Funding News Edition: April 21, 2021 See more articles in this edition
NIAID seeks multidisciplinary teams to characterize mechanisms that impact resistance to HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) and develop strategies to prevent and overcome HIV resistance to bNAbs through the new funding opportunity announcement (FOA) Mechanisms of HIV Resistance to Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies (bNAbs) (U01, Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
Scientific Focus
NIAID’s aim is to establish research programs with multidisciplinary research teams analyzing clinical specimens to elucidate changes in HIV Env amino acid sequences, glycosylation, and structure as well as host immune responses that contribute to bNAb resistance. Research teams should analyze clinical specimens collected sequentially as resistant HIV emerged during bNAb therapy; bNAb-sensitive and bNAb-resistant primary viral isolates from multiple clades of HIV; and combinations of bNAbs to determine which are less likely to permit the emergence of resistant virus.
Ideally, applicants will propose specific hypotheses for emergence of bNAb resistance and describe approaches for how to prevent or overcome resistance. Be sure to describe in your application how you will complete the evaluations and assessments called for above.
You may propose to analyze specimens from in vitro cultures or animal models with appropriate justification, but clinical specimens should be used to confirm the relevance of findings to a clinical setting.
The FOA also identifies several types of applications that NIAID will consider nonresponsive and not review, including clinical trials. See the FOA for a complete list.
Other Requirements
Awardees must form a steering committee that includes the principal investigator(s), key personnel, and an NIAID project scientist to coordinate research activities supported by the award; facilitate compliance with data- and resource-sharing policies; and promote research efficiency. Awardees will also each create a scientific advisory board composed of independent experts to review award progress and make recommendations annually.
The FOA does not set a budget limit, but your request should reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. The maximum project period is five years.
The deadline to apply is July 30, 2021.
If you have any scientific questions about the initiative, contact Dr. Steve Smiley. For inquiries related to the peer review process, contact Dr. Cynthia de la Fuente.