June 2016 DAIDS Council-Approved Concepts

Concepts represent early planning stages for program announcements, requests for applications, or solicitations for Council's input. If NIAID publishes an initiative from one of these concepts, we link to it below. To find initiatives, go to Find a Funding Opportunity.

NB: Council approval does not guarantee that a concept will become an initiative.

Table of Contents

Nonhuman Primate Core Humoral Immunology Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine Research and Development

For the published request for proposals, see the November 14, 2016 solicitation, Nonhuman Primate Core Humoral Immunology Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine Research and Development.

Nonhuman Primate Virology Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine Research and Development

For the published request for proposals, see the November 17, 2016 solicitation, Nonhuman Primate Virology Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine Research and Development.

Nonhuman Primate Core Functional Genomics Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine Research and Development

Request for Proposals—proposed FY 2018 initiative

Contact: Robert Corno

Objective: This contract will apply and refine high-throughput functional genomics approaches to evaluate vaccine-induced adaptive and innate immune responses and vaccine efficacy in nonhuman primate (NHP) challenge/protection studies supported by DAIDS Simian Vaccine Evaluation Unit (SVEU) contracts and DAIDS grantees.

Description: The NHP Core Functional Genomics Laboratory will:

  • Apply state-of-the-art high-throughput transcriptomic platform/assay systems to generate gene expression profiles from specific NHP protocols/studies.
  • Compile and analyze gene expression data using appropriate bioinformatics and biocomputing tools, and adopt state-of-the-art high-throughput transcriptomic platforms as improved/alternative technologies develop.
  • Optimize and validate required assays and protocols to perform these functions including developing written SOPs.
  • Compile and maintain an electronic record of all assay results.

Data will be reported to a public functional genomics data repository. The ultimate goal is to identify early gene signatures to better define correlates of protection and predict vaccine efficacy promoting consistency and standardization (thus saving dollars and time). There are no significant changes in the goals of the renewal compared to its previous version.

Reagent Resource Support Program for AIDS Vaccine Development

For the published request for proposals, see the November 29, 2016 solicitation, Reagent Resource Support Program for AIDS Vaccine Development.

Innovation for HIV Vaccine Discovery

Request for Applications—proposed FY 2018 initiative

Contact: Jon Warren

Objective: The objective of this initiative is to stimulate research on novel, high-risk/high-impact, early discovery vaccine concepts and targets that may have significant impact on the design and development of immunogens or immunization strategies for an effective HIV vaccine.

Description: As in the prior Innovation for HIV Vaccine Discovery initiatives, this renewal initiative will support basic vaccine discovery research that may lead to identifying new target molecules or approaches that help design an effective HIV vaccine. Examples of responsive research include but are not limited to:

  • Novel approaches to elicit durable cellular responses and/or broadly neutralizing protective antibodies against HIV and/or SIV
  • Novel approaches to direct protective adaptive and/or innate immune responses to relevant mucosal or systemic sites
  • Exploring the utility of synthetic vectors for immunogen delivery
  • Developing new animal models, vectors, assays, and adjuvant and/or vaccine formulations if specifically linked to a novel vaccine intervention strategy for preventing acquisition or clearance of virus-infected cells; evaluating proposed hypotheses with appropriate animal models is encouraged (e.g., with nonhuman primate or humanized mice models)
  • Using clinical specimens to answer questions about systemic and/or mucosal immune responses to HIV infection in humans that could lead to vaccine improvements
  • The potential of host or non-host (e.g., allogeneic) proteins to act as immunogens alone or together with HIV/SIV immunogens
  • Previously unexplored HIV-/SIV-encoded targets as immunogens
  • Vaccine induced/imprinted innate immune responses that can be recalled in response to subsequent vaccination or infection
  • Functional genomics approaches to dissect effective adaptive and/or innate mucosal/systemic immune responses to vaccines

Pilot Clinical Trials Targeting HIV Reservoirs in Children

For the published request for applications, see the December 5, 2016 Guide​ announcement​, Pilot Clinical T​rials Targeting HIV-1 Reservoirs in Children (U01​)​​​.

Simulation Science for HIV: Optimizing New Intervention Strategies Prior to Clinical Trials

Request for Applications—proposed FY 2018 initiative

Contact: David Burns

Objective:

  1. Develop and validate synthetic databases that can be used to examine HIV transmission dynamics and estimate the impact of HIV treatment and prevention interventions
  2. Develop a platform that permits other qualified researchers to use these databases

Description:

  1. The development and validation of a synthetic database that can be used to examine HIV transmission dynamics and estimate the impact of HIV prevention interventions.
  2. An online platform that can be used for these purposes by other qualified researchers.

