Translation of Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies for Blood Diseases (R01) Research Project Grant

This FOA issued by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, encourages Research Project Grant (R01) applications from institutions and organizations that propose collaborative, multidisciplinary, multi-Project Director/Principal Investigator research forthe development of new technologies needed to utilize stem cells in future cell therapies to treat sickle cell disease and other blood disorders.  This initiative focuses on two key areas that are impediments to further progress: (1) development of techniques to efficiently generate hematopoietic cells by either differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (PSC) or by cellular reprogramming to yield sufficient numbers of GMP quality cells for clinical evaluation; and (2) development of protocols that enable the efficient engraftment of hematopoietic cells derived from pluripotent stem cells or derived by cellular reprogramming.  Each multidisciplinary application will designate two or more Project Directors/Principal Investigators.  This program will be implemented in collaboration with the ongoing NHLBI Progenitor Cell Biology Consortium (http://www.progenitorcells.org/) and will add separate additional research projects.  Extensive collaboration is expected between the existing Consortium Hubs, and the new group(s) are also expected to collaborate extensively with the Consortium Hubs.

Posted Date March 28, 2011

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)September 5, 2011

Letter of Intent Due DateNot Applicable

Application Due Date(s)October 5, 2011, October 5, 2012, October 5, 2013, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITY! “Understanding Mechanisms of Terminal Erythroid Maturation (R01)-RFA-12-033” Letters of Intent Due January 3, 2012

Understanding Mechanisms of Terminal Erythroid Maturation

(R01)-RFA-12-033

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HL-12-033.html

This FOA encourages applications that propose hypothesis-driven research to study development of erythroid precursors into mature red blood cells. The aim of this program is to support research efforts to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating late stages of erythroid maturation. These studies are needed to identify novel therapeutic targets for use in erythropoietin-resistant anemias characterized by defects in late-stage erythroid maturation. Application Due Date February 1, 2012

Research Scope: This FOA is designed to stimulate and support research efforts to define molecular mechanisms regulating the late stages of erythropoiesis. A further objective is to identify new targets that would improve the therapeutic options for erythropoietin-resistant anemias.

Areas of interest and appropriate topics include but are not limited to those listed below:

• Mechanistic roles of adhesive interactionsand cytokines in the regulation of erythropoiesis in erythroblastic islands.
• The role of central macrophages in ironhomeostasis during erythroid differentiation.
• Mechanisms of the enucleation process and of protein sorting during enucleation.
• The role of motor proteins in the movementof organelles and vacuoles before and during enucleation.
• Mechanisms controlling reticulocyte maturation.
• Reticulocyte maturation as a model forautophagy in other systems.
• Cellular and molecular processes involvedin the clearance of each of the organelles present in late-stageerythroblasts and reticulocytes.
• Regulation of stress erythropoiesis.
• Alterations in erythroblastic islandformation, enucleation, and reticulocyte maturation inerythropoietin-resistant anemias characterized by defects in erythroid maturation.
• Erythropoietin signaling during late stage differentiation and mechanisms of erythropoietin resistance.
• Iron homeostasis in late-stageerythropoiesis: How is (or are) heme synthesis, erythropoietin response,  cellular metabolism, and iron availability coordinated within developing
  erythroid cells?
• Model anemia disorders usingpatient-derived induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cell lines.

Reminder! This program is still active! Notice to Announce Additional Research Objectives and Funding for PAS-10-046: Stimulating Hematology Investigation:New Endeavors (SHINE) (R01)

This program is still active!

Notice to Announce Additional Research Objectives and Funding for PAS-10-046: Stimulating Hematology Investigation:New Endeavors (SHINE) (R01)

Issued by: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Purpose: The NIDDK is pleased to announce additional research objectives and funding for PAS-10-046: Stimulating Hematology Investigation:  New Endeavors (SHINE) (R01).

This Notice provides two updates to PAS-10-046:

1) An additional $1,250,000 has been set aside in fiscal year 2011 to make approximately 3 – 4 awards issued under this FOA in addition to those funded within NIDDK regular funding policies

2) A new SHINE-eligible research area, “Biology and Pathophysiology of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS),” has been added to the SHINEFOA

In addition to the research objectives listed in PAS-10-046,
R01 applications requesting support for research on “Biology and Pathophysiology of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)” will now be accepted under PAS-10-046.

This additional research area has been added in response to a workshop on MDS held by the American Society of Hematology August 29, 2008 and an NIDDK-hosted Hematology Research Interagency Coordinating Committee meeting on MDS, May 10,  2010. Research questions to be addressed by projects on MDS eligible for submission underPAS-10-046 include, but are not limited to:

• What is the role of hematopoietic stem cell aging and senescence in MDS predisposition and pathogenesis? Relevant studies include those that examine heritable genetic mutations affecting telomere maintenance; age-dependent changes in epigenetic control and patterns of microRNA expression that may contribute to stem cell depletion and skewing toward myeloid commitment; age-dependent changes in the capacity for DNA repair; andage-dependent changes in the hematopoietic bone marrow niche.

• What are the molecular genetic and epigenetic determinants of MDS?  While development of MDS may be influenced by polygenic (multifactorial) inheritance,there is increasing evidence that acquired epigenetic abnormalities, such as global and gene-specific methylation changes that affect tumor suppressor gene expression and function, may lead to the onset and progression of MDS.  Studies of such genetic and epigenetic determinants of MDS, as well as studies of the effects of transcriptional dysregulation in MDS on hematopoietic cell differentiation and function are relevant to this FOA.  Relevant experimental approaches could include the application of sensitive molecular array technologies, such as those that identify SNP variants and miRNA expression patterns, to identify unrecognized sites of gene deregulation andgene expression signatures that have biological, prognostic and diagnostic significance in MDS.  Whole exome or genome sequencing and genomic methylation tiling are other potentially relevant experimental approaches to identifyinggenetic and epigenetic determinants of MDS.

