Novel approaches to understand, prevent, treat, and diagnose coccidioidomycosis & other select endemic fungal infections (NIH)

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Numbers: PA-19-082

(R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Numbers: PA-19-083

(R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Funding Opportunity Purpose

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement is to support research activities that will contribute to the overall understanding of coccidioidomycosis, commonly known as Valley Fever, and other select endemic fungal diseases including histoplasmosis and blastomycosis.  This research opportunity encourages studies that address diverse scientific areas such as: 1) pathogenesis; 2) host response; 3) disease transmission; 4) natural history and environmental factors contributing to disease; 5) vaccines; 6) diagnostics; and 7) therapeutics; with the ultimate goal of advancing the field towards solutions for the improved detection, prevention and treatment of select endemic mycoses.

Specific areas of research interest

Specific areas of research interest are focused on coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis and blastomycosis and include, but are not limited to: 

Improve understanding of biology, transmission and pathogenesis of infection:

• Improve understanding of pathogenesis
• Expand understanding of the pathogen life cycle, including the role of climate and geography, host factors, physical and environmental factors that contribute to disease
• Improve genotypic and phenotypic characterization associated with adverse clinical outcomes, and host immunity
• Expand understanding of speciation and impact on clinical outcome

Identify/characterize host responses required for protection:

• Determine the interaction of innate and adaptive immunity in response to infection
• Identify immune markers associated with reduced disease severity
• Elucidate mechanisms of protective immunity vs. those that ameliorate symptomatic disease

Support rational design of Coccidioides and other select endemic fungal pathogen vaccines:

• Identify immunogens that elicit broad protection
• Advance new vaccine approaches into preclinical models that exploit emerging antigen design strategies, novel technologies, and/or platforms
• Define mechanisms and correlates of vaccine-induced protection
• Test adjuvants and alternative delivery methods to enhance breadth and durability of immunity   
• Develop novel therapeutics to clear infection
• Identify biomarkers that could inform disease progression and contribute to rapid diagnostics

*This FOA will not support projects focused on HIV/AIDS.

Eligibility

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.

Foreign (non-U.S.) institutions must follow policies described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, and procedures for foreign institutions.

Award Budget

PA-19-082

Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.

PA-19-083

Direct costs are limited to $275,000 over a two-year project period, with no more than $200,000 in direct costs allowed in any single year.

Award Project Period

PA-19-082

The maximum project period is 5 years.

PA-19-083

The maximum project period is two years.   

Key Dates

PA-19-082

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): January 05, 2019

PA-19-083

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): January 16, 2019

Letter of Intent Due Date(s): N/A

*Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

Expiration Date: January 8, 2022

Deadline

Application Due Date(s)

PA-19-082

The first standard application due date for this FOA is February 05, 2019.

Standard dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on these dates.

PA-19-083

The first standard application due date for this FOA is February 16, 2019.

Standard dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on these dates.

Full details: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-082.html

                     https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-083.html

Molecular and Genetic Characterization of Inborn Errors of Immunity (NIH)

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Numbers: PAR-19-078

(R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Numbers: PAR-19-079

(R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Funding Opportunity Purpose

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to advance the experimental validation and functional characterization of genetic variants in coding or non-coding genomic regions that result in inborn errors of immunity/primary immunodeficiency diseases and to elucidate the molecular, cellular, and immunological mechanisms of these disorders. Understanding the genetic basis of primary immunodeficiency disorders is essential for their diagnosis, prognosis, and the development of precision therapeutics.         

Research Objectives and Scope

Research areas supported by this FOA include, but are not limited to, the experimental validation and immunological characterization of:

• Single nucleotide variants (inherited or de novo) in coding or non-coding regions of the genome that cause inborn errors of immunity;
• Insertions or deletions (indels) in coding or non-coding regions of the genome that cause inborn errors of immunity;
• Digenic/polygenic mutations that cause inborn errors of immunity;
• Structural variations (large insertions or deletions, translocations, inversions, or copy-number variations) that cause inborn errors of immunity.

State-of-the-art technologies and approaches (e.g., iPSC technology, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, multi-omics such as transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenetics etc) used to accomplish the objectives of this FOA are strongly encouraged.

