NIH Guide: THE IMPACT OF IMMUNE SENESCENCE AND MATURATION ON VACCINERESPONSIVENESS IN THE ELDERLY


THE IMPACT OF IMMUNE SENESCENCE AND MATURATION ON VACCINERESPONSIVENESS IN THE ELDERLY

 

NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 28, August 22, 1997

 

PA AVAILABLE:  PA-97-097

 

P.T.





Keywords:

 

National Institute on Aging

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

 

PURPOSE

 

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), and the National Institute of

Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of

Health (NIH), invite applications to evaluate control measures (i.e.,

vaccines and therapeutic agents) for infectious diseases in the

elderly and to enhance the understanding of the immune response to

infection and immunizations in this at risk population.  In addition

to the clinical evaluation of candidate vaccines and therapeutic

agents, there is a special emphasis on defining the mechanisms that

lead to the decline in immune function and responsiveness (i.e.,

immunosenescence) with age.  Innovative studies are sought that will

develop vaccination strategies applicable for the elderly or that

define approaches that direct specific types of immune responses

which may lead to enhanced vaccine effectiveness towards various

infectious agents.  When assessing the immune response to

immunization in aged populations, possible approaches may include

incorporating established vaccines that may be used in this

population such as pneumococcal, influenza, varicella, and hepatitis

b.

 

This Program Announcement solicits applications for research designed

to enhance the overall understanding of mechanisms that account for

the differential sensitivity to vaccines of young and older adult

populations.  Through the use of clinical research comparing younger

and elderly adults  using licensed vaccines and therapeutic agents,

studies can be conducted to examine differences in:  a) vaccine

safety/reactogenicity; b) optimal dose and schedule; c)

immunogenicity; d) transmissibility of infections from younger and

older adults to uninfected individuals and how this is effected by

immunization; e) resistance to infection and colonization; f)

efficacy; and g) duration of immunity and protection.

 

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000

 

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health

promotion and disease prevention objectives of ?Healthy People 2000?,

a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas.  This PA, The

Impact of Immune Senescence and Maturation on Vaccine Responsiveness

in the Elderly, is related to the priority areas of immunization and

infectious diseases, and immunosenescence.  Potential applicants may

obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report:  Stock No.

017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00473) through

the Superintendent of Document, Government Printing Office,

Washington, DC 20402-0325 (telephone 202-512-1800).

 

INQUIRIES

 

The PA, which describes the research objectives, application

procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this

solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant

Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and

the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the

program contact listed below.

 

Stanley Slater, M.D.

Geriatrics Program

National Institute on Aging

7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Room 3E327

Bethesda, MD  20892-9205

Telephone:  (301) 496-6761

FAX:  (301) 402-1784

Email:  slaters@gw.nia.nih.gov

 

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