Concepts represent early planning stages for program announcements, requests for applications, or solicitations for Council's input. If NIAID publishes an initiative from one of these concepts, we link to it below. To find initiatives, go to Opportunities & Announcements.
NB: Council approval does not guarantee that a concept will become an initiative.
Table of Contents
- Fc-Dependent Mechanisms of Antibody-Mediated Killing
- Processing and Presentation of Non-Conventional MHC Ligand
- Computational Models in Immunity
- Molecular and Genetic Characterization of Inborn Errors of Immunity
- Development of Radiation/Nuclear Medical Countermeasures (MCMs)
- Informatics Methodology and Secondary Analyses To Explore Shared Immunology Study Data in ImmPort
Fc-Dependent Mechanisms of Antibody-Mediated Killing
For the published program announcement, see the October 5, 2018 Guide announcement, Fc-Dependent Mechanisms of Antibody-Mediated Killing (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). For the published request for applications, see the October 5, 2018 Guide announcement, Fc-Dependent Mechanisms of Antibody-Mediated Killing (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
Processing and Presentation of Non-Conventional MHC Ligands
For the published program announcements, see the November 13, 2018 Guide announcements:
- Research To Advance Vaccine Safety (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Research To Advance Vaccine Safety (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Computational Models in Immunity
Request for Applications—proposed FY 2020 initiative
Contact: Joseph Breen
Objective: This program will support developing, refining, and validating computational models of the immune system through iterative immunological experimentation and computational modeling. It will also support pilot projects, summer schools, and symposia to make computational modeling more accessible to the broader research community.
Description: This renewal will build on progress gained through previous solicitations, as well as through independent progress made by the broader research community in the areas of computational and systems immunology. The FY 2020 initiative will include the following components:
Individual projects focused on developing or further refining computational models of immunity to infection or vaccination. Investigators will be encouraged to use existing datasets in ImmPort or other public databases for model refinement and validation, and they will be required to include novel immunologic experimentation to generate data for model validation and refinement.
Community outreach: Each awardee will be required to develop/execute activities that encourage the use of computational modeling by the immunology community. Such activities may include workshops, scientific symposia, mini-courses, or visiting scientist training opportunities focused on computational modeling of immunity.
FY 2020 Changes (compared to the FY 2015 program):
There is no requirement to use an NIAID Category A-C pathogen or emerging/re-emerging infectious disease as was required in the FY 2015 program. Any model pathogen may be used if it is part of NIAID’s mission. The program’s new name reflects this change. Each project is now planned as a single project U01 with integrated activities instead of the previous U19 format where the immunology and computation were in separate projects.
Molecular and Genetic Characterization of Inborn Errors of Immunity
For the published program announcements with special receipt, referral, or review considerations, see the November 26, 2018 Guide announcements:
- Molecular and Genetic Characterization of Inborn Errors of Immunity (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Molecular and Genetic Characterization of Inborn Errors of Immunity (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Development of Radiation/Nuclear Medical Countermeasures (MCMs)
Broad Agency Announcement—proposed FY 2020 initiative
Contact: Anuj Patel
Objective: This initiative will address gaps and accelerate the research and development of MCMs against acute and delayed radiation syndromes.
Description: This initiative will support the research and development of MCMs against acute and delayed radiation syndromes.
Informatics Methodology and Secondary Analyses To Explore Shared Immunology Study Data in ImmPort
Program Announcement With Special Receipt, Referral, and or Review Considerations—proposed FY 2020 initiative
Contact: Quan Chen
Objective: The objective of this initiative is to support the generation of innovative informatics tools and methodologies to validate research findings or generate new hypotheses that augment the usefulness and impact of ImmPort data.
Description: This initiative will solicit applications for innovative informatics tool and methods development to maximize the value of ImmPort data by funding continued effort in the following areas:
1. Developing bioinformatics tools or methods that use data in ImmPort for secondary analyses to generate hypotheses
2. Developing bioinformatics tools or methods that use data in ImmPort to validate research outcomes
3. Developing bioinformatics tools or methods that facilitate new ways to access or reuse data in ImmPort (e.g., reference datasets, cross-study analyses, standardization or integration)