2223139
Cooperative Agreement
Overview
Grant Description
Sbir Phase II: Using a Novel RNA Therapy to Immunize Trees and Vines Against Deadly Bacteria -The Broader Impact/Commercial Potential of This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II Project Is to Develop the First Small RNA-Based Immunization Approach for Several Deadly Plant Diseases Including Xylella Fastidiosa (XF) in Grapevines.
XF Diseases Include (1) Olive Quick Decline Syndrome, Which Is Currently Threatening the Entire Southern European Olive Industry and Killing Trees That Are Over 1,000 Years Old; (2) Pierce's Disease, Which Has Severely Damaged Southern California Vineyards; and (3) Citrus Variegated Chlorosis, Which Is One of Several Diseases Threatening the Citrus Industry.
In Addition, the Project Seeks to Develop a Proof-of-Concept Inoculations Against Several Other of the Most Impactful Viral and Fungal Diseases Affect Grapevines in the United States. A Single Inoculation Can Potentially Provide Lifetime Protection Against Multiple Pathogens While Not Harming the Tree.
In the Absence of Treatment, in a Few Decades, Citrus, Olive, and Many Other Valuable Crops That Produce Food for Millions of People May Cease to Exist Outside of Insect-Protective Structures Like Greenhouses.
The Technology Being Scaled-Up Is Based on a Novel Infectious RNA That Can Be Used as a Delivery Vehicle for Anti-Pathogenic Agents. The Proposed Project Has 4 Key Goals: (1) Optimizing Sirnas Against XF and Further Improving the Inoculation Process for Grapevine Crops; (2) Targeting XF in Grapevine Crops; (3) Targeting Grapevine Red Blotch Virus; (4) Targeting Downy Mildew of Grape Caused by Plasmopara Viticola Fungus.
Efficacy Will Be Demonstrated in Separate Trials for Each Pathogen, Ultimately Laying the Foundation for a Single Integrated Product That Would Be Able to Protect Grapevines Against Multiple Deadly Pathogens. This Technology Seeks to Build on Validations in the Model Plant N. Bethamiana by Scaling Up to a Full Demonstration of Efficacy in Grapevines.
Once Efficacy Is Demonstrated, Then Field Trials Will Be Conducted. This Award Reflects NSF's Statutory Mission and Has Been Deemed Worthy of Support Through Evaluation Using the Foundation's Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts Review Criteria.
- Subawards Are Not Planned for This Award.
XF Diseases Include (1) Olive Quick Decline Syndrome, Which Is Currently Threatening the Entire Southern European Olive Industry and Killing Trees That Are Over 1,000 Years Old; (2) Pierce's Disease, Which Has Severely Damaged Southern California Vineyards; and (3) Citrus Variegated Chlorosis, Which Is One of Several Diseases Threatening the Citrus Industry.
In Addition, the Project Seeks to Develop a Proof-of-Concept Inoculations Against Several Other of the Most Impactful Viral and Fungal Diseases Affect Grapevines in the United States. A Single Inoculation Can Potentially Provide Lifetime Protection Against Multiple Pathogens While Not Harming the Tree.
In the Absence of Treatment, in a Few Decades, Citrus, Olive, and Many Other Valuable Crops That Produce Food for Millions of People May Cease to Exist Outside of Insect-Protective Structures Like Greenhouses.
The Technology Being Scaled-Up Is Based on a Novel Infectious RNA That Can Be Used as a Delivery Vehicle for Anti-Pathogenic Agents. The Proposed Project Has 4 Key Goals: (1) Optimizing Sirnas Against XF and Further Improving the Inoculation Process for Grapevine Crops; (2) Targeting XF in Grapevine Crops; (3) Targeting Grapevine Red Blotch Virus; (4) Targeting Downy Mildew of Grape Caused by Plasmopara Viticola Fungus.
Efficacy Will Be Demonstrated in Separate Trials for Each Pathogen, Ultimately Laying the Foundation for a Single Integrated Product That Would Be Able to Protect Grapevines Against Multiple Deadly Pathogens. This Technology Seeks to Build on Validations in the Model Plant N. Bethamiana by Scaling Up to a Full Demonstration of Efficacy in Grapevines.
Once Efficacy Is Demonstrated, Then Field Trials Will Be Conducted. This Award Reflects NSF's Statutory Mission and Has Been Deemed Worthy of Support Through Evaluation Using the Foundation's Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts Review Criteria.
- Subawards Are Not Planned for This Award.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "NSF SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH PHASE II (SBIR)/ SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAMS PHASE II", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF22552
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Gaithersburg,
Maryland
20877-3490
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
22-552
Silvec Biologics was awarded
Cooperative Agreement 2223139
worth $994,939
from National Science Foundation in September 2023 with work to be completed primarily in Gaithersburg Maryland United States.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years and
was awarded through assistance program 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships.
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase II
Title
SBIR Phase II:Using a novel RNA therapy to immunize trees and vines against deadly bacteria
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to develop the first small RNA-based immunization approach for several deadly plant diseases including Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) in grapevines. Xf diseases include (1) Olive Quick Decline Syndrome, which is currently threatening the entire Southern European olive industry and killing trees that are over 1,000 years old; (2) Pierce’s Disease, which has severely damaged Southern California vineyards; and (3) Citrus Variegated Chlorosis, which is one of several diseases threatening the citrus industry. In addition, the project seeks to develop a proof-of-concept inoculations against several other of the most impactful viral and fungal diseases affect grapevines in the United States. A single inoculation can potentially provide lifetime protection against multiple pathogens while not harming the tree. In the absence of treatment, in a few decades, citrus, olive, and many other valuable crops that produce food for millions of people may cease to exist outside of insect-protective structures like greenhouses. _x000D_ _x000D_ The technology being scaled-up is based on a novel infectious RNA that can be used as a delivery vehicle for anti-pathogenic agents. The proposed project has 4 key goals: (1) optimizing siRNAs against Xf and further improving the inoculation process for grapevine crops; (2) targeting Xf in grapevine crops; (3) targeting grapevine red blotch virus; (4) targeting downy mildew of grape caused by Plasmopara viticola fungus. Efficacy will be demonstrated in separate trials for each pathogen, ultimately laying the foundation for a single integrated product that would be able to protect grapevines against multiple deadly pathogens. This technology seeks to build on validations in the model plant N. bethamiana by scaling up to a full demonstration of efficacy in grapevines. Once efficacy is demonstrated, then field trials will be conducted._x000D_ _x000D_ This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Topic Code
BT
Solicitation Number
NSF 22-552
Status
(Complete)
Last Modified 9/22/23
Period of Performance
9/15/23
Start Date
8/31/25
End Date
Funding Split
$994.9K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$994.9K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2223139
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
ZH7KBVHXP1C3
Awardee CAGE
8LAV6
Performance District
MD-06
Senators
Benjamin Cardin
Chris Van Hollen
Chris Van Hollen
Budget Funding
| Federal Account | Budget Subfunction | Object Class | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research and Related Activities, National Science Foundation (049-0100) | General science and basic research | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $994,939 | 100% |
Modified: 9/22/23