Group items matching

in title, tags, annotations or url

The purpose of this FOA is to solicit applications that propose basic and/or translational research studies regarding the developing neurovascular unit, perinatal stroke injury/repair response, and/or stroke related etiologies and risk factors. Research addressing vascular, hemostatic, hematopoietic, and/or immune cell activities in the developing brain is of particular interest. The intent is to stimulate research that will identify therapeutic targets in perinatal stroke.

The primary objective of this FOA is to stimulate innovative Convergent Neuroscience (CN) approaches to establish causal and/or probabilistic linkages across contiguous levels of analysis (e.g., gene, molecule, cell, circuit, system, behavior) in an explanatory model of psychopathology. In particular, applicants should focus on how specific constituent biological processes at one level of analysis contribute to quantifiable properties at other levels, either directly or as emergent phenomena.  Although not required, it is preferable that applications link at least three levels of analysis and include an emphasis on genetics. The projects under this FOA will develop novel methods, theories, and approaches through a CN team framework, bringing together highly synergistic inter/transdisciplinary teams from neuroscience and "orthogonal" fields (e.g., data/computational science, physics, engineering, mathematics, and environmental sciences). Successful teams will combine, expand upon, or develop conceptual frameworks and theoretical approaches, and build explanatory computational models that connect contiguous levels of analysis. Such frameworks, theories, and computational explanatory models should be validated through experimental approaches to elucidate biological underpinnings of complex behavioral (including cognitive and affective) outcomes in psychopathology. Additionally, a goal of this program is to advance research in CN by creating a shared community framework of resources which may be used by the broader research community to further research, as such, successful team will have robust plan for sharing data and other resources.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is dedicated to the discovery of therapeutic Biotechnology Products and Biologics (e.g., peptides, proteins, oligonucleotides, gene therapies, and cell therapies) for disorders that fall under the NINDS mission.  It supports the optimization of therapeutic lead(s) showing convincing proof-of-concept.   At the end of the funding period, projects that successfully advance through support from this program will have identified a optimized candidate, which has sufficient bioactivity, stability, manufacturability, bioavailability, in vivo efficacy and/or target engagement, and other favorable properties that are consistent with the desired clinical application, and will be ready for entry into the CREATE Bio Development track for further development to enable filing for an Investigational New Drug (IND).   

This award of $1000 will be given annually to a graduate student or post-doc to cover expenses for travel to the Society for Neuroscience meeting. The award will be presented at the 2013 SfN meeting in San Diego. To apply, please submit a short essay (500 words or fewer) describing your scientific background and career interests, and what you hope to gain from attending the meeting. Applications can be sent to neuron@cell.com, and the deadline is Sept. 10.

Research into the etiology and pathophysiology of PD has identified an increasing number of genetic and cellular targets where therapeutic intervention could benefit people with PD, including: Epidemiological studies that have identified both protective and risk factors for PD. Genetic studies that have implicated candidate genes whose protein products may underlie PD pathogenesis. Biochemical studies from cellular and whole organism model systems that point to biological pathways important in PD etiology and pathogenesis, as well as examination of cell death and trophic factor signaling pathways that have pointed to potential protective targets. Emerging understanding of dopamine neuronal development and maintenance in adulthood that has provided potential targets to restore/protect dopaminergic function in PD patients. Improved understanding of the neurochemistry and neurophysiology of the basal ganglia and related neuronal circuits that have suggested ways to alter neuronal function that could help treat motor and non-motor symptoms of PD not addressed by current therapeutics. Better understanding of the physiological and molecular pathways underlying treatment-induced complications that have revealed potential targets for interventions to ameliorate these troubling side effects.

The purpose of this FOA is to provide resources for integrated development of experimental, analytic and theoretical capabilities for large-scale analysis of neural systems and circuits. We seek applications for exploratory studies that use new and emerging methods for large scale recording and manipulation of neural circuits across multiple brain regions. Applications should propose to elucidate the contributions of dynamic circuit activity to a specific behavioral or neural system. Studies should incorporate rich information on cell-types, on circuit functionality and connectivity, and should be performed in conjunction with sophisticated analysis of ethologically relevant behaviors. Applications should propose teams of investigators that seek to cross boundaries of interdisciplinary collaboration by bridging fields and linking theory and data analysis to experimental design. Exploratory studies supported by this FOA are intended to develop experimental capabilities and theoretical frameworks in preparation for a future competition for large scale awards.

