This Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) invites applications that seek to expand understanding of potential immune evasion mechanisms of tickborne pathogens that contribute to human disease and death. The intent of this NOSI is to encourage applications in the field, including from researchers in other disciplines who may have new perspectives to bring to existing gaps.

Tickborne diseases (TBDs) continue to increase in the United States and globally. To combat this rising public health burden, improved prevention strategies, diagnostics, and treatments are needed. Each of these tools may target or depend upon the human immune response to infection, and therefore understanding immune evasion by pathogens may be a critical factor in their design or utilization. 

While NIAID has a history of supporting research on the interplay between the human immune response and tickborne pathogens, many knowledge gaps remain. For example, our understanding of immune evasion in Lyme disease -- the most prevalent TBD -- remains incomplete, while it is almost nonexistent for Powassan and other newly emerging tickborne viruses. Understanding immune evasion by tickborne pathogens is a critical area of study to combat the rising public health burden of TBDs.

The purpose of the NOSI is to solicit applications proposing research that elucidates mechanisms of immune evasion among tickborne human pathogens. This includes research on translational interventions targeting those mechanisms for improved vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic tests. Of particular interest are mechanisms -- and corresponding interventions -- that are applicable across strains and species. Additionally, we encourage the use of new or established animal models and/or human clinical samples.

This notice applies to application receipt dates on or after October 5, 2023 and subsequent receipt dates through July 16, 2026.

NOT-AI-23-053