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The goal of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to improve understanding of how durable protective immunity is achieved by supporting studies that define components and mechanisms of the immune system. Applications proposing human cells/tissue response studies will help determine the human responses elicited by immunization, however, animal studies may also be used to extend the findings from human tissues to more mechanistic studies not easily accomplished in humans.

The primary purpose of this solicitation is to support highly interactive, multi-disciplinary teams, whose research efforts are focused on large-scale discovery of T cell immune epitopes associated with infectious or autoimmune diseases, and rejection of, or tolerance to, transplanted cells/organs/tissues. The discovery of epitopes associated with T cell responses to commensals and how they may be altered by the inflammatory state will also be supported by this solicitation. Validation of these epitopes and defining their role in immune protection or immune-mediated pathogenesis in humans is required. Investigators may include development/refinement of T cell epitope prediction tools as part of their research plan. It is anticipated that the multi-disciplinary teams will minimally include immunologists with the appropriate expertise in epitope identification and validation, and either microbiologists and/or virologists with expertise in the target pathogen(s), clinicians with expertise in the target autoimmune diseases, or clinicians with expertise in transplantation, as appropriate. This program will not support studies related to HIV/AIDS, or allergen epitopes, including those which are infection-related.

NineSigma, representing Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. (https://www.ds-pharma.com/) ("Client"), seeks a drug modality for novel anti-cancer drugs that target immunosuppressive cells and interfere with immune functions, or an evaluation system for creating a drug modality. In recent years, the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors has been gradually revealing that the local immunosuppressive environment in tumor affects cancer treatment. This attracts interest in the development of novel antitumor drugs for improving the immune state of the tumor microenvironment. In particular, we look for compounds that target host cells contributing to the formation of the immunosuppressive environment and interfering with these functions.

NineSigma, representing Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. (https://www.ds-pharma.com/) ("Client"), seeks a drug modality for novel anti-cancer drugs that target immunosuppressive cells and interfere with immune functions, or an evaluation system for creating a drug modality. In recent years, the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors has been gradually revealing that the local immunosuppressive environment in tumor affects cancer treatment. This attracts interest in the development of novel antitumor drugs for improving the immune state of the tumor microenvironment. In particular, we look for compounds that target host cells contributing to the formation of the immunosuppressive environment and interfering with these functions. Focusing on cancer as its key area and considering the development of novel unique products to be its basic strategy, the Client decided to seek a partner with whom it can provide novel drugs to the market as soon as possible based on the above concept.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is associated with the Beau Biden Cancer MoonshotSM Initiative that is intended to accelerate cancer research. The purpose of this FOA is to promote research to accelerate the discovery of new immune targets and evaluate novel immune-based therapies and combination approaches that eliminate established cancers in adults or to prevent cancers before they occur. Specifically, this FOA targets the following area designated as scientific priority by the Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP): Recommendation B. Create a translational science network devoted exclusively to immunotherapy approaches to treat and prevent adult cancers. The purpose of this FOA is to expand organ site-specific Cancer Immunotherapy Research Projects as components of the Immuno-Oncology Translation Network (IOTN). The IOTN will form an integrated network of multi-disciplinary, collaborative teams with the overarching goals of accelerating translational research of innate and adaptive immune mechanisms that contribute to tumor progression and evaluating new or improved immunotherapeutic strategies (including combinations with standard or other therapies) resulting in durable anti-cancer responses. Studies should be largely pre-clinical involving clinically-relevant models and endpoints.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is associated with the Beau Biden Cancer MoonshotSM Initiative that is intended to accelerate cancer research. Specifically, this FOA targets the following area designated as scientific priority by the Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP): Recommendation B. Create a translational science network devoted exclusively to immunotherapy approaches to treat and prevent adult cancers. The goal of the network is to foster collaborative team science approaches to accelerate the discover of new immune targets and evaluate novel immune-based therapies and combination approaches that eliminate established cancers in adults or to prevent cancers before they occur. The purpose of this FOA is to establish a Cancer Immunotherapy Consortium (CIC) composed of organ site-specific Cancer Immunotherapy Research Projects as a component of the Immuno-Oncology Translation Network (IOTN). The CIC will form an integrated network of multi-disciplinary, collaborative teams with the overarching goals of accelerating translational research of innate and adaptive immune mechanisms that contribute to tumor progression, and evaluating new or improved immunotherapeutic strategies (including combinations with standard or other therapies) resulting in durable anti-cancer responses. Studies should be largely pre-clinical involving clinically-relevant models and endpoints.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is associated with the Beau Biden Cancer MoonshotSM Initiative that is intended to accelerate cancer research. Specifically, this FOA targets the following area designated as scientific priority by the Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP): Recommendation B. Create a translational science network devoted exclusively to immunotherapy approaches to treat and prevent adult cancers. The goal of the network is to foster collaborative team science approaches to accelerate the discover of new immune targets and evaluate novel immune-based therapies and combination approaches that eliminate established cancers in adults or to prevent cancers before they occur. The purpose of this specific FOA is to establish Cancer Immunoprevention Research Projects that will function as components of a Cancer Immunotherapy Consortium (CIC), which will also include Cancer Immunotherapy Research Projects. The CIC will form an integrated network of multi-disciplinary, collaborative teams with the overarching goals of accelerating translational research of innate and adaptive immune mechanisms that contribute to tumor initiation and progression, and evaluating new or improved immunopreventive and immunotherapeutic strategies (including combinations with standard or other therapies). Studies should be largely pre-clinical involving clinically-relevant models and endpoints, and have the potential for rapid translation into early-phase clinical applications.

