Discovery and Optimization of Immunotherapeutics and Biological Therapeutics – DCAI (82)
The Discovery and Optimization of Immunotherapeutics and Biological Therapeutics (DCAI (82)) study section reviews grant applications focused on the discovery, development and optimization of immunotherapies and biological therapeutics to combat bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral (excluding HIV) infectious diseases. It considers applications using biochemical, pharmacological, structural, cell-based, and animal model approaches.
Review Dates
Topics
- Discovery and early-stage optimization of host-targeting macromolecules, systemic and local antibodies, and living/replicating agents (phages, engineered bacteria, probiotic yeast/fungi, and virus-based therapeutics.
- Discovery of novel agents for host-directed therapies, including immunotherapies, to counter infections.
Shared Interests and Overlaps
There are substantial shared interests in early-stage drug characterization with Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology A (DMPA). Applications that focus on the discovery of novel immunotherapies and biological therapeutics may be reviewed in DCAI (82), whereas applications that focus on the discovery of other agents are reviewed in DMPA.
There are shared interests in early-stage drug characterization with Infectious Disease Drug Development and Molecular Pharmacology [DCAI (81)]. Applications that focus on the optimization of immunotherapies and biological therapeutics may be reviewed in DCAI (82), whereas applications that focus on the optimization of other agents may be reviewed in DCAI (81).
There are shared interests in drug development with Advancing Therapeutics B (ATB). Applications that emphasize late-stage drug development efforts such as diversification, optimization and preclinical toxicity and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies may be reviewed in ATB. Applications that emphasize early-stage drug optimization and characterization of mechanism of action may be reviewed in DCAI (82).
There are shared interests with the Molecular and Structural Immunology (MSI) in antibody analyses. Applications that focus on antibodies as potential therapeutics may be reviewed in DCAI (82). Applications addressing all other aspects of immune responses may be reviewed in MSI.
