Topics in the table below that are marked with an asterisk (*) have been designated as the Institute, Center or Office’s highest priority; however, applicants may apply to any of the topics.
| Challenge Topic ID |
Specific Challenge Topic |
Contact |
| 06-OD-101* |
Development of new tools and technologies to interrogate human mitochondrial function in vivo. These tools would include methods to manipulate human mitochondrial structure and activity, as well as novel imaging techniques to monitor and measure human mitochondrial function or dysfunction in healthy and diseased tissues. |
Dr. Phil Smith (NIDDK)
301-594-8816
smithp@mail.nih.gov |
| 06-OD-102 |
Characterizing metabolites of microbes as a way to analyze how changes in microbiome relate to health and disease. One of the aims of the NIH HMP is to find out how microbiome relates to health and disease. In addition to understanding the content of human microbiome, such as the microbial genes that encode the pathways of metabolites, it is important to understand the microbial metabolites both from dietary factors and endogenously produced substances and their relationship to disease. Additionally it will be important to understand how an individual’s microbiome influences the metabolites that are formed. |
Dr. Jane Peterson (NHGRI)
301-496-7531
petersoj@mail.nih.gov |
| 06-OD-103 |
High throughput methods for growing unculturable microbes by providing nutritional requirements. Growing large quantities of microorganisms that are isolated from human bodies will enable further analyses in vitro. However some microorganisms are hard to grow in vitro. Identifying and then providing nutritional requirements is a way to grow these organisms. This will allow high throughput culturing of microorganisms. There have been a small number of preliminary research efforts in this area. A more focused effort in the next two years would facilitate human microbiome research and infectious diseases research. |
Dr. Jane Peterson (NHGRI)
301-496-7531
petersoj@mail.nih.gov |
| 06-OD-104 |
Reconstituting metabolic pathways in vitro. This will provide an in vitro system to understand how microbial metabolites affect human health. |
Dr. Jane Peterson (NHGRI)
301-496-7531
petersoj@mail.nih.gov |
| 06-OD-105 |
Identification of chemical modulators of epigenetic regulators. There are a limited number of pharmacological agents available to manipulate the in vivo activity of most epigenetic modifying enzymes, effector molecules, etc. High-throughput small-molecule screening strategies targeted at specific epigenetic regulatory molecules could identify chemical reagents targeting a broad range of epigenetic regulatory molecules. These high impact reagents have the potential to transform the way epigeneticists conduct in vivo disease research. |
Dr. Olivier Blondel (NIDDK)
301-451-7334
blondelol@mail.nih.gov |
| 06-OD-106 |
Renewable affinity reagents for epigenomic research. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and related techniques are dependent upon high quality polyclonal antibodies. A major challenge is that these reagents are available in finite quantity and are non-renewable. The development of recombinant affinity reagents specific for post-transcriptional histone modifications and/or epigenetic regulatory proteins would provide a renewable supply of these high-impact reagents sufficient to allow researchers across the country to standardize their ChIP experiments using identical affinity reagents. |
Dr. John Satterlee (NIDA)
301-435-1020
satterleej@mail.nih.gov |
| 06-OD-107 |
Functional manipulation of epigenomic modifications. Epigenomic analyses can reveal interesting differences between normal and diseased cell types. However a major challenge that remains is our limited ability to manipulate epigenetic modifications at a particular gene locus to prove that an epigenetic change leads to a functional change in chromatin structure and long term gene expression potential. The adaptation of existing technologies to enable functional manipulation of epigenetic changes would be a major advance in this area and have widespread implications for improving our understanding of epigenetic regulation. |
Dr. John Satterlee (NIDA)
301-435-1020
satterleej@mail.nih.gov |
| 06-OD-108 |
In vivo Epigenetic Imaging Reagents. Although epigenomic changes appear to be important in many diseases, disease diagnosis may be quite challenging if epigenomic analysis of tissues that are not readily accessible (brain, heart, etc) is required. The development of compounds that would allow in vivo imaging of epigenetic modifying enzymes, effector molecules, epigenetic marks, etc. could lead to the development of entirely new non-invasive diagnostic strategies. |
Dr. John Satterlee (NIDA)
301-435-1020
satterleej@mail.nih.gov |
| 06-OD-109 |
3D Tissue High Throughput Screening Platforms. Engineered three-dimensional human tissue models are needed to rapidly evaluate, with high fidelity, the safety and efficacy of drug candidates in a cost-effective manner. A critical challenge is to make a modular three dimensional tissue system that can accommodate multiple tissue types compatible with high throughput screening platforms. |
Dr. Rosemarie Hunziker (NIBIB)
301-451-1609
hunzikerr@mail.nih.gov |
| 06-OD-110 |
Protein Capture Reagents. The challenge is to generate diverse small molecules that specifically or selectively recognize, bind and “capture” human proteins or that distinguish among the natural variants [splice variants, co-and post translational modifications (by glycosylation, phosphorylation, acylation, oxidation, etc.] of a single protein. |
Dr. Dan Gallahan (NCI)
301-496-8636
gallahad@mail.nih.gov |
| 06-OD-111 |
Mathematical and/or computational models of health-relevant behaviors. The challenge is to bridge mathematical and computational science with behavioral/social science and health to model changes in health relevant behaviors or social processes that occur over time. Projects could focus on individual or groups, healthy individuals or populations who later become ill, health care providers, or organizations. |
Dr. Lisa Onken (NIDA)
301-443-2235
lonken@mail.nih.gov |
| 06-OD-112 |
Novel technologies to enable simultaneous measurement of behavioral and biological variables. Existing technologies such as imaging probes, noninvasive techniques, or robotics may be adapted for this purpose. These technologies will foster interdisciplinary approaches to the analysis of the interaction between health and behavior. |
Dr. Lisa Onken (NIDA)
301-443-2235
lonken@mail.nih.gov |
| 06-OD-113 |
New technologies to measure, diagnose, or predict behavioral or psychiatric disorders. The challenge is to improve measures and/or diagnostic indicators of behavioral phenotypes that combine behavioral, emotional, cognitive, or social indices with biological markers. These tools are necessary for interdisciplinary analyses of the biological basis of behavioral/psychiatric disorders. |
Dr. Lisa Onken (NIDA)
301-443-2235
lonken@mail.nih.gov |
| 06-OD-114 |
Technology to integrate video data with large scale survey data. These technologies must protect participant confidentiality and permit qualified parties to analyze the data. These technologies will require collaboration between experts in social/behavioral sciences, information technologists, computer engineers, and videographers. |
Dr. Lisa Onken (NIDA)
301-443-2235
lonken@mail.nih.gov |