Studies funded by our Basic Research RFP will fall into one the following key areas, which are listed in random order: 1. Studies focused on the molecular and biochemical mechanisms regulating SMN expression or mediating SMN function. Results should lead to a better understanding of the requirements for SMN protein biologically, informing therapy development. Such studies may also identify genetic modifiers, upstream regulators of SMN expression / splicing / function, and downstream effectors of SMN functional activity, resulting in novel drug targets.      2.  Studies resulting in greater understanding of the pathophysiology of SMA, using well-validated animal or cellular models of the SMA. This includes focus on the tissue requirements for SMN protein, clarifying the cellular autonomy of the disease in motor neurons and other cells, peripheral versus central manifestations of the disease, and other areas.  3. Early proof-of concept assessment of novel therapeutic approaches for SMA in well-validated animal or cellular models of the disease. 4. Work focused on generating research and clinical trial tools, such as new animal models for SMA, phenotypic cellular assays for SMA, biomarkers or outcome measures for SMA clinical trials, newborn screening protocols, and others.

This FOA invites applications that will systematically and comprehensively characterize alpha-synuclein and amyloid-beta subspecies present in human Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) post-mortem brain tissue, identify toxic subspecies and potential mechanisms of toxicity, and characterize any interactions between the proteins that may contribute to increased toxicity and/or explain selective vulnerabilities of cells/circuits. Applications are required to include at least 3 hypothesis-driven projects that address these goals, an administrative core, and other cores as appropriate. Applicants will be expected to focus on the use of human tissues. All applications will be expected to include plans for developing a publicly-available library of fully characterized alpha-synuclein and amyloid-beta subspecies found in LBD.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to support intramural-extramural collaborations to develop and implement the use of 3D biofabricated tissue models as novel drug screening platforms and advance pre-clinical discovery and development of non-addictive treatments for nociception, opioid use disorder (OUD) and/or overdose. In particular, support during the UH2 phase is for the application of 3D biofabrication technologies to develop novel multicellular tissue constructs for drug screening by using human iPSC-derived cells representing sensory/pain neurons, brain regions, and other tissues involved in nociception, addiction and/or overdose, including tissue models of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Support during the UH3 is for implementation of drug screens using the 3D tissue models developed during the UH2 phase. Please limit this field to a brief description of to page in length. Brevity is appreciated. This FOA is part of the of the NIHs Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative to speed scientific solutions to the national opioid public health crisis. The NIH HEAL Initiative will bolster research across NIH to (1) improve treatment for opioid misuse and addiction and (2) enhance pain management. More information about the HEAL Initiative is available at: https://www.nih.gov/research-training/medical-research-initiatives/heal-initiative

The BRAIN Initiative: The Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative® is aimed at revolutionizing our understanding of the human brain. By accelerating the development and application of innovative technologies, researchers will be able to produce a new dynamic picture of the brain that, for the first time, will show how individual cells and complex neural circuits interact in both time and space. It is expected that the application of these new tools and technologies will ultimately lead to new ways to treat and prevent brain disorders.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites research grant applications to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms delineating the neuropathophysiology of HIV-associated neurological disorders (HAND) in the setting of long-term combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) conditions using induced microglia and cerebral organoids generated from patient derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites research grant applications to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms delineating the neuropathophysiology of HAND in the setting of long-term combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) conditions using induced microglia and cerebral organoids generated from patient derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation will award one-year to 18-month grants for studies that explore the role of astrocytes in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology and the potential for astrocyte-focused therapeutics. The goals of this funding program are to further understanding of astrocyte biology in Parkinson's and to rationalize the pursuit of astrocyte-specific targets and/or pathways for the treatment of the disease. Preference will be given to applications that focus on or include the following: Role of astrocytes in initiating and/or propagating Parkinson's disease pathology, including alpha-synuclein spread, dopaminergic neuron death, inflammation and senescence Consequences of dysfunction and/or mutations of common PD targets, including alpha-synuclein, LRRK2, GBA, PRKN and PINK1 Manipulation of astrocyte activity and/or astrocyte-specific pathways to assess the potential of targeted astrocyte therapies on disease biology and/or symptoms Parkinson's disease models with high construct validity to human PD, including patient-derived material (such as iPSCs or cerebral organoids) and/or well characterized animal models and primary cells; Examination of human brain samples to answer specific hypotheses is also acceptable Targets, pathways and mechanisms proposed for investigation should have reasonable links to PD.

