The ability to characterize the epitope of an antibody on its target protein is now being extensively employed to develop new therapeutics and biomarkers. This epitope information can help researchers to understand the "mechanism of action" of an antibody, to predict the potential cross-reactivity and connecting a SNP polymorphism to a specific protein structure. In addition, epitope mapping has been used as a powerful tool for rational drug design. Studies have revealed that while off-rate is an important factor in determining antibody potency, it is not the critical factor. Antibodies can recognize a linear string of amino acids, but they frequently bind to discontinuous/conformational epitopes (i.e. amino acids in a protein sequence that are brought together in the three-dimensional protein fold but are disparate in its linear sequence). Therefore the quality of antibodies results from the fine specificity of the molecular interactions, rather than simple binding parameters. A number of computational algorithms are now available for mapping conformational discontinuous epitopes. Additionally, various methods namely use of synthetic peptides, expression cloning, site directed mutagenesis and protein footprinting have also been used for epitope mapping.
Specifically, the NCI is interested in proposals that focus on the development of novel, fast, reliable and economical epitope mapping techniques. Proposals should explicitly describe how the proposed technology/system will develop and characterize monoclonal antibody epitope mapping.
269 Development of Novel Protein Expression Technologies for Glycosylated Cancer Related Proteins
Receipt Date: November 3, 2008 at 5pm EST
The purpose of this initiative is to provide support for the development of novel technologies for the expression of cancer-related glycosylated proteins. Many proteins become post-translationally modified (PTM) during the “secretory process” which involves of a journey from their site of synthesis in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER), through the Golgi apparatus and then to various cellular and extracellular destinations. Various covalent modifications often occur, either during or after assembly of the polypeptide chain, that are indispensable for the activity of these proteins. Knowledge of these modifications is extremely important because they may alter the proteins’ physical and chemical properties, folding, conformation distribution, stability, activity, and consequently, function. Moreover, the modification itself can act as an added functional group. Examples of the biological effects of protein modifications include glycosylation, phosphorylation, acetylation, and amidation. Of these, the most complex procedure, involving several enzymes, is glycosylation. Hence, glycoproteins are the most diverse group of biological compounds that are ubiquitous constituents of almost all living organisms. A given glycoprotein may contain N-linked (asparagine-linked) oligosaccharide chains only, O-linked (threonine- or serine-linked) oligosaccharide chains only, or both. The carbohydrate units of glycoproteins exhibit considerable variation in size and structure ranging from mono- or disaccharide- to a branched oligosaccharide composed of as many as 20 monosaccharide residues. Consequently, the analysis of proteins and their post-translational modifications is particularly important for the study of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease and diabetes.
Specifically, the NCI is interested in proposals that focus on the development of glycosylated human proteins. Proposals should explicitly describe how the proposed technology/system will develop/express, isolate and characterize the glycosylated proteins.
270 Peptide Aptamers: New Tools to Capture and Study Protein Interactions in Lieu of Immunological Reagents
Receipt Date: November 3, 2008 at 5pm EST
The purpose of this initiative is to provide support for the development of peptide aptamers that can be used instead of antibodies for immunological uses. The Production of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies is now well established and many of the antibodies are commercially available. Yet, man antibodies remain poorly characterized and suboptimal across multiple applications. In addition, polyclonal antibodies are typically not a renewable resource. Moreover, the specificity of a monoclonal antibody against a target of interest there is not guaranteed, nor is there any certainty as to whether or not a monoclonal will work in the needed assay, or can be used in combination with other antibodies due to an antibody’s large size and subsequent competition for overlapping binding domains. Furthermore, the high costs associated with producing even small quantities of monoclonal antibodies represent a large barrier towards cost-effective reagents and resources for proteomic technology research and clinical adaptation. The goal of this project is to develop reproducible, highly qualified/characterized peptide aptamers as alternative protein capture reagents for the cancer research community. Peptide aptamers are most commonly used as disrupters of protein–protein interactions in vivo, but the flexibility of protein engineering means that peptide aptamers can be turned into tools for virtually any type of biological study. For example, peptide aptamers can provide a basis for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, with implications for a broad variety of different disease entities including cancer. The development of these affinity capture reagents will be done in coordination with NCI’s Clinical Proteomic Technologies for Cancer and be targeted to a list of purified recombinant proteins being constructed and characterized through this initiative.
New Funding Opportunity - Roadmap Transformative R01 Program (R01)
Request for Applications Number: RFA-RM-08-029
Letters of Intent Receipt Date: December 29, 2008
Application Due Date: January 29, 2009
Expiration Date: January 30, 2009
The goal of the Transformative Research Projects Program is to provide support for individual scientists or collaborative investigative teams who propose transformative approaches to major contemporary challenges. To be considered transformative, projects must have the potential to create or overturn fundamental scientific paradigms through the use of new and novel approaches. Successful projects will be expected to have a major impact in a broad area of biomedical or behavioral research. Consistent with this highly transformative focus, projects supported under the T-R01 program will reflect ideas substantially different from mainstream concepts being pursued in the investigator’s laboratory or elsewhere.
