IDCRC Newsletter: April 2024

2024 IDCRC Annual Meeting starts this Wednesday!

The IDCRC 2024 Annual Meeting is just two days away! We look forward to seeing many of our Leadership Group, VTEU members, and DMID colleagues for our two-day meeting. This year's robust program will highlight the numerous scientific accomplishments of the IDCRC and VTEUs and provide ample networking opportunities for members. 

Meeting Overview:

• Date: May 1-2, 2024
• Location: Hybrid: In-person and Virtual
  5601 Fishers Lane,
  Rockville, MD, 20892 
• Program of Events: View final agenda HERE

Click the button below to visit our website for additional details about the meeting!

Spotlight: Vanderbilt University - IDCRC Site Visit

The IDCRC Leadership Group (LG) continues their Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit (VTEU) site visits. On February 29, 2024, the IDCRC PIs, David Stephens, MD, Kathy Neuzil, MD, and the Clinical Operations Unit (COU) co-director, Robert Atmar, MD, were hosted by Buddy Creech, MD, MPH, director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program, which was formed in 2001 to conduct clinical and translational vaccine research.

“We were thrilled to host David, Kathy, and Robert in Nashville. The VTEU has been a cornerstone of research in the department since the 1970s and we enjoyed being able to showcase our past, our current projects, and what we hope we can accomplish in the future,” says Dr. Creech.

The Leadership Group thanks the Vanderbilt VTEU again for their hospitality and looks forward to visiting again soon.

Thank you!

As Kathy Neuzil, MD, IDCRC LG Chair, transitions into her new role as Fogarty International Center and NIH associate director for international research, the IDCRC LG would like to take the opportunity to thank her for her commitment and exemplary service to executing the IDCRC, VTEU, and NIAID mission. Her impact on this network, as a founding leader, will be long-lasting, and we look forward to seeing her continue this work in her new role!

Event

2024 Annual Conference on Vaccinology Research

The Annual Conference on Vaccinology Research brings together the diverse disciplines involved in vaccine research, development, implementation, and real-world evaluation. By drawing upon an international audience of scientists and researchers, healthcare professionals, manufacturers, and public health officials, the conference is designed to facilitate the exchange of ideas across a broad range of disciplines, addressing challenges and breakthroughs in vaccinology.

We're proud to share that several of our IDCRC VTEU investigators and current/former IDCRC team members are involved. The Women Leaders in Vaccinology Panel Discussion taking place on May 9 from 10-11 a.m. EDT will feature, Kathy Neuzil, MD, (moderator), Nadine Rouphael, MD, and Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH, as speakers. 

Registration is free with code: 24ACVRNEXTGEN. Click below to save your spot.

Early Career Investigator Pilot Awards

Request for Applications: IDCRC 2024 Pilot Awards

The IDCRC RFA for Early Career Investigator Pilot Awards is now live! Mentored Pilot Research Project awards (similar to K08, K23 and K99 awards) provide one year of funding to support research projects and career development activities that will enhance the applicant’s ability to compete successfully for an independent R- or K-series award. The projects can address a variety of topics, including vaccinology, therapeutics, laboratory studies, and statistics. Scientists (MD, PhD, or equivalent) nearing completion of postdoc or in early faculty positions (instructor or assistant professor) and those whom not have served as principal investigator (PI) or MPI on an R-grant (other than an R03) with NIH are eligible. Please review the RFA for additional eligibility information. To maximize success of pilot research projects with funding that is limited to a 12-month period, we strongly encourage the submission of pilot proposals that utilize existing data and/or samples that have IRB clearance for the intended use. 

Abstract due date: May 31, 2024
Application due date: August 2, 2024

Manual of Procedures Sections

View recently approved DCRC Manual of Procedures (MOP) sections which describe structure, operating policies, roles, and responsibilities of entities and individuals within the unit/consortium:

• Section 21: Publications Requirements and Procedures 

News

Igho Ofotokun receives 2024 Maxwell Finland Award
for Scientific Achievement 

"He is an outstanding academic leader and researcher, a truly exceptional mentor, a respected clinician, and a valuable addition to an increasingly diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce in infectious diseases," said Kathryn M. Edwards, MD, of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, in nominating Ofotokun.

Robert Atmar recognized for his contributions to clinical research 

Carlos del Rio receives Emory Medal

Rotavirus: Then and Now 

It is virtually impossible to discuss the current state of rotavirus in the U.S. without understanding the full impact the virus had on children and healthcare systems before vaccines became available. According to the CDC, in the pre-vaccine era among U.S. children less than age five, rotavirus annually led to:

• More than 400,000 doctor visits
• Over 200,000 emergency room visits
• 55,000 to 70,000 hospitalizations
• 20 to 60 deaths

"Routinely, during the winter months we would have the hospitals filled with kids with rotavirus," who needed treatment for dehydration, Robert Frenck, MD, a pediatrician and director of the Center for Vaccine Research at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, commented to MedPage Today.

Training

Mentoring Lecture Series

IDCRC April Lecture Series: DSMB with Kathy Edwards

Presenter: Kathy Edwards, MD, Vanderbilt University

Job Postings

 Infectious Diseases Research Job Openings

• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) - Associate Director for High Containment – Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick  *New*

• Rutgers University - Instructor/Assistant Professor, Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases - Rutgers University  *New*

• University of Washington - Assistant Professor without Tenure, Department of Pediatrics, The Center for Global Infectious Disease Research  *New*

• University of Wisconsin School of Medicine - Clinical Research Project Coordinator  *New*

• Wake Forest University School of Medicine - Senior Manager, Clinical Research, Infectious Disease  *New*

• Henry Ford Health System - Clinical Study Coordinator- Full time- Infectious Disease  

• Kaiser Permanente WA Health Research Institute - Assistant, Associate or Senior Scientific Investigator in Vaccines & Infectious Disease  

• Joint ID/EIS Fellowship

Visit the IDSA Career Center to browse other 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.    