The prioritization of putative disease-causing variant(s) is expected to be finalized by the time applications are submitted. For the genetic variant(s) that are chosen to be investigated further according to the objectives of this FOA, preliminary data should be presented to support causality between the variant(s) and disease phenotype.

The clinical and laboratory phenotype of the patients should be well defined and relevant medical history should be available. Information about the patient cohort(s) or family pedigree(s) should be provided. For single patient studies, adherence to the guidelines established for genetic studies in single patients is strongly encouraged.

Utilization of relevant cell types isolated from the patient(s) and appropriate controls (e.g., unaffected family members, healthy subjects of the same ethnic origin etc.) are strongly encouraged for the delineation of the functional consequences of the mutations under investigation. If animal models are used to elucidate the mechanism of disease, a clear correlation between human and animal disease phenotypes should be established. In all cases, preliminary data should demonstrate that the genotype/phenotype correlation recapitulates the patient’s clinical disease.

Eligibility

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.

Foreign (non-U.S.) institutions must follow policies described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, and procedures for foreign institutions.

Award Budget

PAR-19-078

Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.

PAR-19-079

The combined budget for direct costs for the two-year project period may not exceed $275,000. No more than $200,000 may be requested in any single year.

Award Project Period

PAR-19-078

The total project period for an application submitted in response to this FOA may not exceed 5 years.       

PAR-19-079

The total project period for an application submitted in response to this FOA may not exceed 2 years.      

Key Dates

PAR-19-078

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): January 04, 2019

PAR-19-079

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): January 16, 2019

Letter of Intent Due Date(s): N/A

*Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

Expiration Date: January 8, 2022

Deadline

Application Due Date(s)

PAR-19-078

The first standard application due date for this FOA is February 05, 2019.

Standard dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on these dates.

PAR-19-079

The first standard application due date for this FOA is February 16, 2019.

Standard dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on these dates.

Full details: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-19-078.html

                     https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-19-079.html

Advancing Development of Rapid Fungal Diagnostics (NIH)

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Numbers: PA-19-080

(R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Numbers: 

PA-19-081

(R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Funding Opportunity Purpose

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement is to support the development of rapid, sensitive, specific, simple, and cost-effective diagnostics for primary health-care settings (hospitals and point-of-care).

Specific areas of research interest

This FOA will support diagnostics research activities, including efforts to: 1) identify biomarkers of invasive fungal disease and/or determine antifungal susceptibility, 2) develop an assay to reliably demonstrate the presence or absence of novel biomarkers or determine drug sensitivities, 3) explore and assess strategies for optimizing sample type and/or sample volume, and develop or improve concentration or enrichment methods to support overall assay development in any novel diagnostic schema, 4) apply technological/methodological advancement strategies in both target identification and assay development, which may include approaches designed to substantially improve existing methods. Diagnostic approaches that detect one or more fungal pathogens and provide results more rapidly than current culture-dependent methods are strongly encouraged.

It is possible that a single target either from the pathogen or induced via the host’s response will be insufficient to provide the required sensitivity and specific early diagnostic capabilities.  Identification of multiple targets and development of a multiplex assay(s) may be required to distinguish between a fungal pathogen only colonizing a host verses causing active disease, as well as identifying the infectious agent.

Eligibility

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.

Foreign (non-U.S.) institutions must follow policies described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, and procedures for foreign institutions.

Award Budget

PA-19-080

Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.

PA-19-081

Direct costs are limited to $275,000 over a two-year project period, with no more than $200,000 in direct costs allowed in any single year

Award Project Period

PA-19-080

The maximum project period is 5 years.

PA-19-081

The maximum project period is two years.

Key Dates

PA-19-080

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): January 05, 2019

PA-19-081

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date):January 16, 2019

Letter of Intent Due Date(s): N/A

*Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

Expiration Date: January 8, 2022

Deadline

Application Due Date(s)

PA-19-080

The first standard application due date for this FOA is February 05, 2019.

Standard dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on these dates.

PA-19-081

The first standard application due date for this FOA is February 16, 2019.

Standard dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on these dates.