The purpose of this FOA is to support improved cancer immunotherapy research projects that reduce the incidence and/or severity of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) while retaining anti-tumor efficacy. Single investigators and/or multidisciplinary teams with expertise in mechanisms of cancer immunology, immune tolerance, irAEs, autoimmunity, and/or patient characterization and selection are encouraged to propose projects that utilize appropriate model systems, clinical samples, and expertise of these research communities. The specific objectives are to generate new ideas and approaches to better understand and thereby reduce the incidence and/or severity of irAEs resulting from cancer immunotherapy.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to support research which can elucidate mechanism(s) of action by which gut microbes inhibit or enhance anti-tumor immune responses. Thus, research projects should be focused on delineating how specific microbes or their metabolites target host immune responses to prevent colitis-associated or sporadic tumor formation.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to solicit applications from investigators to participate in the HLA and KIR Region Genomics in Immune Mediated Diseases Consortium (HLARGC). This cooperative research group supports projects defining the association between variations in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA), also known as the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), and natural killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genetic regions and immune-mediated diseases, including outcomes following cell, tissue, and organ transplantation.

 This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is associated with the Beau Biden Cancer MoonshotSM Initiative that is intended to accelerate cancer research. Specifically, this FOA targets the following area designated as scientific priority by the Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP): Recommendation B. Create a translational science network devoted exclusively to immunotherapy approaches to treat and prevent adult cancers. The goal of the network is to foster collaborative team science approaches to accelerate the discovery of new immune targets and evaluate novel immune-based therapies and combination approaches that eliminate established cancers in adults or to prevent cancers before they occur. 

The foundation seeks research proposals dedicated to the following priority areas: immunotherapy for the treatment of metastatic, lethal prostate cancer; targeted radionuclide therapy for advanced prostate cancer; new systemic precision treatments for metastatic, lethal prostate cancer (including those targeting the currently "undruggable"); first-in-field research on new targets for systemic treatment of metastatic, lethal prostate cancer; mechanisms of resistance to current and investigational drugs targeting the androgen receptor and androgen axis, immune system, chemotherapy, and other targeted agents; correlative research around either clinical trials of novel agents or strategies or standard of care; the development or validation of biomarkers that can guide therapy in patients or further understanding of the mechanisms by which therapies work; tumor microenvironment signaling related to cancer progression (including the immune component); and new data science technologies for analysis of genomic information to advance precision medicine.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is associated with the Beau Biden Cancer MoonshotSM Initiative that is intended to accelerate cancer research. Specifically, this FOA targets the following area designated as scientific priority by the Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP): Recommendation B. Create a translational science network devoted exclusively to immunotherapy approaches to treat and prevent adult cancers. The goal of the network is to foster collaborative team science approaches to accelerate the discover of new immune targets and evaluate novel immune-based therapies and combination approaches that eliminate established cancers in adults or to prevent cancers before they occur.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is associated with the Beau Biden Cancer MoonshotSM Initiative that is intended to accelerate cancer research. The purpose of this FOA is to promote research to accelerate the discovery of new immune targets and evaluate novel immune-based therapies and combination approaches that eliminate established cancers in adults or to prevent cancers before they occur. Specifically, this FOA targets the following area designated as scientific priority by the Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP): Recommendation B. Create a translational science network devoted exclusively to immunotherapy approaches to treat and prevent adult cancers. The purpose of this FOA is to employ immuno-engineering principles to design more durable, widely accessible, and less toxic immunoprevention and immunotherapy strategies. The Immuno-engineering to Improve Immunotherapy (i3) Centers will be comprised of multi-disciplinary teams focused on designing and evaluating innovative engineered immunotherapy approaches and collaborating with the Immuno-Oncology Translational Network (IOTN) investigators to improve existing immunotherapeutic modalities.