Monoclonal Antibody Generation
Solicitation Number: S08-244
Response Date: July 25, 2008 3:00 pm EST
This solicitation is now closed and applications are no longer being accepted.
The Clinical Proteomic Technologies for Cancer (CPTC) initiative was established with the goal of developing technologies, data, reagents and reference materials, analysis systems and infrastructure as a basis for advancing discovery research and clinical applications. More information about the initiative can be found at http://proteomics.cancer.gov. As part of the CPTC, a series of renewable and highly characterized affinity binding reagents are being generated and made available to the research community. Detailed standard operating procedures (SOP's) will be made available along with characterization data to ensure that experiments can be both repeated and compared among researchers.
Once a set of antibodies are generated and screened by the contractor for each antigen, the antibodies will be sent to SAIC-Frederick, the Operations and Maintenance Contractor for the NCI Frederick Cancer Research Facility, and undergo further screening and characterization. The data from all phases of the characterization, i.e. from contractor and other entities selected by NCI, will be made public through the associated web portal.
CPTC has now posted a Request for Proposals (Solicitation Number S08-244), aimed at soliciting applications from skilled parties to develop monoclonal antibodies against a new set of cancer-related antigens (40 in total) produced under the CPTC initiative. To access this solicitation, applicants are to visit FedBizOpps (https://www.fbo.gov) and enter Solicitation Number S08-244 in the quick search tool box. All questions must be submitted via email by 5:00 PM, Friday, July 11, 2008. Please send to Matt DeSantis at desantisma@mail.nih.gov.
Antibody Production
99 – Monoclonal Antibody Generation
Solicitation Number: S08-060
Receipt Date: January 7, 2008
This solicitation is now closed and applications are no longer being accepted.
One of the top priorities identified by the cancer proteomics community is developing a series of renewable and highly characterized affinity binding reagents that are readily available to the research community. To that end, CPTC has now posted a Request for Proposals (Solicitation Number S08-060), which is aimed at soliciting applications from skilled parties to develop monoclonal antibodies against 42 cancer-related antigens already produced under the CPTC initiative.
Once a set of antibodies are generated and screened by the contractor for each antigen, the antibodies will be sent to SAIC-Frederick, the Operations and Maintenance Contractor for the NCI Frederick Cancer Research Facility, and undergo further screening and characterization. The data from all phases of the characterization, i.e. from contractor and other entities selected by NCI, will be made public through the associated web portal.
SBIR Grants
2008 Contracts
Underrepresented Minority Training Grants
The NCI’s Diversity Training Branch has several grant supplements that are
available to help develop specialized personnel that are members of underserved
communities. These supplements are not limited by educational status: They
are offered to trainees at various levels in their professional careers and awards
are available for high school students through junior investigators. In applying
for each grant, indicate that it is for Clinical Proteomic Technology in support
of NCI's Clinical Proteomic Technologies for Cancer Initiative.
Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research
PA Number: PA-05-015
Receipt Date: Applications can be received at any time
Expiration Date: September 30, 2008
Supplements to Promote Reentry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers
PA Number: PA-04-126
Receipt Date: Applications can be received at any time
Expiration Date: September 8, 2008
NCI Transition Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K22)
PA Number: PAR-05-011
Receipt Dates: Standard Dates
Expiration Date: January 3, 2008
NCI Mentored Career Development Award To Promote Diversity (K01)
PA Number: PAR-06-220
Receipt Dates: Standard Dates
Expiration Date: March 2, 2009
NCI Mentored Clinical Scientist Award to Promote Diversity (K08)
PA Number: PAR-06-221
Receipt Dates: Standard Dates
Expiration Date: March 2, 2009
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Award to Promote Diversity (K23)
PA Number: PAR-06-222
Receipt Dates: Standard Dates
Expiration Date: March 2, 2009
Feasibility Studies for Collaborative Interaction for Minority Institution/Cancer
Center Partnership (P20)
PA Number: PAR-07-230
Receipt Date: April 13, 2007; April 15, 2008; April 15, 2009
Expiration Date: April 16, 2009
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral
Fellowships (F31) to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research
PA Number: PA-07-106
Receipt Dates: April 13; August 13; December 13
Expiration Date: April 14, 2010
Proteomic Reagents and Resource Core
The Proteomic Reagents and Resource Core will organize tools, reagents,
and enabling technologies to support protein/peptide measurement and analysis efforts.
These highly purified and characterized reagents would be used to develop improved
approaches to sample preparation, fractionation, separation, detection, and quantification,
as well as equipment standardization and calibration. The Core will serve as a central
(virtual) source for reagents for the scientific community and will include human
and mouse tissue samples, and plasma, antibodies and affinity capture reagents,
labeling reagents, protein and/or peptide mixtures, and other reagents needed for
effective proteomic analysis platforms. The Core does not intend to provide materials
that are commercially available unless it is suspected that significant variation
occurs between commercial lots (e.g., polyclonal antibodies).
To learn more about the National Institutes of Health grant programs, please visit the NIH Forms and Grant Applications website.
