October 5, 2021

Vanderbilt-wide Limited Submission Opportunity: NIDDK Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium; deadline is Oct. 7

This is a joint competition for VU and VUMC investigators. All investigators should follow these instructions.

Vanderbilt (VU+VUMC) may submit one application to the NIH NIDDK Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium (IBDGC) Genetic Research Centers (GRCs) (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) program.

The NIDDK IBDGC was established in July 2002 for the purpose of identifying genetic variation predisposing to Inflammatory Bowel Disease. This FOA seeks to renew support for the IBDGC with a continued mission to characterize the genetic architecture of IBD phenotypes, particularly in populations currently underrepresented in IBD genomic studies, and to elucidate the biological mechanisms by which genetic variants influence IBD pathophysiology, phenotypes and clinical course. The long-range goal of the research to be carried out by the IBDGC is the enhancement of our understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of IBD to improve patient outcomes.

The NIDDK IBDGC will consist of up to seven Genetic Research Centers (GRCs) and one Data Coordinating Center (DCC). The Genetic Research Centers of the IBDGC will serve as sites for enrollment of IBD patients, relatives and healthy controls, for laboratory-based studies on biological samples obtained from these subjects, and for mechanistic studies of the risk variants identified, and of the genes, proteins and pathways they impact. Specifically, GRCs will:

  • Recruit subjects into the study and conduct phenotypic evaluations and longitudinal follow-up of these subjects. 
  • Transmit phenotypic, genetic and other data to public databases and to databases maintained by the DCC.
  • Staff the operational committees of the IBDGC (e.g., Recruitment, Phenotyping, Analysis, etc.), thereby collaborating on the design of joint projects and the establishment of uniform procedures and policies.

Specific Areas of Research Interest for GRCs include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Recruitment, phenotypic evaluation and continued follow-up of IBD patients, relatives, and controls. Recruitment should prioritize participants from populations currently under-represented in genomic studies.
  • Longitudinal studies of disease progression and response to treatment
  • Characterization of the genetic architecture of IBD based on whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing and genome-wide genotyping of DNA from study participants of diverse ancestries;
  • Characterization of the genetic architecture of clinically important and/or understudied IBD phenotypes
  • Systems biology analyses of combined epigenomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic datasets including multi-modal single-cell analyses from tissue samples from study participants, or genome-wide expression prediction models (e.g., TWAS or PrediXcan) built in IBD-relevant healthy tissues;
  • Analyses of the composition and activities of the intestinal microbiome
  • Re-analysis of existing data and specimens to identify and characterize susceptibility loci and build risk models
  • Studies utilizing Electronic Health Record (EHR) clinical datasets to characterize the IBD phenome and/or pharmacogenetics and deepen understanding of pleiotropic biological effects of IBD-associated variants;
  • Functional screening of candidate genes and genetic variants using cultured cells, organoids, zebrafish, mice, and other assay platforms and model organisms; and/or
  • Small (up to Phase 2) clinical trials of novel therapeutic approaches in IBD arising from prior genetic and functional studies of IBD susceptibility loci.

Examples of project types considered not responsive to this call are listed in Section 1 of the FOA.

Eligibility:

  • A GRC should consist of a multidisciplinary team of investigators (e.g., research gastroenterologists, human geneticists, immunologists, microbiologists, computational scientists, as appropriate) and additional necessary personnel, such as a research coordinator and staff research associates. Applicants are encouraged to seek multidisciplinary collaborations to ensure inclusion of appropriate expertise in the use of the experimental platforms and analytical methods proposed.
  • Clinical trials optional: a clinical trial may be proposed as part of a GRC, but should not be its sole focus.

Award Information:

Application budgets are limited to $375,000 direct costs per year for up to 5 years.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt’s potential nominee must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2021. 

  • Brief (2-page maximum) research plan, including summary budget
  • Proposed list of Vanderbilt key personnel and collaborators
  • NIH Biosketch or 5-page CV for each PI/PD
  • Statement of support from department chair/center director

Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu