Mechanisms of Graft Acceptance in Clinical Islet Transplantation

The goal of this funding opportunity is to expand the understanding of mechanisms contributing to long term survival/function and immune tolerance toward islet grafts following transplantation in type 1 diabetes (T1D) using existing clinical datasets.

Breakthrough T1D aims to fill critical gaps in the understanding of mechanisms contributing to graft acceptance and immune tolerance in islet transplantation. While graft survival rates have improved with more refined immune suppression strategies, islet procurement, and surgical procedures, there is still significant heterogeneity in the therapeutic outcomes for islet transplant recipients. While the alloimmune response is likely to drive rejection in many cases, the interactions between islet graft and host immune system are not fully characterized, particularly in the context of successful islet transplants.

Funding Information

• This initiative will award grants to academic investigators and industry partners of up to $750,000.00 over 2 years.
• Letters of Intent (LOI) can be submitted under the following mechanism(s):
  • Strategic Research Agreements (SRAs):
    • Strategic Research Agreements are intended for support of research activities at non-for profit entities such as academic institutions. For SRAs, proposed budgets for projects should not exceed $750,000.00 USD (including 10% indirect costs) total costs for up to two (2) years. The level of funding will vary depending on the scope, data available, need to
    • perform additional laboratory assays, access to samples, degree of data analysis to be performed, and overall objectives of the proposal.
  • Industry Discovery and Development Partnerships (IDDPs):
    • For-profit entities may apply under Breakthrough T1D’s Industry Discovery & Development Partnership (IDDP) funding mechanism, which entails additional requirements and typically has a modest royalty payback to Breakthrough T1D.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign non-profit organization, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals and laboratories, units of state and local governments and eligible agencies of the federal government, for-profit entities, or industry collaborations with academia. Applicants must hold an M.D., D.M.D., D.V.M., Ph.D., or equivalent and have a faculty position or equivalent at a college, university, medical school, or other research facility.
• Please note that applications from for-profit entities or industry collaborations with academia may be submitted in response to this RFA. Additional information will be requested from for-profit entities if invited to submit a full proposal.
• There are no citizenship requirements for this program. To assure continued excellence and diversity among applicants and awardees, Breakthrough T1D welcomes applications from all qualified individuals and encourages applications from persons with disabilities, women, and members of minority groups underrepresented in the sciences.

For more information, visit Breakthrough T1D.