Notice Number: NOT-DK-19-028

Key Dates
Release Date: November 1, 2019

Issued by
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Purpose

The NIDDK, NIA and NHLBI are pleased to jointly announce support for a newly emerging topic in the field of nonmalignant hematology research through the "Stimulating Hematology Investigation: New Endeavors (SHINE) (R01)" program (PAS-19-105). The SHINE program allows ICs to maintain a flexible, pro-active role in supporting timely, high impact, leading edge research by the hematology research community using a Program Announcement with Set-aside funds.

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), "Stimulating Hematology Investigation: New Endeavors (SHINE)" is intended to promote innovative, high-quality hematology research relevant to the missions of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK); the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI); and the National Institute on Aging (NIA). In the SHINE program, NIDDK invites investigator-initiated research project grant applications in specific areas of basic and translational hematology research where needs and opportunities for progress are particularly timely. Specific research topic areas supported by the SHINE program, as outlined below, will change over time and be updated annually through Notices published in the NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts. R01 applications proposing to use model organisms and/or human samples are appropriate. Incoming applications will be assigned to one of the three participating Institutes according to standard receipt and referral guidelines.

New scientific knowledge gained through research supported by the SHINE program will vary. In general, knowledge gaps and research opportunities addressed by the SHINE program will include those defined and highlighted by IC-sponsored workshops and other public meetings. The overall objectives of the SHINE program are to catalyze discoveries in basic molecular and cellular biology to provide new insights into the pathogenesis, prevention, detection, and potential treatment of benign hematologic diseases, to attract new investigators into basic and translational hematology research, to promote productive interdisciplinary research collaborations, and to reinforce interactions and communication between ICs and the hematology research community. Because research topics featured in the SHINE program will change over time, the program will be dynamic and reflect evolving frontiers of hematology research needs and opportunities.

The topic, "Hematopoietic Response to Stress" was informed by a workshop held on April 29-30, 2019. For an agenda and a listing of topics discussed, please click here. Relevant research questions for this new SHINE topic include, but are not limited to:

• What are the mechanisms of stress response, persistence of the response, and resolution of response and/or protection from stress?

• What happens to stress HSCs and their progeny under conditions of, for example, aging, transplantation, infection, treatments for nonhematologic diseases, and/or ex vivo expansion?

• How is the biology of HSC altered after stress, (replication stress, changes in protein synthesis) compared to homeostatic HSCs? How are pathways altered after stress exposure, including cell intrinsic changes, metabolism, epigenetics, mitochondrial communication, etc.? What are cell extrinsic changes, including bone marrow niche changes, due to inflammation or systemic factors?

• Development of new technologies are needed to measure stress response without transplantation. Are there biomarkers that can be identified?

• Mathematical modeling and systems biology approaches are needed to adequately describe stress hematopoiesis in different model organisms

• What can be learned by comparisons of different model organisms, such as, zebrafish, mice, and humans?

With the publication of this Notice, the following SHINE-eligible topics are encouraged:

• Regulatory Determinants of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Fate: See: NOT-DK-12-007
• Role of Noncoding RNA in Hematopoiesis. See NOT-DK-14-001
• Role of Macrophages in Blood Cell Development. See NOT-DK-15-011
• Effects of Aging on Hematopoiesis. See NOT-DK-16-007
• Metabolic Modulators of Hematopoiesis. See NOT-DK-17-002
• Remodeling the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Niche. NOT-DK-17-016
• Biology of Erythrocyte Maturation. NOT-DK-18-020
• Hematopoietic Response to Stress. This NOTICE.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact NIDDK, NIA or NHLBI Scientific/Research staff to discuss plans for preparation of an R01 application.

Inquiries