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to promote the discovery of novel small molecules that may enhance the ability of the immune system to selectively recognize and attack cancer cells. These small molecules could be further developed into stand-alone immunotherapeutics or synergistic partners for existing therapies, or as chemical probes for the discovery and validation of novel targets involved in anti-tumor immunity. Investigators from multiple scientific disciplines (immuno-oncology, tumor biology, screening technology, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacology) are encouraged to establish collaborative teams to discover and develop novel small molecule immunomodulators for cancer therapy. This FOA encourages the design of research projects that utilize the following phases of discovery research: 1) assay development specifically designed for immuno-oncology targets with the intent to screen for novel small molecule compounds that show potential as either probes or drugs, or as pre-therapeutic leads; 2) screen implementation for immunomodulatory targets to identify initial screening hits (from high throughput target-focused approaches or moderate throughput phenotypic- and fragment-based approaches); 3) hit validation through secondary orthogonal and counter screening assays, and hit prioritization; and 4) hit-to-lead optimization.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is associated with the Beau Biden Cancer MoonshotSM Initiative that is intended to accelerate cancer research. Specifically, this FOA targets the following area designated as scientific priority by the Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP): Recommendation B. Create a translational science network devoted exclusively to immunotherapy approaches to treat and prevent adult cancers. The goal of the network is to foster collaborative team science approaches to accelerate the discover of new immune targets and evaluate novel immune-based therapies and combination approaches that eliminate established cancers in adults or to prevent cancers before they occur. The purpose of this FOA is to establish a Data Management and Resource-sharing Center to provide overall support for the Immuno-Oncology Translational Network (IOTN) and to integrate the research activities of the IOTN with other Cancer Moonshot Initiative programs.

This FOA will invite U01 applications in the specific area of cancer immunotherapy-related adverse events. Investigators are encouraged to submit applications that focus on mechanisms of immune reactivity/tolerance and/or autoimmune pathways that could be applied to improving immunotherapeutic approaches while simultaneously eliminating or reducing the severity of inflammatory or autoimmune responses. A related area of interest is studies designed to enhance the target specificity of immunotherapeutic reagents, to reduce or prevent irAEs. An additional synergistic focus of interest is the identification of predictive biomarkers of cancer patients at risk for developing irAEs. Understanding risk factors for developing an irAE would better inform patient stratification at the start of therapy and influence clinical monitoring. Achieving the goals of the RFA should establish a deeper understanding of the origins and activation pathways leading to inflammatory or autoimmune adverse events that currently limit the use of various immunotherapy regimens in patients.

ype 1 diabetes (T1D) results in part from the autoimmune-mediated dysfunction or destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. This funding opportunity is for projects that seek to discover ways to change the course of the disease by directly establishing tolerance. Immune responses could be engineered for tolerance induction through the manipulation of antigens, cells, or cellular microenvironments. Collaborations between T1D experts and investigators from other fields, including (but not limited to) cancer immunology and biomaterials engineering, are especially encouraged.

The Landon Foundation-AACR INNOVATOR Award for Research in Tumor Microenvironment was established to recognize the outstanding achievement of a junior faculty-level scientist working in the tumor microenvironment field, and support his or her research that, if successful, will have potential to advance knowledge on the tumor microenvironment. The goal of the grant program is to encourage junior faculty who are in the first five years of a faculty appointment (at the start of the grant term) to pursue novel tumor microenvironment research. Travel support is included to help foster interactions and collaborations among cancer scientists studying various aspects of cancer biology and to disseminate scientific knowledge about tumor microenvironment research within the field. Proposed projects may be basic, translational, clinical, or epidemiological in nature and must focus on the study of various aspects of the tumor microenvironment; including, but not limited to, the role of stroma and extracellular matrix in tumor development, angiogenesis, immunity and inflammation in the tumor microenvironment, as well as approaches to therapeutically target the tumor environment. The grant provides $100,000 over two years ($50,000 per year) for expenses related to the research project, which may include salary and benefits of the grant recipient, postdoctoral or clinical research fellows, graduate students, and/or research assistants, research/laboratory supplies, equipment, publication charges for manuscripts that pertain directly to the funded project, other research expenses, and for attendance at an AACR annual meeting, any AACR tumor microenvironment-related conference, or other AACR meeting for the purpose of participating in scholarly exchange about the funded research.

Cell-based therapies, especially immune cells, have the potential to revolutionize human healthcare in various different contexts, including cancer and personalized medicine. For example, CAR (Chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell therapy for cancer requires modification, in vitro culture and expansion of human T-cells.   Manufacturing of therapeutic cells as the end product presents major engineering challenges.  New therapies and cell-based products depend critically on the development of robust, reliable and reproducible biomanufacturing technologies.