All other policies and aspects of this FOA remain the same.

Inquiries:

Terry Rogers Bishop, Ph.D.
National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
6707 Democracy Boulevard,
Room 619
Bethesda, MD   20892-5658
TEL:  301-594-7726
FAX:  301-480-3510
EMAIL:  tb232j@nih.gov

Or

Daniel Wright, M.D.
National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
6707 Democracy Boulevard, Room 621
Bethesda, MD   20892-5658
TEL:  301-594-7714
FAX:  301-480-3510
EMAIL:  dw341u@nih.gov

Funding Opportunity! 2012 NIH Director’s Transformative Research Projects Awards (Letters of Intent Due 12/12/11)

Funding Opportunity 2012 NIH Director’s Transformative Research Awards

Letters of Intent Due: December 12, 2011.

Application Deadline January 12, 2012.

Announcing a funding opportunity for the NIH Director’s Transformative Research Awards:

*       Exceptionally innovative, high risk, original and/or unconventional research

*       Clinical, basic, and/or behavioral/social science research projects

*       Up to $25 million total costs per year for a single project

*       One-third of total funding budget geared to projects with more than $1 Million in direct costs.

The deadline for submitting Transformative Research Project applications is January 12, 2012 with Letters of Intent due by December 12, 2011.  See the instructions in the RFA-RM-11-006

Additional information, including Frequently Asked Questions about the Transformative Research Projects Program is available at: http://commonfund.nih.gov/TRA.

Send questions to: Transformative_Awards@mail.nih.gov

The NIH Common Fund (formerly the NIH Roadmap) encourages collaboration and supports a series of exceptionally high impact, trans-NIH programs. These programs are supported by the Common Fund, and managed by the NIH Office of the Director in partnership with the various NIH Institutes, Centers and Offices. Additional information about the NIH Common Fund can be found at http://commonfund.nih.gov.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -“The Nation’s Medical Research Agency” – includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

NIDDK Research Grant Opportunity! Stimulating Hematology Investigation: New Directions in Hematology Research (SHINE-II) (R01)

‘SHINE’ on DBA…!

DMAF is encouraging all DBA researchers to submit proposals to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Stimulating Hematology Investigation: New Directions in Hematology Research (SHINE-II) (R01). http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAS-13-006.html

New Directions in Hematology Research (SHINE-II) (R01): This research Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), New Directions in Hematology Research (SHINE-II), is intended to promote innovative research initiatives that explore high impact, new directions of inquiry relevant to the hematology research mission of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).  This new Funding Opportunity builds upon the objectives of an on-going program defined by PAS-10-046: Stimulating Hematology Investigation:  New Endeavors (or SHINE).  With the SHINE-II program, NIDDK invites investigator-initiated grant applications for pre-clinical, proof of principle research projects that are tightly focused and directed at validating novel concepts and approaches that promise to open up new pathways for discovery.  Research applications submitted under this FOA should be more limited in scope (a single central aim) and duration (1-3 years) than typical R01 grant applications.

NIDDK Research Grant Opportunity! Stimulating Hematology Investigation: New Directions in Hematology Research (SHINE-II) (R01)

'SHINE’ on DBA…!

DMAF is encouraging all DBA researchers to submit proposals to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Stimulating Hematology Investigation: New Directions in Hematology Research (SHINE-II) (R01).

Reminder for the NIDDK sponsored SHINE II Program Announcement New Directions in Hematology Research (SHINE-II) (R01) 

This is a great opportunity to submit research proposals that can help advance the understanding of DBA as it relates to the principal areas of interest within this NIDDK sponsored Program, which include: (1) hematopoietic stem cell biology and hematopoiesis, (2) erythroid cell biology and erythropoiesis, (3) the molecular biology of heme and hemoglobin, (4) acquired and congenital disorders of red blood cell production and survival leading to chronic anemia, (5) the uptake, utilization, storage, and transport of iron in health and disease, (6) and the structure and function of leukocytes and myeloid precursor cells.

A full synopsis of this Program Announcement FOA Number: PAS-13-006 can be viewed by clicking here.

Update to the NHLBI/NIDDK sponsored Program Announcement “Ribosomal Disorders and Their Role in Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes (R01)”

The NHLBI and NIDDK are seeking high quality collaborative proposals for the RO1 opportunity described below. The Daniella Foundation hopes each of you will consider developing submissions to meet the Institute’s interest in expanding critical research in this area.

Update and Reminder for the NHLBI and NIDDK sponsored Ribosomal Disorders and Their Role in Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes (R01).

We’re happy to report that the NHLBI funding line for this RO1 has been nearly doubled and is now being funded at 11% instead of 6% with Early-Stage Investigators receiving up to an additional 10 percentile points. The NIDDK’s funding line will continue at 11% with an additional 5 percentile points offered to Early-State Investigators!

This program announcement encourages applications from institutions/organizations that propose collaborative research projects by multi-disciplinary teams to advance our understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying ribosomal dysfunction.  These research areas include effects on hematopoiesis and their role in bone marrow failure syndromes. Multi-disciplinary expertise across basic and clinical components is encouraged.  To meet the objectives of this FOA applicants are encouraged to integrate ribosomal biology with bone marrow failure to develop and characterize models of ribosomopathies.

A full synopsis of this Program Announcement FOA Number: PA-11-121 can be viewed by clicking here.