IDCRC Newsletter: May 2024

IDCRC Profile: James (Jim) Campbell, MD, MS

2024 Annual Meeting

A Look Back at the 2024 Annual Meeting

From May 1 to May 2, the IDCRC hosted their Annual Meeting at the NIAID Fishers Lane Conference Center in Rockville, Maryland. Over 200 in-person and online attendees from across the Leadership Group (LG), Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units (VTEU), and NIAID’s Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (DMID), came together over two days with a robust scientific agenda aimed at reviewing progress, hearing updates from NIAID leadership, scientific presentations, and facilitating strategic discussions among IDCRC interest groups on a variety of topics. 

"Our annual IDCRC meeting in 2024 was another success for this group. It is invigorating to meet in person, to hear exciting scientific advances presented by early-stage and senior investigators in our network, and to discuss how to address NIH/NIAID scientific priorities. We have already heard from many of you that networking opportunities and discussions with IDCRC members and NIH/NIAID were meeting highlights. We fully agree. Thanks to all for making the 2024 IDCRC meeting such a big success!” —Jodie Dionne, MD, MSPH, IDCRC LOC co-director and Annual Meeting facilitator

Click below for a full overview of the meeting, VTEU highlights, presentation recaps, and more.

Congratulations IDCRC Award Winners

Congratulations to the 2024 IDCRC award recipients! The IDCRC presents annual awards to acknowledge the work of VTEU members who have made exceptional contributions to the IDCRC and VTEU missions. Nominated by fellow VTEU/IDCRC members, this year's winners received their awards at the IDCRC reception, held during the Annual Meeting, on May 1, 2024. 

(Pictured left to right: Robert Atmar, MD; Angela Branche, MD; Angelica Cifuentes-Kottkamp, MD; Kirsten Hauge; Nadine Rouphael, MD)

Best Scientific Publication of the Year: Angela Branche, MD, associate professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and principal investigator for the University of Rochester's Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit; Nadine Rouphael, MD, professor of medicine in the Department of Medicine at Emory University and principal investigator for Emory’s Vaccine Treatment and Evaluation Unit. 

Early Career Investigator: Angelica Cifuentes-Kottkamp, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and associate director for research and diversity at the NYU Langone Vaccine Center.

Investigator of the Year: Angela Branche, MD, associate professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and principal investigator for the University of Rochester's Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit.

Leadership Group Award: Robert Atmar, MD, professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and IDCRC COU Co-Director.

Staff Star (Stellar Team Member Achieving Results) Award: Kirsten Hauge, MPH, manager of program operations, University of Washington's Virology Research Clinic.

Early Career Investigator Pilot Awards

Reminder: IDCRC RFA for Early Career Investigator Pilot Awards 

The IDCRC RFA for Early Career Investigator Pilot Awards is 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 a postdoc or in early faculty positions (instructor or assistant professor) and those who have not 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 the success of pilot research projects with funding that is limited to 12 months, 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

News

Nigeria introduces Men5CV vaccine against meningitis

In a historic move, Nigeria has become the first country in the world to roll out a new vaccine (called Men5CV) recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which protects people against five strains of the meningococcus bacteria. The vaccine and emergency vaccination activities are funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which funds the global meningitis vaccine stockpile and supports lower-income countries with routine vaccination against meningitis.  

In July 2023, WHO prequalified the new Men5CV vaccine (which has the brand name MenFive®) and in October 2023 issued an official recommendation to countries to introduce the new vaccine. This recommendation is based partly on positive interim results from a trial run by the Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Consortium (IDCRC). 

IDCRC members elected as Fellows of the IDSA 

Job Postings

 Infectious Diseases Research Job Openings

• Baylor College of Medicine - Senior Research Administration Associate - Post-Award  *New*  

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - Faculty Position: Physician, Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine  *New*

• UT Southwestern - Infectious Diseases Research Scientist  *New*

• Yale Ciencia Initiative Research Associate  *New*

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

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

• 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.    

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).

Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)  – Due 30 days prior (LOI); Thursday, September 5, 2024; January 5, 2025; April 5, 2025; 2025; 2026; 2027 (Full application)
The purpose of this FOA is to foster the advancement and accelerate the growth of early-career scientists transitioning to entrepreneurship by simultaneously supporting their entrepreneurial development and the conduct of research and development under their direction.

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

Global Infectious Disease Research Administration Development Award for Low-and Middle-Income Country Institutions (G11 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – Due January 7, 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 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.

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.

IDCRC Studies

IDCRC Concept Quick Stats

Communication Resources

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