Notice Number: NOT-AI-14-005

Key Dates
Release Date: October 21, 2013
Estimated Publication Date of Announcement: January 29, 2014
First Estimated Application Due Date: July 28, 2014
Earliest Estimated Award Date: March 1, 2015
Earliest Estimated Start Date: March 1, 2015

Related Announcements
None

Issued by
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Purpose

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute are promoting a new initiative by publishing a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications for research toward a cure for HIV-1 infection. The purpose is to continue support for the program initiated under RFA-AI-11-012 , entitled "Beyond HAART: Innovative Therapies to Control HIV-1".

The objective of the FOA is to encourage research that will explore non drug-based approaches to eliminate HIV-1. The approaches sought are not scalable or easily delivered at the present time. For this reason, the NIAID and NHLBI seek new approaches, as well as research to understand, simplify and improve on existing cell- and gene-based strategies to eliminate HIV-1.

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. 

The FOA is expected to be published in winter 2014 with an expected application due date in summer 2014.

This FOA will utilize the U19 activity code. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

Research Initiative Details

This Notice encourages investigators with expertise and insights into the application of cell and gene-based approaches to the problem of HIV-1 persistence in the face of antiretroviral therapy to begin to consider applying for this new FOA.

Among the areas of research encouraged in this initiative are cell therapies, including those based on hematopoietic stem cells, novel gene therapy approaches, and non-traditional antiviral strategies (e.g. miRNA, siRNA, gene-editing enzymes) and delivery of same. Applications are expected to include basic science/preclinical research as well as translational activities such as test-of-concept studies in animal models or humans. Applications must be designed as collaborative efforts between academia and the private sector, with a maximum number of 4 projects, at least 1 of which originates from the private sector; an administrative core; and optional scientific cores.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOT BEING SOLICITED AT THIS TIME.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Sandra Bridges Gurgo, PhD
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Telephone: 301-496-8198
Email: [email protected]