Appropriately constructed and validated synthetic databases offer a valuable methodology to examine HIV transmission dynamics and estimate the impact of HIV treatment and prevention interventions. Given that HIV prevention trials with active comparator arms require large sample sizes and major funding, use of computational models and simulation analysis to formulate and target particular prevention interventions and combination strategies for implementation could result in considerable cost savings. This approach should also be helpful to optimize the design of prevention interventions that go to randomized clinical trials.  

The initiative will use a phased award mechanism. Phase 1 will support milestone-driven development and validation of a synthetic database that can be used to examine HIV transmission dynamics and estimate the impact of HIV prevention interventions.  Phase 2 will support development of an accessible platform that can be used by other researchers.

Key features for projects include:

  • Acquire access data that can be used to construct synthetic populations with key parameters that determine HIV transmission and acquisition
  • Modular, object-oriented software design to allow rapid adaption to a variety of scenarios
  • Scalable and efficient simulation methodologies that can be run on a variety of computer platforms 
  • Flexible ways to examine various prevention modalities and combination strategies

This funding opportunity announcement will not support:

  • Phase IIb, III, or IV clinical trials
  • Establishment of cohorts
  • Clinical trial planning activities

Tracking HIV Networks Through Phylodynamics

For the published program announcement with special receipt, referral, and/or review considerations, see the November 4, 2016 Guide announcement, Phylodynamic Tracking of HIV Transmission (R01).

Centers for AIDS Research

Program Announcement With Special Receipt, Referral, and/or Review Considerations—proposed FY 2018 initiative

Contact: Ann Namkung Lee

Objective: To foster high-quality HIV/AIDS research by increasing collaborations and multidisciplinary research within an institution, between institutions, and by enhancing translation of basic research findings into vaccine, therapeutic, prevention, and HIV cure concepts in a synergistic and cost-effective manner.

Description: The Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) program supports diverse core facilities (versus grant projects) to carry out HIV/AIDS research at eligible institutions having substantial NIH-funded HIV research and a critical number of NIH-funded investigators who are performing high-quality HIV/AIDS research. All CFAR programs include an administrative core and a developmental core and at least one clinical core and one basic core. The developmental core provides support for new investigators in HIV/AIDS research, pilot studies, evolving research opportunities, and high-risk/high-impact collaborative studies. The Developmental CFAR (D-CFAR) provides funding for institutions that are not yet competitive for a standard CFAR to build and strengthen any deficiencies that might adversely affect an application for a standard CFAR award and to ultimately lead to the development of a competitive standard CFAR application.

Developmental Centers for AIDS Research

Program Announcement With Special Receipt, Referral, and/or Review Considerations—proposed FY 2018 initiative

Contact: Ann Namkung

Objective: To foster high-quality HIV/AIDS research by increasing collaborations and multidisciplinary research within an institution, between institutions, and by enhancing translation of basic research findings into vaccine, therapeutic, prevention, and HIV cure concepts in a synergistic and cost-effective manner.

Description: The Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) program supports diverse core facilities (versus grant projects) to carry out HIV/AIDS research at eligible institutions having substantial NIH-funded HIV research and a critical number of NIH-funded investigators who are performing high-quality HIV/AIDS research. All CFAR programs include an administrative core and a developmental core and at least one clinical core and one basic core. The developmental core provides support for new investigators in HIV/AIDS research, pilot studies, evolving research opportunities, and high-risk/high-impact collaborative studies. The Developmental CFAR (D-CFAR) provides funding for institutions that are not yet competitive for a standard CFAR to build and strengthen any deficiencies that might adversely affect an application for a standard CFAR award and to ultimately lead to the development of a competitive standard CFAR application.

NK Cells to Induce Immunological Memory to Prevent HIV Infection

For the published program announcement, see the January 9, 2017 Guide program announcement, NK Cells to Induce Immunological Memory to Prevent HIV Infection (R01). 

Fc Receptor and Antibody Effector Function in HIV Vaccine Discovery

For the published program announcement, see the January 9, 2017 Guide program announcement, Fc Receptor and Antibody Effector Function in HIV Vaccine Discovery.

Content last reviewed on January 10, 2017