Immunobiology of Xenotransplantation (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Background
The Immunobiology of Xenotransplantation Cooperative Research Program (IXCRP) is a multi-center program dedicated to resolving immunologic and physiologic barriers to safe and efficacious xenotransplantation using preclinical pig to nonhuman primate (NHP) or human decedent models of pancreatic islet, kidney, heart, lung, or liver xenotransplantation. The program was established by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in 2005 with a co-fund for type 1 diabetes from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The program has been renewed several times, with the most recent renewal in 2020.

Grant Details
The purpose of the IXCRP is to support research in preclinical nonhuman primate (NHP) and human decedent models of porcine pancreatic islet, kidney, heart, lung, or liver xenotransplantation with the overarching goal of developing safe and effective strategies to enable clinical xenotransplantation. The research objectives must address one or more of the remaining key immunologic and physiologic barriers to achieving safe and efficacious xenotransplantation. This includes issues affecting engraftment, survival, and function of xenografts.
Research foci may include development or optimization of the models themselves, development or optimization of the immunosuppression regimen to prevent rejection and minimize toxicity, characterization and resolution of physiological and immunological barriers to long-term xenograft survival, and development or optimization of strategies to screen for and prevent pathogen transmission to recipients.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits other than institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations, small businesses, local governments, state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, Indian/Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), U.S. territory or possession entities, independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), faith-based or community-based organizations. Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply.

Period of Performance
The maximum project period is 5 years.

Grant Value
NIAID intends to commit $6.4 million in FY 2025 for the IXCRP to fund three to five (U01 and/or U19) awards. Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. As a guideline, the approximate level of funding in direct costs for similar U19 awards has been approximately $1.3 million per year.