IDCRC Newsletter: August 2024

IDCRC Profile: Monica Farley, MD

The IDCRC LG would like to congratulate Monica Farley, MD, on her upcoming retirement from Emory University. Dr. Farley’s contributions to the IDCRC are exemplary, having served as LOC co-director since the Leadership Group's inception in 2019. In this capacity, she has worked tirelessly to establish many of the LG groups we know today, including the Expert Working Groups (EWGs) and Key Function Committees (KFCs), in addition to working closely with LG leadership and DMID to establish a successful portfolio of clinical research studies for the network. 

"Dr. Farley has been an instrumental part of the IDCRC team since day one. Her excellence in terms of leadership, strategic planning, and support for IDCRC scientific efforts and team members is unsurpassed. Monica will be missed by leadership, faculty, and staff who have been fortunate to work with her over the years. We wish her all the best in her retirement," shares Jodie Dionne, MD, MSPH, LOC co-director. 

The IDCRC thanks her for her many contributions to infectious disease research and to the IDCRC network over the years. Planning is underway for a new LOC co-director, and more information will be announced soon.

We also encourage you to send Dr. Farley your well wishes. IDCRC members are invited to sign a virtual retirement card at the button below, through September 6. 

Manual of Procedures Sections

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

• Section 4: Expert Working Groups
• Section 5: Key Function Committees

Events

2024 IDWeek Conference: IDCRC Presenter Survey 

The IDCRC Collaborations and Publications KFC is collecting information on presentations by IDCRC members at the 2024 IDWeek conference. Please complete the survey at the button below to share presentation details for IDCRC presenters, including presentations that are not related to IDCRC studies. Please submit a separate response for each presentation. Responses are due September 20, 2024.

IMPAACT Network Annual Meeting

This hybrid event brings together IMPAACT Network leadership, investigators, research site staff, community advocates, and network affiliates to discuss the network's scientific agenda and explore innovative approaches to future research. Representing 47 research sites across 12 countries, the six-day meeting is filled with engaging presentations, collaborative sessions, and networking activities, providing an opportunity to share lessons learned, inspire implementation strategies, and sharpen operational best practices.

2024 National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)
Awards Gala and Silent Auction

Join NFID as they honor the inspirational public health heroes who have helped protect the lives of millions and celebrate the important work of NFID. Among the 2024 awardees are Igho Ofotokun, MD, MSc, LG Education and Training Committee chair. He is being recognized for his renowned work as a clinician-scientist combating the long-term impacts of HIV and addressing systemic inequities in research.

2025 IDCRC Annual Meeting

Save the date! Next year’s annual meeting will take place from April 30-May 1, 2025. We look forward to seeing you there. 

Date: April 30-May 1, 2025
Location: NIAID Fishers Lane Building
5601 Fishers Lane,
Rockville, MD, 20892 

News

Hepatitis B in Africa: New Tools and Progress Toward Elimination with Jodie Dionne, MD, and Michael Vinikoor, MD

Whooping cough cases more than 3 times higher than last year in return to pre-pandemic level

Although anyone can contract pertussis, infants under age one, pregnant women and immunocompromised people are at highest risk for severe illness. “In the younger kids, and especially in infants, they can have apnea, so they stop breathing. They can be hospitalized in the intensive care unit, and unfortunately, children can and have died from pertussis,” Dr. Robert Frenck, a professor of pediatrics in the division of infectious diseases at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Ohio, told ABC News. “So, these are not innocuous infections. They can be very serious, and they can be deadly.”

"Medicine as a Tool for Good" with Igho Ofotokun, MD, MSc

Training

IMPAACT Network: Early Career Investigator Program

Applications are being accepted for the next IMPAACT Early Career Investigators (ECI)! Through the program, early career investigators will build research skills and support IMPAACT's goal to improve health outcomes for infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant and postpartum people who are impacted by or living with HIV, tuberculosis, and other HIV-related conditions. Please see below for key dates and visit the ECI page of the website for more information and application instructions. 

• Applications Due: October 1, 2024 
• Anticipated Award Announcement: December 2024 
• Funding Period: December 2024–November 2026 

Mentoring Lecture Series: August 2024

Check out our August Mentoring Moment video, "How to Grow a Career (and a Life" featuring, Cindy Sears, MD, from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. 

