Collaborative Development Program Applications, Due on July 1, 2019
The CHEETAH Center
Our Center for the Structural Biology of Cellular Host Elements in Egress, Trafficking, and Assembly of HIV (CHEETAH) studies HIV-Host interactions involved in viral replication, trafficking and transmission. Our studies focus on four key aspects of HIV-1 biology: 1) HIV assembly and host budding restrictions, 2) HIV transmission in whole animals and in vitro models, 3) Intracellular trafficking, transformations and restriction of the viral core, and 4) New directions in viral latency and immune receptors. In each case, we aim to understand: 1) The relevant molecular machines, 2) The mechanisms by which host pathways are recruited and utilized, and 3) The structures of underlying tissues, cellular assemblies, and viral components. Two other overarching themes of the Center are: 1) Studies of dynamic processes, ranging from key molecular transformations in the viral life cycle to studies of virus transmission and dissemination in whole animals, and 2) Developing and applying complementary approaches for studying viral and cellular structures across a range of resolutions, spatial and temporal dimensions, and biological contexts.
In parallel, we are developing and applying tools that will advance important frontiers in structural biology and HIV molecular virology, including: 1) New approaches for transforming cryo-EM reconstructions, 2) Correlated light and electron cryotomography (CLEM-ECT) approaches for visualizing viral complexes inside cells, 3) Imaging HIV transmission in humanized mice and primate tissues, and 4) Designing new proteins that can mimic viral assembly, release, and entry.
All of these efforts are supported by state-of-the-art Cores for: 1) Producing biological reagents, 2) Performing structural biology, 3) Spectroscopy and imaging, 4) Computation and data science, and 5) Biological models.
The efforts of our Center are also extended through: 1) Extensive collaborations with other researchers and
P50 Centers, 2) A Collaborative Development Awards program that will fund promising young investigators who will enhance and benefit from interactions with our Center, and 3) Educational programs for Center trainees.
Our overall goals are to continue to develop HIV into an unparalleled model system for studying how a human virus interacts with its host, and to lay the groundwork for the development of new antiviral therapies.
Additional information on the CHEETAH Center can be found at our website: http://cheetah.biochem.utah.edu
Additional information on the NIH AIDS-Related Structural Biology Program can be found at: http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Research/specificareas/AIDSstructuralbiology/Pages/default.aspx
In parallel, we are developing and applying tools that will advance important frontiers in structural biology and HIV molecular virology, including: 1) New approaches for transforming cryo-EM reconstructions, 2) Correlated light and electron cryotomography (CLEM-ECT) approaches for visualizing viral complexes inside cells, 3) Imaging HIV transmission in humanized mice and primate tissues, and 4) Designing new proteins that can mimic viral assembly, release, and entry.
All of these efforts are supported by state-of-the-art Cores for: 1) Producing biological reagents, 2) Performing structural biology, 3) Spectroscopy and imaging, 4) Computation and data science, and 5) Biological models.
The efforts of our Center are also extended through: 1) Extensive collaborations with other researchers and
P50 Centers, 2) A Collaborative Development Awards program that will fund promising young investigators who will enhance and benefit from interactions with our Center, and 3) Educational programs for Center trainees.
Our overall goals are to continue to develop HIV into an unparalleled model system for studying how a human virus interacts with its host, and to lay the groundwork for the development of new antiviral therapies.
Additional information on the CHEETAH Center can be found at our website: http://cheetah.biochem.utah.edu
Additional information on the NIH AIDS-Related Structural Biology Program can be found at: http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Research/specificareas/AIDSstructuralbiology/Pages/default.aspx
Application Process
Eligibility
Two awards will be given to heads of independent research laboratories at universities and research institutes that are eligible for NIH support.
Application Cycle 3
The third cycle of collaborative development grant applications will be due on July 1, 2019 selections will be made by the end of July 15, 2019, and funding will begin on August 1, 2019. We will award two new mini-grants each year ($75,000 direct costs each, with no overhead allowed for the awardee institution). Each mini-grant is expected to last for two years, assuming acceptable progress in year. Qualified applicants should submit their proposal (see below) directly by email to Sarah Alexander, sarah.alexander@biochem.utah.edu.
Application Format
Applications should be submitted as a single pdf file comprising the following materials:
1) Completed NIH PHS 398 face page, including signature from authorized institutional official (downloadable from https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html)
2) New NIH Biosketch (5 pages total), see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/biosketch.htm for instructions and here for a sample.
3) Research Proposal with the following sections (4 pages maximum including figures, but excluding References Cited).
