Key Dates

Related Announcements

PA-20-185 – NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-20-195 – NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-20-200 – NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PAR-20-300 – Translational Research in Maternal and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

PAR-20-299 – Translational Research in Maternal and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

Issued by

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Purpose

Although the placenta is a short-lived organ limited to pregnancy, its importance is often underappreciated in being a crucial organ for the propagation of our species and future health of our progeny. Perturbations in any one of its many functions may result in many common adverse pregnancy outcomes. These include early pregnancy loss, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, stillbirth, and preterm birth. In addition, a poorly functioning placenta can lead to aberrant programming of the fetus that can impact the health of the individual later in adult life. This includes an increased incidence of adult diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Thus, a more comprehensive understanding of the placenta is necessary to help address a number of major gaps in knowledge.

The major gaps that this NOSI targets fall within four major research areas. Topics of special emphasis in these areas include, but are not limited, to the following:

1) Elucidating the gene-regulatory pathways and molecular mechanisms involved in trophoblast differentiation and function.

• Delineating factors involved in trophoblast lineage determination and differentiation
• Studies involved in the mechanisms of uterine invasion and uterine spiral artery formation
• Studies of mechanisms involved in villous formation
• Studies of mechanisms involved in nutrient sensing and transport
• Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms (e.g., transcriptional regulatory pathways and system biology approaches), involved in the pathophysiology of placental disorders

2) Understanding the role of the immune system in normal placentation and pregnancy rejection.

• Studies of mechanisms involved in the induction of Th2- type immunity and suppression of the Th1-type response
• Elucidation of the pregnancy-protective roles of Tregs and the detrimental role of Th17 responses
• Studies of the role of the unique Major Histocompatibility Complex class 1 type proteins (HLA-C, E, F, and G) expressed by trophoblasts
• Role of NK cells in controlling the in uterine invasion and uterine spiral artery formation
• Placental hormones that function as immunomodulators in impacting immune cell recruitment, expansion, and function
• Maternal plasma factors (e.g., cytokines and autoimmune antibodies) involved in placentation

3) Developing safe and effective therapeutics for the treatment of placental dysfunction/disorders

• Development of novel placental-specific treatments for safe and effective delivery of therapeutic drugs to improve pregnancy and neonatal outcomes
• Development of targeted therapeutic strategies to prevent and treat pregnancy complications and/or fetal conditions
• Identification and validation of biomarkers for precision prevention and treatment of pregnancy and fetal conditions and diseases

NICHD is also committed to resarch addressing diversity and inclusion.

Application and Submission Information

This notice applies to applications submitted on or after February 5, 2022 and subsequent receipt dates through March 16, 2025

Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) or any reissues of these announcement through the expiration date of this notice.

• PA-20-185 – NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• PA-20-195 – NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• PA-20-200 – NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• PAR-20-300 – Translational Research in Maternal and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

• PAR-20-299 – Translational Research in Maternal and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and the funding opportunity announcement used for submission must be followed, with the following additions:

• For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-HD-22-049” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.

Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

Inquiries

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

General scientific inquires (including contacts for areas of particular scientific interest):

Areas 1 & 2

John V. Ilekis, PhD

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch

Telephone: 301-435-6895

Email: ilekisj@nih.gov

or

David Weinberg, PhD

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch

Telephone: 301-435-6873

Email: david.weinberg@nih.gov

Area 3

Zhaoxia Ren, MD, PhD

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Obstetric and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics Branch

Telephone: 301-402-9340

Email: zhaoxia.ren@nih.gov

Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)

Margaret Young

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Telephone: 301-435-7008

Email: margaret.young@nih.gov