The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to invite applications proposing early-phase translational research to generate new malaria vaccine candidates or monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based interventions suitable for further downstream development and clinical evaluation, particularly for Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax.
The objective of this NOSI is to invite the research community to submit applications focused on early discovery of new and improved malaria vaccine candidates or mAbs or Ab-based concepts, especially for Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax. Investigators are encouraged to submit applications focusing on “combination” vaccine concepts to improve efficacy, targeting one or more parasite antigens or antigens of the different life cycle stages (i.e., pre-erythrocytic stage, blood stage, and/or sexual stage) of the parasites. Applications addressing broadly protective vaccines against multiple strains or species of the parasites and those providing long-last efficacy are strongly encouraged. Research identifying new or improved mAbs to support immunology research, vaccine immunogen design, or further preclinical development of Ab-based interventions for prophylactic application is also encouraged. Projects focusing on improved administration, manufacturability or deployment features of the relevant product concepts are highly encouraged. The goal is to broaden the global pipeline of product candidates suitable for downstream preclinical and clinical development for malaria prevention.
The NOSI encourages research using appropriate assay systems or animal models to identify, characterize, credential and validate new protective antigens, mAbs or Ab-based constructs, or vaccine candidates. For the purposes of this NOSI, protective antigens, mAb constructs, or vaccine candidates should demonstrate appropriate functional characteristics, such as prevention of infection, disease amelioration, interruption of transmission, prevention of relapse, or other functional features, when applicable.
This notice applies to application receipt dates on or after February 5, 2025 and subsequent receipt dates through November 16, 2027.
NOT-AI-24-072