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Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Advancing NEI AGI Research on newly Identified Factors Into Models of Visual System Regeneration

National Institutes of Health

The National Eye Institute (NEI) is issuing this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) to encourage novel research that incorporates newly identified factors into new or existing models of visual system regeneration. These factors were identified by a consortium of research teams as part of the Audacious Goal Initiative (AGI) and are being shared broadly with the research community. Applicants beyond the original consortium are strongly encouraged to apply.

BACKGROUND

The NEI Audacious Goal Initiative (AGI) is to restore vision through regeneration of neurons and neural connections in the eye and visual system. Through several funding opportunity announcements, the initiative has supported cross-disciplinary research to advance knowledge and technology needed to make progress. In particular, RFA-EY-15-002 invited applications to use discovery-based science to identify unknown biological factors critical to the regeneration of neurons, axon guidance, and making new functional connections. The resulting consortium identified molecules and signaling pathways that can either promote or inhibit regeneration of neurons in the visual pathway.

Six projects have been completed, employing different approaches to screen, identify, and validate targets that may prove useful in efforts to restore function to the visual system. In particular, the projects successfully identified a) molecules associated with optic nerve regeneration; b) how Muller glia regenerate retinal neurons; and c) biological mechanisms that may help integrate transplanted photoreceptors.

For a description of the projects see https://www.nei.nih.gov/about/goals-and-accomplishments/nei-research-initiatives/audacious-goals-initiative/agi-projects/discovery-based-projects

The result of this collective enterprise includes next-generation sequencing data now stored and publicly available via the St Jude Cloud, a partnership between Microsoft, DNAnexus, and St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This data portal serves as a platform for accessing the raw data in addition to high-level data summaries, visualizations, and publications resulting from each of the projects.

Access to the platform is available here: https://viz.stjude.cloud/community/audacious-goals-initiative-agi-retina~2/about

This notice applies to due dates on or after February 16, 2022 and subsequent receipt dates through October 16, 2024.

NOT-EY-22-002