Program Description: The Dana Foundation is pleased to announce a call for proposals for its Neuroimmunology program, focusing on brain cancers and infections. Individual grants will total up to $200,000, payable over three years. Specifically, the Foundation is inviting studies of 1) immune-based therapies for primary brain tumors, and for metastases to the brain of other cancers; 2) immune responses to infections in the brain, including but not limited to viral encephalitis, meningitis, cerebral malaria, and prion diseases; and 3) how immune functions are carried out and modified in the brain. 

The following are examples of the areas of focus:

• Exploring ways to stimulate immune cell recognition and attack of primary brain tumors and metastases.
  
• Measuring responses to therapeutic vaccines or other immunotherapies for treating brain tumors.
• Determining ways to prevent and defend against viral infections in the brain.
• Examining ways to treat infections in the brain, including cerebral malaria.
• Characterizing the roles of immune cells in normal brain and how these functions are modified under abnormal brain conditions.

Please see the solicitation for complete information.

Emphasis is placed on providing support to faculty tenure track researchers who are early in their career, at the assistant professor level, or early in their associate professor career. 

Projects involving collaborations with NIH intramural researchers or industry scientists are acceptable.

Associate Deans or Designates must submit the following materials electronically to limitedsub@austin.utexas.edu no later than 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 (NOTE: submissions directly from PIs will not be accepted):   

1. Dean's or ORU Director's (or designates) Letter of Nomination with rankings and justification
2. Two page maximum lay abstract describing the aims of/needs for of the proposed project. 
3. PI's Biosketch/CV

Each college may submit 2 applications.