RFA: Common Mechanisms in Autoimmunity Insight Awards Grant

The RFA: Common Mechanisms in Autoimmunity Insight Awards invites applications from researchers to explore shared mechanisms in autoimmune diseases. Funded by Breakthrough T1D, Lupus Research Alliance, and the National MS Society, this initiative focuses on proof-of-concept studies addressing common immune pathways across multiple conditions. Eligible proposals should aim to validate therapeutic targets and enhance collaborative research efforts. The program encourages innovative approaches to tackle fundamental challenges in understanding and treating autoimmune disorders.

Purpose
Breakthrough T1D, Lupus Research Alliance, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society are jointly seeking applications from investigators across autoimmune and other relevant fields to advance the understanding of autoimmunity and to obtain insights into commonalities and differences of the immune pathways that govern autoimmune processes. The purpose of the Common Mechanisms in Autoimmunity Insight Awards is to establish proof-of-concept research toward the collaborative advancement of innovative ideas and therapeutic approaches that address needs and knowledge gaps across multiple autoimmune diseases.
Background
Autoimmune disease are chronic disorders in which the immune system produces an inappropriate response against its own cells, tissues, and/or organs that results in inflammation, damage, and loss of function. Roughly 10% of the population will be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease during their lifetime, and 25% of those individuals will be diagnosed with a second autoimmune disease1. This suggests the presence of common mechanisms and overlapping disease pathogenesis, drug targets and the possibility of shared therapeutic agents or modalities. An incomplete knowledge of disease pathogenesis and heterogeneity among patients is very common in many autoimmune diseases, representing a real challenge that impact the effectiveness of clinical trial design and to predict whether a person will respond to a given treatment. To address these gaps, Breakthrough T1D, Lupus Research Alliance and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society have joined forces to establish the Common Mechanisms of Autoimmunity Initiative. By working together to co-fund research into the underlying commonalities in autoimmune diseases, this program will foster cross-discipline and research-area collaboration, combine resources and reduce redundant scientific inquiry, and accelerate the development of research toward overcoming the challenges of developing cures and therapies for multiple diseases.
Objective
Proposals are sought from academic or industry applicants for novel one-year pilot studies to investigate a mechanism underlying autoimmune disease, identify novel targets or mechanisms of autoimmune pathogenesis, validate therapeutic targets, or provide proof of concept for an innovative therapeutic strategy. Through the Insight Awards, Breakthrough TID, Lupus Research Alliance, and the National MS Society seek to co-fund projects that will obtain more specific insights into the commonalities and differences of immune pathways that govern autoimmune disease processes and lay the groundwork for bringing together investigators from across autoimmune fields and disciplines.

Eligibility

All project proposals should be relevant to multiple autoimmune diseases, two of which should be relevant to multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus (or one of its manifestations), and/or type 1 diabetes. These projects should be designed to establish a proof of concept to a future expanded collaborative study and therefore should constitute "step-one" of an ambitious endeavor.Proposals can include any project that focuses on: Establishing proof of concept for a hypothesized mechanism driving pathogenesis across multiple autoimmune diseases.Establishing proof of concept for a particular immune pathway common to multiple autoimmune diseases as a potential therapeutic target.
Critical ConsiderationsAcceptance of an Insight Award indicates agreement to attend an in-person update meeting to present data and participate in discussions to advance our understanding of mechanistic commonalities of autoimmunity. Budgets submitted should include travel costs for this meeting, not to exceed $2,500.00.Projects should be designed to provide proof-of-concept data that can be used for the downstream development of larger, multi-year collaborative projects if successful.Applicants may request budgets of up to $150K for 1 year, which includes up to 10% indirect costs.Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign non-profit organizations, public and private, 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. Please note that applications from for-profit entities or industry collaborations with academia may be submitted to this RFA; however, additional information will be requested from for-profit entities if a full application is invited.There are no citizenship requirements for this program.

Ineligibility

Proposals that will not be considered under this RFA include:Studies that do not focus on pathways or targets associated with at least two of the relevant autoimmune diseases. Studies that propose clinical trials (although studies using clinical samples are acceptable). Studies that outline experimental plans that will require longer than 1 year to complete.