Grants to Enhance HIV Reservoir Susceptibility to Elimination (US)
Deadline: 3-Aug-22
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering grants under “Enhancing HIV Reservoir Susceptibility to Elimination” to support basic research to define cellular and molecular mechanisms within persistent HIV reservoir cells that promote survival and resistance to virus-induced and immune-mediated cell death, and to identify novel therapeutic targets that could sensitize HIV-infected cells to eradication strategies.
This initiative will support hypothesis-driven basic research focused on defining intracellular mechanisms that determine resistance or sensitivity to intrinsic and extrinsic cytolytic stimuli and ultimately impact survival of HIV reservoir cells.
Objectives
The objectives of this FOA are:
to elucidate cellular and molecular mechanisms within persistently infected HIV reservoir cells that promote survival or resistance to cell killing,
to identify novel therapeutic targets within persistently infected cells that will increase their sensitivity to virus- or immune-mediated cell death, and
to explore synergistic approaches to combine enhancement of susceptibility to cell death with other eradication strategies.
Areas of Research Interest
Specific areas of research interest include but are not limited to:
Defining specific programmed cell death pathways involved in HIV reservoir survival, longevity, expansion, and responses to virus production or targeted immune responses
Exploring the contribution of epigenetic regulation, proviral sequence, or integration site to HIV reservoir cell susceptibility to virus- or immune-mediated cell death
Identifying factors that counteract virus-induced downregulation of MHC or impaired HIV antigen presentation
Identifying factors in the intracellular or extracellular microenvironment that inhibit reservoir elimination or promote reservoir survival or expansion
Determining whether mechanisms of resistance to virus- or immune-mediated cell death are specific to persistent reservoirs and whether these mechanisms change over the course of infection and treatment
Characterizing individual cellular responses to viral expression and immune targeting in different reservoir cell types and subtypes within blood and tissue compartments
Applications that include therapeutic strategies and/or preclinical animal models, including humanized mice or SIV- or SHIV-infected non-human primates, to test mechanistic hypotheses
Funding Information
Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards: Issuing IC and partner components intend to commit an estimated total of $3,300,000 to fund 3-6 awards in FY23.
Award Project Period: The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project period is 5 years.
Eligibility Criteria
Higher Education Institutions
Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
Private Institutions of Higher Education
The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:
Hispanic-serving Institutions
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education
Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
For-Profit Organizations
Small Businesses
For-Profit Organizations (Other than Small Businesses)
Local Governments
State Governments
County Governments
City or Township Governments
Special District Governments
Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized)
Federal Government
Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government
U.S. Territory or Possession
Other
Independent School Districts
Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities
Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Faith-based or Community-based Organizations
Regional Organizations
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions)
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=338996