RFAs: Development of Interventions to Modulate Immune Cell Trafficking in T1D

JDRF, the world’s leading non-profit organization with the mission to improve the lives of people with T1D by accelerating breakthroughs for T1D, aims to catalyze and support innovative studies that enhance beta cell health and function. A potential therapeutic strategy to stop the immune mediated destruction of beta cells is to limit immune trafficking to the islets, however this approach has not been extensively evaluated in human-relevant models. The identification and validation of novel strategies to target islet homing pathways while avoiding broad immunosuppression is of high interest for this funding opportunity.

Funding Information

• This program will award grants of up to $900k over 3 years. The level of funding will vary depending on the scope and overall objectives of the proposal. JDRF may consider applications with increased scope (time and/or budget) where there is a strong justification.
• In response to this announcement, LOI’s can be submitted to JDRF’s Strategic Research Agreement (SRA) or Industry Discovery and Development Program (IDDP) grant mechanisms:
  • Strategic Research Agreements
    • SRA application may include up to 10% indirect costs as part of the $900K.
  • Industry Development and Discovery Program
    • For IDDP applications, applicants are required to contact the JDRF scientific contact prior to submitting a LOI.
    • IDDP applications do not permit indirect costs.

Project Eligibility

• Examples of proposals that would be considered under this call include, but are not limited to:
  • Development or validation of reagents that target receptors (e.g., chemokines receptors, sphingolipids receptors, etc.) or adhesion molecules involved in the trafficking of proinflammatory and/or autoreactive immune cells to the pancreas. Approaches that have been previously tested in T1D must be incremental and evaluated at the next stage of development.
  • Realignment of mechanisms and clinical grade reagents involved in cell trafficking validated in other diseases for assessment in T1D.
• Priority will be given to approaches that:
  • Propose methods of targeting cell trafficking while avoiding broad immunosuppression. Validation of reagents in T1D that have been clinically evaluated in other disease indications.
  • Projects that include research protocols utilizing human samples or human relevant model systems.
• Out of Scope for this request:
  • Studies focused solely on broad phenotyping of knockout or transgenic models that do not directly measure T1D outcomes, or onset.
  • Studies focused solely on the broad characterization of trafficking targets from large datasets.
  • Projects seeking to test reagents that target pathways not involved in immune cell migration.

Eligibility Criteria

• They welcome Letters of Intent (LOI) from investigators, established teams, organizations, and industry with demonstrated expertise appropriate to the tasks.
• Examples of demonstrated expertise desired: immunology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, human beta cell biology, targeting reagent generation (antibodies, oligonucleotides, nanomedicines, small molecule inhibitors, etc.), expertise with animal models to assess migratory inhibition with an emphasis on drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics.
• Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign non-profit organizations, public and private entities, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of state and local governments, and eligible agencies of the federal government. 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.
• There are no citizenship requirements for this program. To assure continued excellence and diversity among applicants and awardees, JDRF 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 JDRF.