Full details: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-080.html

                     https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-081.html

Accelerating Malaria Vaccine Discovery (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) NIH

R01 Research Project Grant

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Numbers: PA-19-077

Funding Opportunity Purpose

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to support early phase translational research that will generate new malaria vaccine candidates suitable for further downstream development and clinical evaluation.  This research opportunity encourages studies that will lead to discovery of new vaccine candidates that prevent infection, ameliorate disease, and/or interrupt transmission caused by human malaria parasites, especially P. falciparum and P. vivax.

Research Objectives

This FOA invites the research community to submit applications focused on early discovery of malaria vaccine candidates, including those targeting one or more of the different life cycle stages (i.e., pre-erythrocytic stage, blood stage, and/or sexual stage) of the parasites that cause human malaria, especially Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax. Research targeting vaccines that are broadly protective against multiple strains or species of the parasites and/or that provide long lasting efficacy, is also highly desirable. The goal is to identify and credential more protective antigens, and to generate new or improved immunogens and novel vaccine candidates for the global malaria vaccine development community to take further into development.

This FOA will support the identification, characterization, credentialing and validation of new protective antigens or vaccine candidates with appropriate assay systems or animal models. For purposes of this FOA, protective antigens or vaccine candidates should demonstrate appropriate functional characteristics, such as prevention of infection, amelioration of disease, interruption of transmission, or prevention of relapse, or other functional features when applicable.

Examples of research topics include, but are not limited to:

• Identification, characterization, credentialing and/or validation of novel protective antigens/peptides/epitopes;
• Discovery of new effective vaccines utilizing novel technology platforms, adjuvants, or vaccine strategies with either new or already known malaria antigens;
• Structure-based vaccine design and testing;
• Construction of novel attenuated whole organism-based antimalaria vaccines, especially late liver stage-arresting whole sporozoite vaccines, using genetic manipulation of Plasmodium parasites;
• Screening, testing, credentialing and/or validation of new vaccine candidates with novel assays or animal models.

Eligibility

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.

Foreign (non-U.S.) institutions must follow policies described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, and procedures for foreign institutions.

Award Budget

Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.

Award Project Period

The maximum project period is 5 years.

Key Dates

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): January 05, 2019

Letter of Intent Due Date(s): N/A

*Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

Expiration Date: January 8, 2022

Deadline

Application Due Date(s)

The first standard application due date for this FOA is February 05, 2019.

Standard dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on these dates.

Full details: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-077.html

Secondary Analysis of Existing Datasets for Advancing Infectious Disease Research (NIH)

(R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

R21 Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Numbers: PA-19-068

Funding Opportunity Purpose

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to support projects that utilize open-access data, alone or in combination with other datasets, to address knowledge gaps in basic and/or clinical research in infectious diseases.  

Research Objectives

This primary objective of this FOA is to invite applications that seek to answer novel scientific questions by using data in the BRCs. Research projects may propose combining data from other data repositories, including private user-generated data but must use data in the BRC. Projects focused on influenza, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB), antimicrobial resistance and malaria are encouraged although projects based on other pathogens relevant to NIAID will be supported. Data, tools and other resources generated are expected to meet the FAIR principles and credit all contributors including data generators. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Scientific/Research staff listed below to ensure proposed projects are within the scope of this funding opportunity.

Eligibility

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.

Foreign (non-U.S.) institutions must follow policies described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, and procedures for foreign institutions.

Award Budget

Direct costs are limited to $275,000 over a two-year project period, with no more than $200,000 in direct costs allowed in any single year.

Award Project Period

The maximum project period is 2 years.  

Key Dates

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): January 16, 2019

Letter of Intent Due Date(s): N/A

*Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

Expiration Date: January 8, 2022

Deadline
Application Due Date(s)

The first standard application due date for this FOA is February 16, 2019.

Standard dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on these dates.

Full details: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-068.html

NIH Research Grant Programs PA-19-055, PA-19-056

Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required)
NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Numbers: PA-19-055, PA-19-056

Funding Opportunity Purpose

The NIH Research Project Grant supports a discrete, specified, circumscribed project in areas representing the specific interests and competencies of the investigator(s). This Parent Funding Opportunity Announcement requires that at least 1 clinical trial be proposed. The proposed project must be related to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) based on their scientific missions.

