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.

Education

• Public and state institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• Independent school districts

Nonprofit

• Other Native American tribal organizations
• Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)

Government

• Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
• County governments
• Public and Indian housing authorities
• State governments

Business

• For-profit organizations other than small businesses
• Small businesses