Understanding Mechanisms and Outcomes of Trained Immunity (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Deadline: June 16, 2024
5 pm
Amount: The combined budget for direct costs for the two-year project period may not exceed $275,000. No more than $200,000 may be requested in any single year.
Purpose
The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to support research that improves understanding of basic mechanisms and biomarkers of trained immunity (i.e., innate immune memory), plus the functional implications of trained immunity, related to 1) immune system development and function, 2) immunity to vaccines or natural infections, or 3) allergic diseases, autoimmunity, or rejection of organ/tissue/cell transplantation.
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) solicits research projects that explore fundamental aspects of trained immunity. Such projects must align with NIAID’s mission to advance knowledge of immune system development and function, and better understand, treat, and prevent infectious and immune-mediated (i.e., allergic, autoimmune, cell/tissue/organ transplant rejection) diseases. Areas of high priority include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Identification of novel biomarkers associated with trained immunity induced by vaccines, vaccine adjuvants, and/or infectious pathogens
- Basic studies of trained immunity in immune-mediated diseases
- Elucidation of molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for innate immune memory
- Characterization of the functional implications of trained immunity, including impact on adaptive immune responses and/or disease outcomes
- Determination of the duration and/or plasticity of trained immunity effects
Because basic characterizations of trained immunity are currently lacking, descriptive studies seeking to define immune signatures and phenotypes associated with trained immunity are allowed for applications submitted to this funding opportunity.
Applications Not Responsive to this NOFO
Applications that propose to conduct research in the following areas will be considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed:
- Studies of antigen-specific forms of immune memory (i.e., adaptive immunity) in the absence of a connection to trained immunity.
- Projects focusing on applications of trained immunity without aims that improve understanding of basic aspects of trained immunity (i.e., applications without novel characterizations of molecular mechanisms or biomarkers associated with trained immunity).
- Studies of innate immune memory in non-mammalian model systems without plans for how research findings will be translated to advance understanding of mammalian immunology.
- Applications proposing studies on HIV/AIDS
- Applications proposing clinical trials (all phases)
This NOFO is soliciting R21 applications that will support shorter term (up to two years) developmental/exploratory research activities, whereas the companion R01 ( PAR-24-112 ) will support more developed (up to 5 years) applications.
More Info: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-24-111.html