October 3, 2022
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)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
This Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) invites applications to stimulate multidisciplinary research to better understand pathogen/vector interactions to identify approaches to prevent pathogen transmission to the vertebrate host.
Background
Vector-borne diseases account for 17% of all infectious diseases world-wide causing more than 700,000 deaths annually. Arthropod vectors transmit viruses, bacteria, parasites, and nematodes to humans resulting in high morbidity and mortality rates in endemic countries. Interventions to control some of these diseases have focused on the human host (e.g., therapeutics, vaccines) or the insect host (e.g., insecticides). Although these approaches have had some impact, these measures have not achieved sufficient levels of control to prevent and/or eliminate transmission of these diseases. There is a need to develop novel approaches that are effective, environmentally safe, and do not promote the development of resistance. Examples of novel approaches include, but are not limited to:
- Targeting the pathogen within the arthropod vector;
- Using transgenics targeting ligand/receptor molecules in the pathogen/vector or that hinder development of the pathogen in the vector;
- Using vector symbionts to hamper pathogen development and/or transmission to the vertebrate host;
- Using ‘omics data and computational methodologies to identify likely targets.
Successful approaches that target the pathogen within the arthropod vector could be used in combination with therapeutics, vaccines and traditional vector control interventions as a multipronged approach to control and eliminate the transmission of vector-borne pathogens.
Advancements in understanding pathogen/vector interactions are paramount to identifying and exploiting approaches that inhibit transmission of vector-borne diseases. Establishing multidisciplinary collaborations across vector, pathogen, and/or associated fields is an opportunity to advance the science.
Research Objectives
Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Multidisciplinary collaborative research on pathogen (virus, bacteria, parasite, nematode) biology within the arthropod vector (mosquito, tick, sand fly, black fly, tsetse fly, triatomine bug, fleas and body lice), as well as vector-pathogen and/or microbiome interactions that will accelerate the identification of targets to prevent the pathogen from developing and being transmitted to a vertebrate host.
- Where possible, utilize computational, systems biology and/or modeling approaches to develop hypotheses that can be tested.
Application and Submission Information
This notice applies to due dates on or after February 5, 2023 and subsequent receipt dates through January 7, 2026.
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)
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-AI-22-074” (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.
Scientific/Research Contact(s)
Adriana Costero-Saint Denis, Ph.D.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Telephone: 240-292-4184
Email: acostero@niaid.nih.gov
and Human Services (HHS)
