DOC《附件1：优先资助方向说明（英文）》

附件1:优先资助方向说明(英文) Scope of the Research Supported under this FOA Although highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) effectively suppresses HIV viral replication below the limit of detection in most infected individuals, a reservoir of infected cells persists.

It is now clear that these regimens alone are insufficient to cure HIV-positive individuals of their infection. While the effects of long-term HAART and the presence of persistent virus necessitate an alternative treatment strategy, many critical questions about the origin of rebound virus and the details of how viral reservoirs are established and maintained remain unanswered. This FOA will support studies in research toward a cure for HIV/AIDS including but not limited to the following areas: Investigation of the mechanisms of establishment and maintenance of HIV-1 latency at the cellular, tissue and organismal level Identification of viral reservoirs that cause rebounding of viral levels when antiretroviral therapy is stopped Design of novel virologic-, immunologic-, and cellular-based therapies for immune containment or eradication of HIV reservoirs Development of sensitive and quantitative assays, methods, or imaging techniques, that can be applied to the measurement of residual HIV reservoirs in HIV-positive individuals on effective antiretroviral therapy Identification of means to specifically re-activate HIV gene expression in latently infected cells in vivo without affecting uninfected bystander cells Studies of HIV reservoirs and persistence in individuals, including infants, children, and adolescents treated very early after infection. Studies with a focus on central nervous system HIV reservoirs such as macrophages, microglial cells, and astrocytes with and without substance abuse. Studies to help understand the impact on HIV reservoirs of anticancer treatments in patients with both HIV and cancer. Studies on how approaches such as bone marrow transplants used in cancer therapy impact latent HIV reservoirs.? Studies that address the impact of either acute or chronic use of alcohol on the establishment and persistence of latent HIV infection, long-term maintenance of latency infected cells, or the dynamics of reactivation from latency. For the purposes of this FOA, a latent viral reservoir is defined as an infected cell population that allows for the indefinite persistence of replication-competent HIV-1 in patients on optimal HAART regimens. Studies that plan to utilize a non-human primate model for in vivo proof-of-concept should substitute SIV or SHIV viruses in place of HIV where applicable. ? Research involving human subjects (clinical research) is permitted under this FOA.? For the NIH definition of clinical research versus clinical trials, please see: http://funding.niaid.nih.gov/researchfunding/sci/human/pages/default.aspx. Note: both applicants and collaborating partners are expected to adhere to NIH regulations for the conduct of research involving human subjects and vertebrate animals. Since a principal goal of this program is to attract and support new ideas, a key feature of this FOA is that preliminary data, unlike as in standard R01 applications, are not required. Scope of Research or Activities NOT Supported Under this FOA Any clinical trials including clinical trials of drugs, biologics, or diagnostics Research that is NOT related to HIV or AIDS (SIV and SHIV research is allowed) Any study involving Select Agents Applications received that are not paired with a corresponding NSFC application from a Chinese collaborating investigator. Both the U.S. and Chinese applications must be determined to be eligible and responsive (in the parallel processes conducted by the NIH and NSFC) to be considered for funding under the program.?