Funding for Somatic Gene Cell Editing in Transplantation Research

Apply through a new funding opportunity to use somatic cell gene editing (SCGE) approaches to improve graft survival and outcomes for recipients of allogenic solid organ, pancreatic islet, or vascularized composite allograft (VCA) transplants.

NIAID and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) cosponsor the Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Somatic Cell Gene Editing Therapies To Improve Transplantation Outcomes initiative. This article focuses on NIAID, so check the NOSI for more about NHLBI.

Objective and Areas of Science

This NOSI is meant to stimulate multidisciplinary collaborations that use cutting-edge technologies to apply SCGE to transplantation research. You may use various models, e.g., human tissues or organs excluded from clinical use, rodent, porcine, or nonhuman primate.

When you apply, describe your plan to address unmet needs in VCA, islet, or organ allotransplantation. Here are some examples of needs your research could address:

• Preventing or treating rejection
• Achieving transplant tolerance
• Prolonging allograft survival
• Protecting from the toxicities of pharmacologic immunosuppression
• Improving the organ or cellular function of transplanted grafts

In the NIAID Areas of Interest section of the NOSI, find our goals and examples of potential research approaches. NIAID is particularly interested in the following areas of research, though you are not limited to this list:

• Disrupting deleterious genes that contribute to ischemia reperfusion injury, cellular rejection, or antibody-mediated rejection
• Inserting or amplifying protective genes to prevent drug-related toxicities or promote robust transplant tolerance
• Generating gene-edited cellular therapies to regulate immune responses to the graft, expanding the pool of suitable donor organs, or repairing recipient organ or tissue damage to partially restore function as a bridge to transplant

We encourage you to explore new or established SCGE platforms that have minimal intrinsic immunogenicity and infrequent off-target effects.

Application and Submission

This NOSI is for due dates on or after October 5, 2021, and subsequent receipt dates through September 7, 2024.

Apply through the following announcements or their reissued equivalents:

• R01. PA-20-185, NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01, Clinical Trial Not Allowed). The first due date is October 5, 2021.
• R21. PA-20-195, NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21, Clinical Trial Not Allowed). The first due date is October 16, 2021.

You must follow all instructions in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide and include “NOT-AI-21-067” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF 424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this NOSI.

For applications to NIAID, direct your scientific/research questions to Dr. Nasrin Nabavi at nnabavi@mail.nih.gov or 240-627-3538. Find other contacts in the Inquiries section of NOT-AI-21-067.