A) Specific Aims
B) Research Strategy
a. Significance
b. Innovation
c. Approach
C) References Cited
4) Collaborative Proposal describing how your project will benefit from and contribute to CHEETAH Center objectives (1 page)
5) Itemized Budget and Justification including travel expenses to both the NIH Structural biology Related HIV/AIDS and CHEETAH annual meetings (up to 4 pages)
Applications should follow NIH R01 application guidelines for font, character size, format, etc.
Strategies and Objectives:
Our primary goal is to recruit and support talented researchers working on important emerging areas of virus-host interactions in the general areas of HIV trafficking and assembly, who will interact successfully with CHEETAH Center personnel, benefit from access to Center resources, and help us to achieve Center objectives. We also intend to:
1) Open important new problems and targets to the range of approaches supported by our Center,
2) Attract talented new investigators into the HIV field,
3) Enhance opportunities for synergy by broadening our interactions with the HIV research community, and
4) Introduce important new technologies into our Center.
No single investigator can fulfill all of these qualities, but our portfolio of awards will collectively promote these objectives.
We anticipate that successful applicants will range from researchers who are identifying and validating new HIV host factors and wish to pursue structural studies (as broadly defined), to researchers with expertise in emerging technologies that can be applied to advance ongoing Center projects. Center Investigators, and scientific capabilities are provided on our website: http://cheetah.biochem.utah.edu, and prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Center investigators to discuss their projects and develop plans for collaboration.
Two awards will be given to heads of independent research laboratories at universities and research institutes that are eligible for NIH support.
Application Cycle 3
The third cycle of collaborative development grant applications will be due on July 1, 2019 selections will be made by the end of July 15, 2019, and funding will begin on August 1, 2019. We will award two new mini-grants each year ($75,000 direct costs each, with no overhead allowed for the awardee institution). Each mini-grant is expected to last for two years, assuming acceptable progress in year. Qualified applicants should submit their proposal (see below) directly by email to Sarah Alexander, sarah.alexander@biochem.utah.edu.
Application Format
Applications should be submitted as a single pdf file comprising the following materials:
1) Completed NIH PHS 398 face page, including signature from authorized institutional official (downloadable from https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html)
2) New NIH Biosketch (5 pages total), see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/biosketch.htm for instructions and here for a sample.
3) Research Proposal with the following sections (4 pages maximum including figures, but excluding References Cited).
A) Specific Aims
B) Research Strategy
a. Significance
b. Innovation
c. Approach
C) References Cited
4) Collaborative Proposal describing how your project will benefit from and contribute to CHEETAH Center objectives (1 page)
5) Itemized Budget and Justification including travel expenses to both the NIH Structural biology Related HIV/AIDS and CHEETAH annual meetings (up to 4 pages)
Applications should follow NIH R01 application guidelines for font, character size, format, etc.
Strategies and Objectives:
Our primary goal is to recruit and support talented researchers working on important emerging areas of virus-host interactions in the general areas of HIV trafficking and assembly, who will interact successfully with CHEETAH Center personnel, benefit from access to Center resources, and help us to achieve Center objectives. We also intend to:
1) Open important new problems and targets to the range of approaches supported by our Center,
2) Attract talented new investigators into the HIV field,
3) Enhance opportunities for synergy by broadening our interactions with the HIV research community, and
4) Introduce important new technologies into our Center.
No single investigator can fulfill all of these qualities, but our portfolio of awards will collectively promote these objectives.
We anticipate that successful applicants will range from researchers who are identifying and validating new HIV host factors and wish to pursue structural studies (as broadly defined), to researchers with expertise in emerging technologies that can be applied to advance ongoing Center projects. Center Investigators, and scientific capabilities are provided on our website: http://cheetah.biochem.utah.edu, and prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Center investigators to discuss their projects and develop plans for collaboration.
Questions
cheetah.biochem.utah.edu/people.htmlQuestions regarding application logistics should be directed to the CHEETAH Center Manager, Dr. John McCullough (mccull@biochem.utah.edu) or Sarah Alexander sarah.alexander@biochem.utah.edu. Questions regarding scientific collaborations or application strategies should be directed to the CHEETAH Center Director, Dr. Wes Sundquist (wes@biochem.utah.edu), or to individual CHEETAH Center Investigators (see cheetah.biochem.utah.edu/people.html).
Expectations
Funded investigators will be required to:
1) follow NIH guidelines and regulations, including those related to animal use, human subjects, and recombinant DNA,
2) participate fully in CHEETAH Center activities, including biweekly video conferences and annual meetings, and
3) provide annual progress reports.
1) follow NIH guidelines and regulations, including those related to animal use, human subjects, and recombinant DNA,
2) participate fully in CHEETAH Center activities, including biweekly video conferences and annual meetings, and
3) provide annual progress reports.