Sarcoidosis: Research into the Cause of Multi-organ Disease and Clinical Strategies for Therapy (R01)

-Purpose. The primary objective of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to stimulate research on the etiology and management of sarcoidosis, a human disorder of granulomatous inflammation. We encourage research that seeks to identify not only the cause of sarcoidosis, but seeks related predisposing factors, such as genomic, proteomic, metabolomic, lipidomic or glycomic factors related to the etiology of sarcoidosis. Investigations might include how sarcoidosis perturbs the innate and acquired immunity systems; affects multi-organs within the human body; and impacts biobehavioral and psychosocial factors of the individual, family, and community. The goal is to delineate possible causes and phenotypic host characteristics in susceptible or at risk people so that preventive strategies can be developed, early diagnosis improved, and better antidotes or therapy devised to lessen initial disease immunopathology. Interventions that are cost effective and reduce the individual, family, and community burden of the disease are also encouraged. Also, there is interest for approaches to risk reduction, psychological coping, and management of complications or side effects of treatment. This program solicits innovative, multidisciplinary basic and clinical research of sarcoidosis involving the respiratory tract and other frequently involved organs, especially those of so- called critical involvement (heart, eyes, liver, and neurologic system) with the intent of accelerating progress in the discovery of the cause of sarcoidosis and its diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. This program also encourages methodologies and instruments that determine disease burden. -Mechanism of Support. This FOA will utilize the NIH Research Project Grant (R01) award mechanism. -Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the mechanism numbers, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received.