The NIH Research Project Grant (No CT) supports a discrete, specified, circumscribed project in areas representing the specific interests and competencies of the investigator(s). The proposed project must be related to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) based on their scientific missions.

Eligibility

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.

Foreign (non-U.S.) institutions must follow policies described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, and procedures for foreign institutions.

Award Budget

Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.

Award Project Period

The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project period is 5 years (all grants).

Key Dates

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): January 5, 2019

Letter of Intent Due Date(s): N/A

*Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

Expiration Date: January 8, 2022

Deadline
Application Due Date(s)
February 5, 2019, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.  All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on these dates.

Full details: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-055.html
                    https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-056.html

NIH Research Grant Programs PA-19-052, PA-19-053, PA-19-054

NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required)

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Numbers: PA-19-052, PA-19-053, PA-19-054

Funding Opportunity Purpose

The NIH Small Research Grant Program supports small research projects that can be carried out in a short period of time with limited resources. This program supports different types of projects including pilot and feasibility studies; secondary analysis of existing data; small, self-contained research projects; development of research methodology; and development of new research technology.

The NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant (No CT) supports exploratory and developmental research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of these projects. These studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on a field of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. 

The NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant supports exploratory and developmental research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of these projects. These studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on a field of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. This Parent Funding Opportunity Announcement requires that at least 1 clinical trial be proposed.  The proposed project must be related to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) based on their scientific missions.

Eligibility

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.

Foreign (non-U.S.) institutions must follow policies described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, and procedures for foreign institutions.

Award Budget

NIH Small Research Grant Program - Application budgets are limited to $50,000 in direct costs per year.

NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (No CT) - The combined budget for direct costs for the two-year project period may not exceed $275,000. No more than $200,000 may be requested in any single year.

NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program - The combined budget for direct costs for the two-year project period may not exceed $275,000. No more than $200,000 may be requested in any single year.

Award Project Period

The total project period may not exceed two years (for all grants).

Key Dates

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): January 16, 2019

Letter of Intent Due Date(s): N/A

*Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

Expiration Date: January 8, 2022

Deadline
Application Due Date(s)
February 16, 2019, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.  All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on these dates.

Full details: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-052.html
                    https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-053.html
                    https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-054.html

An International Summit in Human Genetics and Genomics- Aug 28th - Sept. 28th, 2019

Summit date- August 28 - September 28, 2019 

Application deadline- December 2010 ,2018

Eligibility- healthcare professionals and trainees from developing nations that are in their early-mid careers

The Human Genome Project (HGP), led by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) at NIH, was the world's largest, government sponsored, collaborative, biological project that led to the development of a reference sequence for the human genome. This effort benefitted both medical research and the practice of medicine worldwide, as it provided new insights into the genetic contributions to disease.

Many scientists and consortia are now working on collecting data on variations in human genes and their association with disease (e.g. Human Variome Project, UNESCO, ClinVar, ExAC etc.). It is anticipated that these efforts will help find new, improved and cost-effective approaches for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease, thereby reducing the burden of disease and disability, and alleviating the economic stress attributed by these conditions on the world's most vulnerable populations.

This Summit is a 5-year initiative (2016-2020) designed to help developing nations build and expand their knowledge base, infrastructure, systems, research efforts and technologies in human genetics and genomics. Increasing their access to these resources will help them build capacity in these areas and will help resource-poor countries address their public health challenges in genetic diseases. This will ultimately help build healthier nations worldwide.

Eligibility and Application

The program is intended to train healthcare professionals and trainees from developing nations that are in their early-mid careers. The curriculum is designed in English for healthcare professionals with an advanced understanding of the biological sciences. Hence, research scientists (Ph.D.), physicians (M.B.B.S./M.D.), dentists (D.D.S./D.M.D.), dentist-scientists, nurses (M.S./Ph.D.), counselors (M.S./Ph.D.) and medical, dental and graduate school trainees can apply. Selected candidates will be fully sponsored (travel, local transportation in the United States, lodging and per diem) for the duration of the summit (Aug 28th - Sept. 28th, 2019). Participants will share lodging quarters with another participant (same sex) to reduce costs. Attendance on all days and of all events is required. Self-sponsorship may be possible, provided seats are available.

