Weigh in on a Possible New Common Fund Program on Exosomes

THA NIH WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU!

We need your help exploring the possibility of developing a research program through the National Institutes of Health Common Fund focusing on Exosomes/Microvesicles with the goal of accelerating basic and translational research in this field.   This interactive web-based dialogue solicits your comments and provides a forum for open discussion of the major obstacles and challenges in the field, and potential ideas for how they could be addressed through the NIH Common Fund.

What is the NIH Common Fund? The Common Fund supports goal-driven, research networks in which investigators work in a coordinated and synergistic way to generate data, solve technological problems, and/or otherwise create resources and tools that will be stimulatory to the broader research community. These programs typically involve a series of integrated funding initiatives that address scientific areas that are broadly relevant to human health and disease. Funding for each program is limited to 5-10 years, so goals for each program must be achievable within that timeframe. More information on the Common Fund can be found at http://commonfund.nih.gov/

How Can I Participate? The NIH is seeking input on the following QUESTIONS. To weigh in on a question, simply click on the question to open a “dialogue box” where you can leave a comment and view others’ comments. You don’t have to answer every question, but you can if you want!

Broad questions to respond to:

• What are the  major obstacles and challenges in exosome and microvesicle research? What is  needed to overcome these obstacles and challenges?

• What fundamental  characteristics of exosomes/microvesicles must be determined in order for the  field as a whole to flourish? 

Specific questions to respond to:

• Tools for the research community: Is it feasible to catalog extracellular vesicles by size, tissue of origin, target tissue, and cargo? What would this require? Are technologies limiting? What enabling technologies would need to be developed to image and track exosomes/microvesicles? Should other tools be developed?

• Nomenclature and Protocols: What would be required for the Exosome community as a whole to develop consensus nomenclature for extracellular vesicles? What protocols need to be standardized for the community as a whole, and what would be required for that?

• Working toward translation: Is it feasible, within 5 years, to engineer exosomes or other microvesicles to contain a defined cargo with a defined target and that produces a defined response? If it’s not, what has to be determined in the next 5 years to enable that, and would it then be possible to engineer exosomes as targeted drug delivery vesicles in the subsequent 5 years?

• Other translational purposes:  What would be required to enable exosomes to be utilized for other translational purposes?

• Other Suggestions? 

Responses are voluntary. No personal identifiers (e.g., names, addresses, e-mail addresses, etc.) will be collected when responses are compiled. Only de-identified comments will be used. Proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should not be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).

Input gathered via this site is for information and planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Federal Government, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and/or the NIH Common Fund. The NIH does not intend to make any awards based on comments received through this site or to otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for the Government’s use of such information.

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