Apply for research funds to identify interventional targets of early-stage Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infections with and without HIV through the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) Analyzing Early Events in TB and TB/HIV Infection for Interventional Targets (R01, Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
Research Objectives
The goal of this NOFO is to support mechanistic studies of early-stage Mtb infection in the airway and lungs with and without HIV to identify interventional targets for vaccine and host-directed therapies. Your proposed research should focus on mechanisms of Mtb-induced immune evasion/disruption of immunity-related cell functions and interactions among myeloid, lymphoid, and non-immune cells within the airway and lung tissue that determine disease progression versus cessation.
Your research should define the earliest specific reactions of diverse innate cells to the presence of Mtb in the lung and airway tissue and enhance subsequent development of T-cell-mediated immunity.
Examples of relevant topics include:
- Mechanistic studies of Mtb or Mtb/HIV infection events before the TB granuloma is developed in the alveolar/pulmonary tissue setting focused on identification of immunomodulatory therapeutics such as vaccine adjuvants.
- Host-pathogen interaction studies within the airways or lung to define early-stage Mtb-mechanisms of immune disruption with or without HIV co-infection.
- Studies of early Mtb infection during any stage of HIV infection (including virally suppressed on antiretroviral therapy).
- Impact of HIV infection on the biology of alveolar macrophages and other innate cells during early Mtb infection as well as the impairment of adaptive immunity.
- How the interactions among innate and adaptive immune cells during early Mtb infection affect the ultimate outcome of the host immune response in people living with and without HIV.
- Basic immunologic research to describe the early immune response after Mtb challenge with or without HIV.
Conversely, NIAID will consider applications in the following areas to be nonresponsive and not review them:
- Studies not focused on mechanisms of early infection with Mtb (defined as the time between Mtb exposure and early-stage granuloma development).
- Studies primarily focused on latency, chronic disease, or reactivation of established Mtb infection.
- Studies of a single cell type in early Mtb infection unless the studies are within a broader context and include a focus on interactions with other host cells (immune and/or non-immune) within the airway and lung.
- Applications with identified interventions primarily focused on testing the effectiveness of the intervention and not mechanistic aspects of the intervention.
- Clinical trials.
- Studies focusing on model development.
Award Information
Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.
The maximum project period is 5 years.
Applications are due on October 11, 2023, by 5 p.m. local time of the applicant organization.
Direct inquiries to Dr. Robert Mahon, NIAID’s scientific/research contact, at Robert.mahon@nih.gov or 240-669-5427. For your peer-review related inquiries, contact Dr. Robert Unfer at Robert.unfer@nih.gov or 240-669-5035.