In order to measure the success of this program, candidates will be required to participate in:

• A pre- and post-survey to each day's curriculum and at the end of the Summit.
• An intermediate report (1-2 years, as determined) on their professional development and career choices and advancements in genomics.
• Follow-up reports every year to measure their ability to successfully integrate their learning in research and practice, by:
  • The number of collaborations established and publications.
  • Systems established to record, track and monitor the occurrence and re-occurrence of congenital birth defects and genetic diseases.
  • Number of cases identified, diagnosed and treated.
  • Number of cases referred for counseling and for medical management of the condition.
  • Improvement in the quality of life of affected individuals and their families.
  • The multiplier effect resulting from their return to their countries to build capacity (train others, set up research/clinical facilities, introduce genomics in the curriculum etc.) and strengthen their curricula, research and healthcare systems.

Interested and qualified candidates must apply on official letterhead and signatures, with:

1. Resume/ Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover letter, not to exceed 2 pages indicating-

• Their interest in attending the Summit.
• Specification of the area in which 'tailored' training is desired, based on interests and needs.
• The impact the Summit will have on their careers, in Genetics and Genomics.
• Plans to implement the knowledge gained to address the public health challenges specific to their nation.
• Their ability and commitment for continued evaluation over a 5-year period.

3. Three letters of recommendation on official letterhead signed by-

• Immediate supervisor
• Head/Chair of the Department
• Dean of Institution
• Vice Chancellor of the University
• Employer
• Professors for trainees currently in medical or graduate school

For more information, visit https://www.genome.gov/27563951/an-international-summit-in-human-genetics-and-genomics/ 

How to Apply:

We are now accepting applications for the 2019 Summit. A 'complete' application package must be submitted via email to mkaur@mail.nih.gov  by December 10, 2018. Selections are on a rolling basis and seats are limited so please apply early. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

U.S.-JAPAN COOPERATIVE MEDICAL SCIENCES PROGRAM COLLABORATIVE AWARDS -CRDF GLOBAL

CRDF Global is accepting proposals from joint U.S., Japan, and other regional Asia-Pacific (APac) based investigators working in the field of infectious disease and immunology research for the U.S.-Japan Cooperative Medical Sciences Program (USJCMSP) Collaborative Awards, 2019. This initiative is jointly funded by CRDF Global utilizing funds provided by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). USJCMSP Collaborative Awards, 2019 is the third round of a collaborative award program that was initiated in 2016 following the 50th anniversary celebration of the USJCMSP. The awards program aims to promote the inclusion of early-stage and female scientists in collaborative research.

Proposal Deadline: Saturday, December 15, 2018

ELIGIBILITY

Individuals who served as PIs on the 2016 or 2018 USJCMSP collaborative awards cannot apply as PIs in this competition.

All proposals must meet each of the following eligibility criteria:

1) Each proposal must include one PI from each sub-team (U.S., Japan and/or APac team) who will serve together as Co-PIs of the collaborative team. Co-PIs will share overall responsibility for the project and coordinating all project participants and institutions. The institution at which each PI is employed will serve as the individual team’s Principal Institution[1] designated on the proposal. Additional Investigators and institutions may be included as secondary collaborators to each individual team at the discretion of the co-PIs.

2) Each PI must:

• Possess the degree of Ph.D., M.D., or the equivalent research experience 
• Demonstrate scientific capacity and research experience. 
• Be employed at an institution that can serve as the Principal Institution on the award. 

3) On each application it is strongly encouraged that both of the Japanese sub-team and the U.S. sub-team include as a PI an early-stage or female investigator. At least either of the Japanese sub-team or the U.S. sub-team must include an early-stage or female investigator as a PI. In applications that include a collaborating APac sub-team, the APac sub-team must include at least ONE early-stage or female investigator, preferably as the APac sub-team PI. If senior investigators (i.e., non-early-stage) are included as members of the proposed Japanese, U.S. or APac sub-teams, at least one senior investigator involved in each project must be identified as a mentor and trainer who will work with the early-stage investigator(s) involved in each project.

4) Sub-team budget allocation percentages must total 100% for the collaborative team and may not exceed $60,000 USD.

