This focus area is aimed at research tackling the current roadblocks that exist in human vaccine development and expanding our limited understanding of key immune processes that are fundamental to successful vaccine and immunotherapeutics development, (e.g., immune memory, immune receptor recognition, tissue-specific responses, host-microbe interactions, underlying genetic mechanisms, genetic susceptibility, etc.).

This focus area targets research that utilizes bioinformatics, theoretical methods, mathematical modeling, machine learning and/or computational approaches to elucidate protein structures involved in immune recognition, immunogenicity, protein-ligand interactions, or other biological functions related to the human immune response. Other areas of research that will be considered for funding include protein design studies with the intent of generating novel structures and/or function for the development of antigens or adjuvants, and/or for modulating or targeting host proteins to elicit increased or more specific immune response(s).

This focus area is aimed at research on antigen discovery, immune response mechanisms, and the development and testing of vaccines and immunotherapeutic agents for neglected parasitic diseases. This award is designed to foster research of human parasitic diseases that traditionally have been difficult to study due to antigen complexity and multifaceted host-parasite interactions. NB: This award will not fund malaria research.