Job Postings

Leadership Opportunity:
HIV Vaccine Clinical Research Leader,
University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry

The Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry is seeking one full-time academic faculty member at the associate professor or full professor level for a leadership position with an established preventive HIV vaccine clinical research site (HIV Vaccine Trials Network [HVTN]), which is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). 

Strong candidates will have previous experience in the conduct of vaccine clinical trials for HIV and/or COVID-19 and may have experience conducting other HIV prevention trials sponsored by NIAID. The successful candidate will also have an opportunity to participate in a clinical trials program in HIV therapeutics (Advancing Clinical Trials Globally), and/or non-HIV infectious diseases (Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Consortium), both funded by the NIAID. 

A recruitment package to support the development of an aligned independent research program will be available to qualified individuals. Clinical responsibilities will include infectious disease consultation and teaching in inpatient and outpatient settings at Strong Memorial Hospital and its affiliated AIDS Center. 

 Infectious Diseases Research Job Openings

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Fellowships and Training Opportunities  *New* 
• Genentech - Postdoctoral Fellow, Infectious Diseases & Host-Microbe Interactions, Tan Lab  *New*  
• The Marie Lab in the Department of Medicine at the University of Virginia - Senior Scientist, Division of Infectious Diseases  *New*
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Postdoctoral Research Associate- Training in the Design & Development of Infectious Disease Therapeutics  
• University of Miami - Assistant Professor of Clinical - Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases  

Visit the IDSA Career Center to browse other ID job postings.

Funding Opportunities

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

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Competitive Revision Supplements to Existing T32 Programs to Include Institutional Research Training in Data Science for Infectious and Immune Mediated Diseases  – Due September 25, 2024; January 7, 2025
This Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) solicits competitive revision applications from existing T32 recipients to support additional training slots within the NIAID Data Science Training Program (NDSTP) for pre-doctoral data science training. Applications must propose a data science training program that will include research and mentoring opportunities, as well as coursework for pre-doctoral biomedical trainees. Through this NOSI, applicants may increase the number of training slots beyond the T32 maximum allowed; the training slots proposed via this NOSI must support trainees pursuing a data science curriculum. It is anticipated that an application will propose two-three additional data science training slots and three-four awards are expected.

NIAID New Innovators Awards (DP2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – Due 30 days prior (LOI); November 11, 2024; October 10, 2025  (Full application)
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.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Advancing Research Needed to Develop a Universal Influenza Vaccine – Due January 8, 2025
The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to support research that contributes to the areas of interest outlined in “A Universal Influenza Vaccine: The Strategic Plan for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.” The proposed research should have clear relevance to the research objectives defined in the strategic plan, which encompasses three major research areas:

• Improve understanding of transmission, natural history and pathogenesis of influenza virus infection
• Characterize influenza immunity and correlates of immune protection
• Support rational design of universal influenza vaccines

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Competitive Revision Supplements to Existing T32 Programs to Include Institutional Research Training in Data Science for Infectious and Immune Mediated Diseases – Due January 8, 2025
This Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) solicits competitive revision applications from existing T32 recipients to support additional training slots within the NIAID Data Science Training Program (NDSTP) for pre-doctoral data science training. Applications must propose a data science training program that will include research and mentoring opportunities, as well as coursework for pre-doctoral biomedical trainees. Through this NOSI, applicants may increase the number of training slots beyond the T32 maximum allowed; the training slots proposed via this NOSI must support trainees pursuing a data science curriculum. It is anticipated that an application will propose 2-3 additional data science training slots and 3-4 awards are expected.

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 8, 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.

Global Infectious Disease Research Training Program (D43 Clinical Trial Optional) –Due August 7, 2026
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages joint applications for the Global Infectious Disease (GID) Research Training programs from low- and middle-income country (LMIC) and U.S. institutions. The application should propose a collaborative training program that will strengthen the capacity of a LMIC institution to conduct infectious disease research (not including HIV/AIDS).

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.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Research to Stimulate Development of Diagnostics, Therapeutics, and Vaccines for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) – Due April 6, 2027
This notice of special interest (NOSI) encourages applications which are focused on development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for herpes simplex virus (HSV). In September 2023, the NIH released the NIH Strategic Plan for HSV Research. The strategic plan focuses on four strategic priorities: HSV virology basic research, better HSV diagnostics, strategies to address HSV treatment and cure, and research to prevent HSV infection. This NOSI focuses on furthering the development of new products for prevention of HSV infection, as well as improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients living with herpes, addressing three of these four strategic priorities.

IDCRC Studies

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Communication Resources

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