IDCRC Newsletter: November 2022

News

Vaccine Candidates for RSV Ward Off Severe Illness in Older Adults

Currently, no vaccines exist to protect against RSV infection. According to data from the CDC, an estimated 177,000 older adults in the U.S. were hospitalized due to RSV infections in 2017 alone, and 14,000 died.

"For someone that's been working in the field for a very long time, I could not be more excited about the advances we're seeing, particularly with the respiratory syncytial virus vaccines," said session moderator Kathleen Neuzil, MD, of the University of Maryland in Baltimore, introducing the anticipated trials.

Yes, adults can get RSV and it can be severe

However, it’s a common misconception that RSV is a mild respiratory illness in adults when, in fact, it can lead to symptoms as serious as those of influenza. A Baylor College of Medicine infectious diseases expert explains.

According to Dr. Robert Atmar, professor of infectious diseases at Baylor, the consequences of lower respiratory tract illnesses such as RSV can be severe, particularly for adults over 65 and those who have chronic underlying lung disease, heart disease or diabetes. “One of the reasons that persons with these diseases are at higher risk is because of the underlying disease – the function of the heart, lungs and immune system are already compromised and less able to handle the stress associated with the infection,” he said.

Training

Mentee Profile:  Katia Bruxvoort

Assistant Professor, Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Dr. Bruxvoort is interested in clinical and epidemiologic studies of vaccines, chemoprevention, and other interventions to prevent infectious diseases. Her research includes work on vaccine safety and effectiveness, malaria, and COVID-19.

Mentoring Lecture Archive

Social Media
Presenters: Jill Weatherhead, MD, PhD, CTropMed, FAAP, Baylor College of Medicine; Anna Kiappes, Social Media Manager, Baylor College of Medicine.

NIH Grants Conference for Early Career Scientists

• NIH Grants Conference, February 1-2, 2023

Event

   Join us for the 2023 IDCRC Annual Meeting

Date: April 25-26, 2023
Location: In-person
NIH Main Campus
Bldg. 35A
Rockville, MD
*Virtual components will be incorporated*

Job Postings

• Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

• Faculty Position, Pediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases

• University of Rochester Infectious Diseases Division Faculty position:  HIV vaccine clinical trials

• Joint ID/EIS Fellowship

• Laboratory Assistant – Freezer Management (3 Month Position)– Chahroudi Lab

• Post-doctoral Fellow - HIV Cure- Chahroudi Lab

• Postdoctoral Fellow - HIV/SIV persistence and cure – Chahroudi Lab

• Senior Medical Science Liaison – Immunology

• Southern Research Available Positions in Birmingham, AL

Visit the IDSA Career Center to browse over 200 ID/HIV Medicine job postings.

Funding Opportunities

NIH Funding Opportunities Specific to COVID-19
This page contains a listing of active and expired funding opportunities.   

Identifying Host Cell Death Pathway Targets for Host-Directed Therapies for Treatment of Mtb & Mtb/HIV Co-Infection (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – Due December 7
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to support mechanistic studies on host cell death pathways and their effect on immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and Mtb/HIV co-infection to identify immune targets for the development of host-directed therapies.

Long COVID Computational Challenge (L3C) – Due December 15
To complement the National Institutes of Health (NIH) other Long COVID research initiatives, the RADx-Radical (RADx-rad) program at the NIH is launching the Long COVID Computational Challenge (L3C) designed to support creative data-driven solutions that meaningfully advance the current understanding of the risks of developing PASC/Long COVID. Join the challenge to develop, train, and test models to aid in predicting the susceptibility to and likelihood of developing PASC/Long COVID in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI): RNA vaccine platform technologies and vaccine library development against emerging and select endemic infectious diseases – Focus area 2 - Due December 30
The purpose of this FOA is to accelerate the early development of novel RNA vaccine platform technologies based on potentially high-impact innovations that could facilitate rapid response to future pathogens of epidemic and pandemic threat, and/or increase access for diverse populations and geographies.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Opportunities for HIV Cure Interventions at the Time of ART Initiation – Due January 7
The purpose of this NOSI is to identify new opportunities for cure interventions administered during active HIV infection at or near the start of antiretroviral therapy (ART) or as a potential replacement for conventional ART, with the ultimate goal of achieving a sustained ART-free HIV remission.

Catalyst Award for Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs) Pursuing Research on HIV Comorbidities, Coinfections, and Complications (DP1- Clinical Trial Optional) – Due 30 days prior (LOI); May 1, 2023; 2024; 2025
The purpose of this FOA is to support research from creative early-stage investigators who propose highly innovative, pioneering studies with potential to open new areas of HIV/AIDS research related to coinfections, comorbidities, and complications. 

IDCRC Studies

IDCRC Concept Quick Stats

NOTE:

• Protocols Transitioned to IDCRC for Protocol Implementation: 5
• Status: Protocol Dev/Pre-implementation: 1; Active Study: 3; Halted 1
• Other studies in process (not from an IDCRC concept): 5

Communication Resources

Please submit IDCRC news to epthomp@emory.edu for inclusion in the monthly newsletter and IDCRC.org.