Astrocytes play a role in neurotransmitter regulation and trophic and metabolic support of neurons and help modulate vascular functioning. Current research on inflammation in the central nervous system is exploring the role of astrocytes beyond simple "reactive gliosis" and their interaction with microglia. There is emerging evidence that these cells could be participating in a novel drainage system in the brain. Recent evidence from Alzheimer's disease research has hinted that astrocytes could be propagators, and potentially initiators, of neuroinflammation. Postmortem examinations of brains from Parkinson's disease patients reveal "reactive" astrocytes and astrocytes that contain alpha-synuclein-positive inclusions.

This FOA invites applications that propose the comprehensive functional validation of newly identified therapeutic target candidates for Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (ADRDs). This FOA seeks to promote critical target validation approaches to help de-risk subsequent translational research and accelerate the advancement of novel therapies for ADRD. Target(s) or molecular pathway(s) to be considered for validation must have been already identified using tissue expression or genetic data generated in human samples. In its initial phase, this FOA provided support for up to two years (UG3 stage) for the development of customized technologies, models, and protocols to modulate the expression or activity of target candidate(s) in cells or tissues and monitor their functional biological consequences in in vitro or in vivo disease models. Upon demonstration of technical feasibilities, a second phase (UH3 stage) will carefully and reproducibly measure and cross-validate the impact of the target modulation in different modalities across collaborating laboratories using the NIH rigor and reproducibility guidelines. Applicants responding to this FOA must address objectives for both the UG3 and UH3 phases and are expected to have a substantial collaborative effort between independents laboratories. This FOA is not specific for any one or group within the ADRD spectrum of disorders. Disorders covered in these applications are frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), Lewy body dementias (LBD) (including dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)), Parkinson disease dementia (PDD), vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID), mixed dementias including the associated diagnostic challenges of multiples etiology dementias (MED).

The purpose of the FOA is to support the structural characterization of protein species associated with Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRDs) through the utilization of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) of proteins expressed in human tissue and cell sources. Studies in response to this RFA should also include the development of research tools and resources to further characterize/validate the protein species. This FOA is in response to the Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) challenges outlined in the 2016 update to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease.

This FOA invites applications that will systematically and comprehensively characterize alpha-synuclein and amyloid-beta subspecies present in human Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) post-mortem brain tissue, identify toxic subspecies and potential mechanisms of toxicity, and characterize any interactions between the proteins that may contribute to increased toxicity and/or explain selective vulnerabilities of cells/circuits. Applications are required to include at least 3 hypothesis-driven projects that address these goals, an administrative core, and other cores as appropriate. Applicants will be expected to focus on the use of human tissues. All applications will be expected to include plans for developing a publicly-available library of fully characterized alpha-synuclein and amyloid-beta subspecies found in LBD.

The purpose of the FOA is to support the large scale molecular platform analysis of brain tissue, human biofluid or human induced pluripotent stem cell resources for the identification of targets and pathways associated with Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRDs) pathophysiology.

The purpose of the FOA is to support the large scale molecular platform analysis of brain tissue, human biofluid or human induced pluripotent stem cell resources for the identification of targets and pathways associated with Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRDs) pathophysiology.

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to promote initial establishment of basic science-clinical collaborations by providing small grants to teams of basic scientists, physician scientists, and/or clinicians. These interdisciplinary teams may include but are not limited to the following: developmental biologists, cell biologists, geneticists, genomicists, physician scientists including individuals with DVM/VMD degrees, clinicians, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, and/or bioinformaticists. Applications must include at least one scientist with expertise from the basic science side of the spectrum as well as one from the clinical side. The multiple PD/PI model is strongly encouraged but not required. The goal is to facilitate the gathering of preliminary data to support future, larger research grant applications that will combine expertise and integrate basic, translational, and/or clinical approaches to understanding the developmental biology, genetics, and/or environmental basis of structural birth defects.