Notice of Participation of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) on PAR-18-333" Understanding the Early Development of the Immune System (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)"

Notice Number: NOT-AI-18-008

Key Dates
Release Date: December 18, 2017

Related Announcements
PAR-18-333

Issued by
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to announce the participation, effective immediately, of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) on PAR-18-333 "Understanding the Early Development of the Immune System (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" issued by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

PAR-18-333 has been updated in the following ways to reflect NIAID's participation in this FOA.

Part 1. Overview

Components of Participating Organizations

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)

93.865; 93.855

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

Background

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Studies that explore the first maternal/fetal communications during gestation and the impact on the developing fetal immune system;
  • Studies that explore whether maternal factors can alter or modulate signaling in the very early immune system, including inflammatory signals;
  • Research to explore the elements, including cytokines, cells, virus, prion, and exosomes, that may deliver immune modulating signals involved in prenatal/ maternal communications;
  • Studies focused on cellular, and molecular maternal/fetal trafficking during very early immune system development in infection and health;
  • Research on the timing, development and maturation of immune system cells and cytokines, in infectious disease;
  • Studies of fetal innate and cellular component development and susceptibility to maternal/placental infection;
  • Studies to examine the maternal seeding and evolution of the fetal microbiome in infection/health and the impact on the developing brain;
  • Studies to explore maternal influences including medication use on in-utero microbiome colonization of the fetus on the downstream development of immune tolerance or hypersensitivity;
  • Studies of the maternal and infant in utero immune response to select immunogens and infectious agents;
  • Studies to test whether a subset of fetal immune cells or components can be activated to respond to select immunogens for vaccine development.

Additional areas of interest for NIAID include, but are not limited to, human and animal studies on:

  • Role of maternal factors (e.g. inflammatory signals, microbiome) in modulating the developing immune system of the fetus
  • Timing, development, and maturation of the innate and adaptive immune system during gestation
  • In utero immune responses to maternal/systemic infections and/or vaccines (animal models only)
  • Maternal immunization influence on the developing fetal immune system
  • Maternal infection influence on the developing fetal immune system
  • Impact of immune interactions between the mother and fetus on immune system function in early post-natal life of the offspring
  • Identification of biomarkers of congenital infection in the fetus/infant

Applications proposing the following will not be supported by NIAID:

  • Applications that propose clinical trials.
  • Applications proposing studies on HIV or AIDS.

Section VII. Agency Contacts

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Denise Anne Russo, PhD
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301-435-6871 
Email: [email protected]

Mercy Prabhudas, PhD, MBA
Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) 
Telephone: 240-627-3534
Email: [email protected]

Christopher Beisel, PhD
Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) 

Telephone: 240-292-1096
Email: [email protected]

Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)

Bryan Clark, MBA    
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) 
Telephone: 301-435-6975 
Email: [email protected] 

Donna R. Sullivan
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) 
Telephone:  240-669-2979
Email: [email protected]

All other aspects of the FOA remain unchanged.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Mercy Prabhudas, PhD, MBA
Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) 
Telephone: 240-627-3534
Email: [email protected]

Christopher Beisel, PhD
Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) 
Telephone: 240-292-1096
Email: [email protected]