The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has issued a funding opportunity (RFA-AI-24-069) to establish Centers for Accelerating Phage Therapy to Combat ESKAPE Pathogens (CAPT-CEP). The goal of this program is to develop preclinical tools, assays, and models to advance phage therapy research against antibiotic-resistant ESKAPE pathogens, including *Enterococcus faecium*, *Staphylococcus aureus*, *Klebsiella pneumoniae*, *Acinetobacter baumannii*, *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*, and *Enterobacter* species.
CAPT-CEPs will focus on preclinical research and development (R&D) necessary to create robust phage therapies, addressing the unique properties of bacteriophages, such as their proliferation in the presence of bacterial pathogens and interaction with the human immune system. The program aims to develop novel high-throughput assays, in vitro and in vivo models, and tools to understand the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of phages, optimize dosages, and identify effective delivery methods. The centers will also facilitate collaboration between academic institutions and industry to accelerate product development.
Applicants must propose at least two research projects focusing on developing assays, models, and tools to advance phage therapies. They are encouraged to build multidisciplinary teams, bringing together expertise from phage biology, bacteriology, pharmacology, immunology, computational biology, and other fields to foster innovation. Projects targeting ESKAPE pathogens and those that incorporate new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, are highly encouraged.
Each CAPT-CEP will include an Administrative Core to manage the overall center operations, data stewardship, and dissemination of resources. Up to two optional Scientific Cores may provide shared services supporting multiple research projects. An annual Development and Research Program (DRP) will fund exploratory projects and foster collaboration among early-stage investigators.
The application budget is capped at $1.2 million per year in direct costs, and the project period may extend up to five years. NIAID anticipates funding 2-3 awards. Applications are due by January 28, 2025, with the earliest project start date in December 2025.
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, small businesses, and foreign organizations. Partnerships with the private sector are encouraged to support validated product development. Clinical trials are not allowed under this funding opportunity.