Pulmonary Outcomes and Sequelae after Treatment-TB (POST-TB) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) –  Due May 7, 2024; Due September 7, 2024
The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to support applications for epidemiological and observational research projects on the long-term cardiopulmonary sequelae following treatment for tuberculosis (TB). Investigators should propose additional testing and data collection in existing cohorts of adult and/or pediatric TB participants to better characterize and understand adverse outcomes and morbidity associated with TB disease post treatment in individuals with and without HIV infection.

NIAID Investigator Initiated Program Project Applications (P01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – Due June 8, 2024; 2025
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites submission of investigator-initiated Program Project (P01) applications. The proposed programs should address scientific areas relevant to the NIAID mission including: biology and pathogenesis of infectious microbes, including HIV; host-microbe interactions; mechanisms regulating immune system development and function across the lifespan, and in response to infectious pathogens; immune dysfunction resulting in allergy, asthma, autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, or transplant rejection; and translational research to develop vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics to prevent and treat infectious and immune-mediated diseases. Each P01 application submitted to this FOA must include at least two related, synergistic research projects that share a common central theme, focus, and/or overall objective; and an administrative core. A P01 may include scientific cores, if needed for the proposed research.

Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID) Network Coordination Center (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – Due 30 days prior (LOI); Thursday, June 21 (Full application)
The purpose of this FOA is to expand knowledge on re-emerging and emerging infectious diseases (re/EIDs) around the globe where outbreaks are most likely to occur while developing expertise, capacity, and readiness to address outbreak-related research. 

Center of Excellence for Systems Modeling of Infection and Immunity across Biological Scales (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)  – Due 30 days prior (LOI); Tuesday, July 30 (Full application)
The purpose of this FOA is to support the establishment of one (1) Center of Excellence (CoE) to coordinate the research community of infectious and immune-mediated disease (IID) computational modelers and advance IID modeling research across biological scales. 

International Research in Infectious Diseases (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – Due August 2, 2024; 2025
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to support applications for high-priority, regionally relevant infectious diseases research by international investigators in resource-constrained countries. Applicant organizations must be headquartered in foreign (non-U.S.) resource-constrained countries (i.e. low-income economies, lower-middle-income economies, and upper-middle-income economies by World Bank Classification).

NIAID New Innovators Awards (DP2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – Due 30 days prior (LOI); November 11, 2024; October 10, 2025  (Full app)
The NIAID New Innovator Award supports postdoctoral and other candidates in non-independent positions or newly independent Early Stage Investigators of exceptional creativity who propose novel, original and insightful research concepts with the potential to produce a major impact, test scientific paradigms, or advance key concepts on broad, important problems in biomedical research of priority to NIAID. Applications proposing unexpected convergence of disciplines, new scientific directions, or the use of novel methodologies are encouraged. Applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds and in any topic relevant to the mission of NIAID are welcome.

Global Infectious Disease Research Administration Development Award for Low-and Middle-Income Country Institutions (G11 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – Due January 07, 2026
The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to invite applications from research institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to provide senior administrators from these institutions with advanced training in the management of NIH grants. The goal is to improve oversight of NIAID grant awards and compliance with NIH funding policies and Federal research funding requirements for NIAID-supported foreign institutions in LMICs.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Halting Tuberculosis (TB) Transmission – Due March 13, 2025; 2026
The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to highlight NIAID’s interest in accepting applications that aim to understand the critical drivers of Tuberculosis (TB) transmission at the individual and population levels in high-burden settings. Applicants are encouraged to develop effective methods to measure rates of TB transmission that rely on an increased understanding of the biomedical basis of transmission and related risk factors and to develop and assess potential interventions, including low-cost and low-tech options, to prevent TB transmission.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Complement in Fundamental Immunology – Due January 08, 2026
The main objective of this program is to support studies that accelerate our understanding of the roles of complement components and/or receptors in the initiation, magnitude, maintenance, and quality of immune responses involved in pathogenic infections, vaccination, post-infection sequelae, autoimmunity, allergy, or transplantation. The results of such studies will inform the development of vaccines or therapeutics that target complement components. The work to be encouraged includes studies of the roles of complement components (molecules and/or receptors) during immune responses.

Advancing Research Needed to Develop a Coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever) Vaccine –Due January 15, 2026
The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to highlight NIAID’s interest in supporting research in the areas outlined in the  NIAID Strategic Plan For Research To Develop A Valley Fever Vaccine. The proposed research should have clear relevance to the strategic priorities defined in the strategic plan, which encompasses three major research areas: 1) address gaps in Coccidioides basic research to support the development of a vaccine; 2) develop tools and resources to support vaccine development; 3) develop and advance vaccines to prevent coccidioidomycosis.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Using Targeted Degradation of Protein and non-Protein Targets for the Development of Novel Anti-Infectives – Due July 17, 2026
The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to invite applications for research on the use of targeted protein and nonprotein degradation (e.g., RNA) as it relates to the development of anti-infective strategies against viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal pathogens and/or their toxins (e.g., Lethal and Edema Toxins of Bacillus anthracis). Both novel monofunctional (e.g., Molecular Glues) and hetero-bi/tri-functional (e.g., PROTAC or PROTAC-like) strategies will be considered.

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