Understanding Mechanisms and Outcomes of Trained Immunity (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has announced a funding opportunity titled "Understanding Mechanisms and Outcomes of Trained Immunity (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" under the activity code R01 Research Project Grant. This funding opportunity supports projects that investigate basic mechanisms, biomarkers, and functional implications of trained immunity. Trained immunity refers to a form of immune memory within the innate immune system. This initiative seeks to explore its influence on immune system development, vaccine responses, natural infections, and immune-mediated diseases including allergies, autoimmunity, and transplant rejection. The grant supports research into various foundational aspects of trained immunity, such as identifying new biomarkers, understanding molecular and cellular mechanisms, and characterizing functional outcomes. The emphasis is on basic research, with a strong expectation of descriptive studies backed by preliminary data. Projects proposing antigen-specific immune memory studies unrelated to trained immunity, clinical trials, or studies on HIV/AIDS will not be considered responsive. The maximum project period is five years, and while there are no budget limits, the proposed budget must reflect the actual project needs. Eligible applicants include a wide array of institutions and organizations, both domestic and foreign, including public and private higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profits, government entities at various levels, tribal organizations, and more. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) organizations and foreign components of U.S. entities are also eligible. All applicants must complete several registrations, including SAM, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov, before submission. Applications must be submitted electronically using NIH ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system solutions. A letter of intent is due 30 days prior to each standard due date. Application due dates are June 5 and October 5 for the years 2024 through 2026. Applicants are advised to submit early to address any submission errors promptly. The new expiration date for this funding opportunity is May 24, 2025. Applications will undergo a peer review process evaluating their significance, innovation, approach, investigator qualifications, and research environment. Additional criteria include the project’s relevance to trained immunity, protection of human subjects, inclusion of diverse populations, and compliance with data sharing policies. Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award and must adhere to NIH’s administrative and policy requirements. For questions, applicants can contact Ari Joffe, Ph.D. (scientific inquiries) or Tamia Powell (financial inquiries).