Programs and Activities Highlights
- National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence (NISBRE)
The 10th biennial NISBRE—a premier event showcasing the scientific and training achievements of the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program—was held June 14–17, 2026. ORIP’s Division of Construction and Instruments staff presented on the office’s programs and engaged in outreach with prospective applicants from IDeA states.
- Shared Instrumentation Grant (SIG) Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) announces the restructured SIG program, which consolidates three existing shared-use instrumentation programs. The NOFO invites applications from groups of NIH-supported investigators to purchase or upgrade a single state-of-the-art, commercially available instrument or an integrated instrumentation system. The instruments purchased through the SIG program are required to be optimally shared among the users to ensure efficient and cost-effective research operations, enable rigorous and reproducible measurements, and encourage collaborative research to benefit broad research communities.
- Seed Instrumentation Support (SIS) Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This notice of funding opportunity aims to build new research capacity and develop a sustainable research program by supporting the purchase of a commercially available biomedical research instrument currently unavailable at the applicant institution. Instruments funded through this program must be shared among the users to create new research opportunities, enable reproducible data generation, encourage collaborative research and training, and strengthen long-term research capabilities. The minimum award is $50,000, and although there is no limit on the total cost of the instrument, the maximum award is $400,000.
- C06 Construction Program Update
An ORIP staff member presented an update on ORIP’s C06 construction program at the NIH Council of Councils meeting on May 14–15, 2026. The discussion featured an overview of the program’s history and a summary of the review and funding processes. The presentation also highlighted examples of representative facilities supported by C06 funds.
- S10 Symposium
ORIP held its inaugural S10 Symposium on April 23–24, 2026. The symposium was a community-building event for broad instrument users to share S10 know-hows and inform prospective applicants about S10 program requirements and funding opportunities. During the symposium, distinguished S10 awardees shared their knowledge on S10 grantsmanship and post-award management. This milestone event marks an important first step toward establishing the S10 community.
Read more in the archive.
ORIP-Supported Research Highlights
- Development of a Spatially Defined 3D In Vitro Coculture Construct Modeling Pancreatic Cancer–Associated Cachexia
Up to 85% of pancreatic cancer patients experience cachexia, a debilitating metabolic wasting syndrome. Researchers developed a 3D organoid platform that mimics in vivo interfaces, allowing them to better understand the interactions between cancer cells and adipocytes (fat cells). The system precisely compartmentalizes adipocytes and cancer cells within a hydrogel while reproducing key processes seen in the body, including fat breakdown, changes in fat cells that increase energy use, and the spread of pancreatic cancer cells into surrounding fatty tissue. The model provides a controlled, physiologically relevant environment for understanding the mechanisms of cancer-associated cachexia and for testing potential treatments.
- Immune–Microbiome Coordination Defines Interferon Setpoints in Healthy Humans
The gut microbiome (the collection of different microbes) plays an important role in shaping the immune system, but the relationship between the gut microbiome and baseline immune states in healthy people remains poorly understood. In this study, researchers collected blood and stool samples from 110 male and female patients from the San Francisco Bay area. The researchers completed multiomics analyses of the samples to identify coordinated immune and microbial patterns. Results showed that interferon response was one of the most variable immune features found in blood samples. This feature was closely linked to changes in microbiome makeup, microbial pathways, and metabolic products in stool samples. These immune and microbiome features also were shown to remain stable. These findings highlight a strong relationship in healthy people between baseline immune states and the microbiome. Data from this study could help identify immune–microbiome features that underlie disease susceptibility and therapeutic response.
- Co-localization of Lymph Node Therapeutics Enhances T Cell Activation and Anti-tumor Response
Lymph nodes (LNs) play an important role in creating and altering immune responses. Researchers were interested in learning how the organization of antigens (markers seen as foreign and recognized by the immune system) and adjuvants (agents that cause a stronger immune response) within LNs influence anti-tumor immune responses. In this study, antigens and adjuvants were loaded as cargo into microparticles. Using cell cultures and 6- to 10-week-old female mice, researchers showed that localizing cargo-loaded microparticles to the same LN created a strong antigen-specific T-cell response and provided antitumor protection. Results also showed that separating microparticles across different LNs decreased immune efficacy. Mixed-cargo microparticles caused similar immune responses compared with multiple, single-cargo microparticles if injections were localized to the same LN. These findings support the translation of mixed-cargo degradable microparticles for LN-targeted immunotherapy (treatments that modify the immune system to fight cancer) strategies.
- Parsing Autism Spectrum Heterogeneity Through fMRI
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is very heterogeneous (many causes and a wide range of observable symptoms). Researchers used functional MRI (fMRI) (a non-invasive technique that uses magnetic fields to image organs) to study patterns of coordinated activity for ASD within the brain. In this study, researchers looked at 20 genetic mouse models for autism, 940 patients with autism, and 1,036 neurotypical patients (sexes not stated) to find brain connectivity subtypes. The hypoconnectivity (weak signals) subtype was linked to synaptic pathways, whereas the hyperconnectivity (strong signals) subtype was linked to immune-related pathways. This cross-species analysis confirms the translational relevance of these findings and provides a systems-level framework that transforms inconsistent data from previous fMRI studies into biologically meaningful signals. In addition, these findings support NIH’s strategic priorities and open new avenues for clinically subtyping ASD and targeted therapeutic development.
- Glucose-Dependent Spatial and Temporal Modulation of Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Proliferation via ACLY-Regulated Histone Acetylation
Oligodendrocytes (OLs) are cells that create a myelin (protective layer) sheath around nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) require specific signals to become OLs, but these signals remain poorly understood. In this study, researchers used neonatal mice (both sexes used) and advanced imaging technology. Results identified glucose as a key signal that governs OPC behavior in the developing brain. Brain regions with higher glucose levels had greater OPC proliferation (increase in cell number) and histone acetylation (the process of adding acetyl groups to histones to regulate access to DNA). The protein ACLY was found to drive the activation of proliferation genes by changing glucose-derived citrate into acetyl-CoA. Deletion of ACLY from OPCs caused hypomyelination (not enough myelin) in mice; OLs used another molecule, ketone bodies, to partially rescue this myelin shortage. These findings establish a metabolic framework that links glucose to brain myelination, with major implications for neurodevelopment and myelin-mediated disorders.
Read more in the archive.
