Selective Precision Targeting (SPoT)

Summary

The National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) seeks to advance its mission by establishing a new initiative called Selective Precision Targeting (SPoT) to determine a mechanism for precise and on-target therapeutic drug delivery to specific hard-to-reach locations within the human body using microphysiological systems (MPS). Targeted drug-delivery systems, including engineered nanoparticles, extracellular vesicles or focused ultrasound, are methods for delivering medications to a specific area of the body (organ, tissue, or cell) to increase the concentration of the drug in that area. Hard-to-reach locations in the body include the blood–brain barrier, central nervous system, placenta, retina, or a tumor. More specifically, the initiative goals are to: • Optimize specific targeting of nanoparticle therapeutics to the target organ/cell of interest • Assess biodistribution and off-target effects using a multi-organ microphysiological system • Provide evidence of functional cargo activity • Determine optimal route of administration Grant authorities that allow the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) to forecast this opportunity are as follows: 42 U.S. Code § 287a - Cures Acceleration Network.

Eligibility

• Public and State Institutions of Higher Education
• Native American Tribal Organizations Other Than Federally Recognized Tribal Governments
• Native American Tribal Governments Federally Recognized
• County Governments
• For Profit Organizations Other Than Small Businesses
• Public and Indian Housing Authorities
• Small Businesses
• Nonprofits Having A 501(c)(3) Status With the Irs Other Than Institutions of Higher Education
• Private Institutions of Higher Education
• State Governments
• Independent School Districts

Funding categories

• Health