Investigators from the United States, Japan, and other APac countries are invited to jointly apply for funding for collaborative research projects focused on the areas of research listed below and other related topics. Basic and clinical immunology and endemic and emerging infectious diseases relevant to the APac region eligible for this competition are the following:

• Acute Respiratory Infections
• Cholera and other Bacterial Enteric Diseases
• Hepatitis
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS)
• Immunology related to Infections Diseases
• Nutrition and Metabolism (related to Infectious Diseases and/or Immunology)
• Parasitic Diseases
• Resistance against Anti-Microbial/Viral Agents
• Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and other Mycobacteria
• Other Viral Diseases
• Other Emerging and Reemerging Diseases

More information here: http://www.crdfglobal.org/funding-opportunities/2019-USJCMSP 

Grand Challenges Explorations - Increasing Demand for Vaccination Services (BMGF)

Increasing Demand for Vaccination Services (Round 22)

THE CHALLENGE

Within this call to increase demand for vaccination services, and thus increase the number of children vaccinated globally, we are looking for innovative ideas in the following specific areas (please specify whether your concept applies to the first, or second challenge, or both):

(1) Novel approaches for providing practical knowledge about vaccines and vaccination services to caregivers

(2) Novel ideas for improving the convenience and/or caregiver seeking of vaccination services

Additionally, we will consider proposals in low-income countries that:

• Are based on human-centered design principles
• Utilize latest thinking in social, economic, and behavioral research
• Do not increase burden upon frontline health workers
• Minimize perverse incentives (including incentives for falsification)
• Are relevant in multiple developing country settings
• Constitute transformative rather than incremental improvements and are deliverable and scalable in low-income countries

Key features of the GCE initiative are:
• A two-page application.
• Rapid turnaround time. We select projects within approximately five months of the proposal
submission.
• Blinded and champion-based review process. Reviewers with a track record in identifying
innovative ideas select the proposals they find most pioneering without need for consensus.
• Awards of $100,000 USD are made in Phase I. Phase I awardees have one opportunity to apply
for a follow-on Phase II award of up to $1,000,000 USD.

INDIRECT COSTS
Project funds may not be used to pay any indirect costs.

Key Dates 
September 2018: Application period opens
Application deadline: Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 11:30 a.m. US Pacific Standard Time
February 2019: Proposal review completed
April 2019: Selections completed, and notifications sent
May 2019: Awarded projects start date

Eligibility Criteria
GCE is open to both foreign and domestic organizations, including non-profit organizations, for-profit companies, international organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions.

Links:

https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/challenge/increasing-demand-vaccination-services-round-22

https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/sites/default/files/additional-materials/GCE_Rules_and_Guidelines_Round22.pdf

Grassroots Initiative Grants for People Living with HIV (EJAF)

Through the Fund for Key Populations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the Foundation and partners support initiatives benefiting the populations most-at-risk for HIV in this region.

Type of projects: Projects providing tangible impacts on individuals living with and communities affected by HIV Aids 
Location: Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, Russian Federation, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Eligibility: UK and Southern CSOs can apply
Grant range: £10,000 - £15,000 (approx. 428,300 Thai Baht)


ROBERT KEY MEMORIAL FUND

Open to organisations that can demonstrate an immediate, tangible benefit for individuals living with HIV.

Must not exceed £10,000 per year

 Can be for 1 or 2 years in length
 Must provide an immediate and tangible benefit to People Living with HIV
 Proposals must be for a specific project and demonstrate a clear need for support
 We do not fund salary costs solely (salary costs may however be included as part of the budget of an overall project)

Types of programmes we would consider under the Robert Key Memorial Fund are:
- Small scale interventions or projects working with People Living with HIV
- Projects that fight stigma and discrimination against People Living with HIV
- Immediate services such as urgent care or medical interventions for PLHIV

Types of programmes we would not support under the Robert Key Memorial Fund are:
- Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT)
- Awareness raising/prevention
- Behaviour change
- Programmes that re-grant or provide sub-grants to other organisations
- General running/operational costs for your organisation
- Research Projects

Deadline:
This fund is open for application all year round.

Links:

https://london.ejaf.org/grants/#our+grants

https://london.ejaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/RKMF-Grant-Criteria.pdf