# Adapting Immunotherapy and Gene Editing Based Strategies for Targeting HIV Reservoirs in the CNS: Potential Benefits and Risks (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/rfa-mh-21-225-adapting-immunotherapy-and-gene-editing-based-strategies-for/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/333755

> National Institutes of Health offered grants to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. Applications closed on August 27, 2021.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | RFA-MH-21-225 |
| Agency | National Institutes of Health |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | August 27, 2021 |
| Award ceiling | not stated |
| Award floor | not stated |
| Expected awards | not stated |
| Total funding | not stated |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 93.242, 93.853 |

## Who can apply

- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Other Eligible Applicants include the following: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government; Faith-based or Community-based Organizations; Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized); Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations); Regional Organizations; Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) ; U.S. Territory or Possession.

## What the grant funds

The shock and kill strategy is one of the commonly used approaches for targeting latent reservoirs in hopes to cure HIV-1. It is based on the concept of purposely inducing reactivation of latent reservoirs in ART (antiretroviral therapy)-treated individuals by using stimulatory agents. However, it has become increasingly evident that attempts at elimination of HIV-1 reservoirs through latency reactivating agents (LRA) -mediated reactivation alone may not be sufficient. Novel strategies such as immunotherapy and gene excision therapies to optimize the recognition and elimination of reservoir cells such are being conceptualized and researched. Immunotherapy strategies like therapeutic vaccines to enhance HIV-1-specific CTL (cytotoxic T-cell) response, Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cells (CAR-T cells) therapies, broadly neutralizing antibodies, dual-affinity retargeting antibodies that not only bind to HIV-1 viral envelope antigen but also activate the CTL response, and immune modulators, such as anti-PD1 (programmed cell death protein-1) or anti-CTL4 antibodies, to correct the immune exhaustion noticed in ART-treated individuals are being developed. In addition to immunotherapy strategies, Recombinant TALEN or CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing molecules delivered to latently infected cells designed to induce cleavage at highly conserved regions of the integrated HIV provirus genome are being researched. However, majority of immunotherapy-based and gene editing based HIV eradication strategies are focused on the periphery. The brain presents a unique challenge where access is difficult and innovative strategies are needed to overcome the blood brain barrier. It is also important to understand the potential CNS toxicity of immunotherapy-based and gene-editing based approaches currently being tested in clinical trials

## Questions people ask

### Is RFA-MH-21-225 still open?

No. It closed on August 27, 2021.

### Who can apply for Adapting Immunotherapy and Gene Editing Based Strategies for Targeting HIV Reservoirs in the CNS: Potential Benefits and Risks (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)?

National Institutes of Health accepted applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Adapting Immunotherapy and Gene Editing Based Strategies for Targeting HIV Reservoirs in the CNS: Potential Benefits and Risks (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)?

Closed August 27, 2021. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### Who has been funded under RFA-MH-21-225?

NIH RePORTER lists 3 projects funded under RFA-MH-21-225 in fiscal 2022 to 2026, at 3 institutions. The most were at Texas Biomedical Research Institute, University of Minnesota, Henry M. Jackson FDN for the Adv Mil/Med.

### Who has won Mental Health Research Grants grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Yale Univ, University of Pittsburgh - of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, University of California, Los Angeles. The program made 6,785 awards worth $8.8 billion in that time.