CURRENT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Biomechanisms of Peripheral Nerve Damage by Anti-Cancer Therapy (R01/R21)

Program Announcements

PA-12-082 (R01): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-12-082.html

PA-12-083 (R21): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-12-083.html

Expiration dates: May 8, 2015

Contact: Michael Alley, Ph.D.
(301) 496-8783, alleym@mail.nih.gov

This announcement encourages basic biologic research on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) — damage to the peripheral nervous system induced by cancer chemotherapy treatments. CIPN is thought to be the most prevalent dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) from anticancer therapy, surpassing myelosuppression and renal insufficiency, yet is an understudied area. Platinum drugs, taxanes, proteasome inhibitors, vinca alkaloids, epothilones, and immunomodulators are classes of agents which pose substantial risk for CIPN. These agents are also the standard of care for the six most common malignancies. This announcement is intended to stimulate investigators to study the functional and structural peripheral nerve damage incurred by cancer chemotherapy to understand the mechanisms of neuronal damage and to identify potential therapeutic targets responsible for CIPN initiation and maintenance. Preclinical research applications that focus on peripheral neuropathic pain and other neurosensory symptoms such as paresthesias and peripheral anesthesia are invited. Applications are expected to significantly enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of CIPN and to facilitate the rational development of interventions to prevent and treat CIPN.