Please note: we strongly advise lodgement of your application one week before the final date (i.e., by 28 Feb 2014), to allow time for any necessary corrections.
International Collaborations in Infectious Diseases Research (U01)
Activity Code U01 Research Project – Cooperative Agreements
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number RFA-AI-14-001
Companion Funding Opportunity RFA-AI-14-002, U19 Research Project - Cooperative Agreements
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-14-002.html
Funding Opportunity Purpose
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to solicit applications from U.S. institutions and collaborating foreign (non-U.S.) institutions to study infectious diseases (excluding HIV/AIDS) of public health significance in resource-constrained countries. The collaboration must include, at a minimum, one U.S. institution and one eligible foreign institution. Eligible foreign countries are defined as low-income economies, lower-middle-income economies, and upper-middle-income economies, as defined by the World Bank. This work is expected to increase scientific knowledge on public health related issues, enhance relevant research experience for U.S. and foreign investigators, promote the development of research capacity, and encourage future collaborative relationships.
Key Dates
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) February 7, 2014
Letter of Intent Due Date(s) February 7, 2014
Application Due Date(s) March 7, 2014, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.
Scientific Merit Review July 2014
Advisory Council Review October 2014
Earliest Start Date January 2015
Funding Opportunity Description
Background
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), supports extramural research focused on understanding, controlling and preventing diseases caused by virtually all infectious agents. The NIAID has a long-standing interest in and commitment to global health and international research on infectious diseases. A solid foundation of international research and collaborations enhances the U.S. capacity for infectious disease research and the ability to respond to newly emergent disease threats. Moreover, the availability of NIAID-sponsored overseas study sites for field research advances our global public health agenda and allows for research that might not be possible in the U.S.
The International Collaborations in Infectious Disease Research (ICIDR) Program, initiated in 1980, makes awards to institutions in the US and foreign countries to engage in substantial international collaborations in infectious disease research (excluding HIV/AIDS). The goals of the ICIDR program are to: support high-quality, collaborative research that will lead to or result in detection, prevention, amelioration, and/or improved treatment of infectious diseases; increase relevant and collaborative research experience for both U.S. and foreign investigators; and facilitate and enhance scientific linkages between U.S. and foreign investigators to enhance the independent research capacity of the collaborating foreign institutions and foster further international collaborative research projects.
Research Objectives
This FOA invites applications from U.S. institutions or institutions in eligible, resource-limited foreign countries proposing collaborative research focused on infectious diseases that disproportionately affect the health of people living in resource-limited countries. The collaboration must include, at a minimum, one US institution and one eligible foreign institution. However, additional collaborations may be included with other developed countries, and/or with more than one eligible foreign country. Both the U.S. and eligible foreign institutions must have a lead investigator identified as key personnel; each lead investigator (U.S. and foreign) must have a primary appointment at the collaborating institution. Both the U.S. and foreign lead investigators must have a significant role in the design, implementation, monitoring, and administrative management of the research projects. Eligible foreign countries are defined as low-income economies, lower-middle-income economies, and upper-middle-income economies, as defined by the World Bank. (See Section III.1 Eligible applicants). Applicants may choose to submit single project applications (U01) or multiple project applications (U19 - see companion RFA-AI-14-002).
Specific Areas of Research Interest
The ICIDR program supports research requiring access to populations of infected human and/or other mammalian hosts, parasites, and/or vectors limited or unavailable in the U.S. and other developed countries.
Therefore, the majority of research supported under the ICIDR program must be conducted at one or more foreign sites with an emphasis on field and clinical studies of endemic diseases.
Characteristics of the proposed research should include the following:
Research on infectious diseases (except HIV/AIDS), including emerging infections, that are of importance and/or interest to the foreign collaborating country, including one or more of the following:
Research addressing infectious diseases of significant public health importance within the collaborating foreign country that cannot be addressed in the U.S. or other developed countries, such as (but not limited to): dengue, tuberculosis, trachoma, Nipah, and malaria. Research may also include studies of vector-borne pathogens for which the vector is not endemic to the U.S. and colonies are not available in U.S. labs.
Research addressing neglected or understudied infectious diseases where little may be known about the impact on public health in areas outside developed countries, and where there is reason to believe that these infections contribute to the disease burden in the foreign country, including recently emerging diseases, such as MERS-CoV.
Research on infectious diseases in special populations or in the setting of co-infections that are particular to the eligible country/countries. Examples include but are not limited to: pertussis, pneumonia, and diarrhea in infants.
Research may focus on more than one organism/infectious disease (e.g. diarrheal or respiratory diseases), including co-infections and microbiome studies, provided a strong rationale is given.
Within the guidelines above, studies may be proposed on any aspect of infectious diseases, including, but not limited to: the epidemiology, natural history of disease, pathogenesis, and immunopathogenesis; epidemiologic or natural history studies to define the incidence, clinical presentations, time course, and outcomes of diseases; studies of correlates of immunity to infectious diseases in patients with little or no disease; identification of resistance patterns; identification of biomarkers that can be used to develop diagnostics, targets for therapy or vaccines; characterization of susceptible cohorts for a particular pathogen; and pilot or feasibility studies in preparation for larger studies.
Development and/or evaluation of point-of-care or improved diagnostics is encouraged. Evaluation of new diagnostics is allowed as long treatment/care is determined by standard, accepted procedures and results of the evaluated diagnostic for an individual are not reported back to the treating physician and do not impact care. Routine diagnosis, treatment, and care must be provided outside of the proposed research project.
Development of immunological, microbiological, biostatistical, epidemiological, data management and clinical research capacity at the endemic sites is strongly encouraged. Multidisciplinary collaborations are encouraged to ensure the appropriate breadth of scientific expertise in contributing fields, including but not limited to: infectious diseases, biochemistry, immunology, genetics, pharmacology, molecular biology, microbiology, zoology, and medical entomology.
Annual Programmatic Meetings will be held to facilitate communication and collaboration among funded ICIDRs. Responsibilities associated with organizing and attending these meetings are detailed in the cooperative agreement terms and conditions of award below.
NOTE: The following areas of research are not responsive to this FOA and will NOT be reviewed:
- Research focused on HIV/AIDS, the interaction of HIV/AIDS and an infectious organism/disease or other disease/condition, or the study of interventions intended to treat or prevent HIV/AIDS.
- Research limited to sample collection at a foreign site for detailed sample evaluation in developed/high economy [U.S. and non-U.S.] countries.
- Research proposing clinical trials of interventions in humans.
Funding Instrument
Cooperative Agreement: A support mechanism used when there will be substantial Federal scientific or programmatic involvement. Substantial involvement means that, after award, NIH scientific or program staff will assist, guide, coordinate, or participate in project activities.
Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards
NIAID intends to commit $5 million in FY 2015 to fund 5-8 cooperative agreements.
Award Budget
Direct costs are limited to $500,000 per year excluding consortia F&A costs.
Award Project Period
Maximum project period 5 years.
Foreign Institutions Eligible
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.
Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
To be eligible, foreign institutions must be located in a country defined as low-income economies, lower-middle-income economies, and upper-middle-income economies by World Bank definition: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTATISTICS/Resources/CLASS.XLS.
The application must include a collaborative arrangement between the U.S. and one or more established institutions (e.g. university, research institute, federal or state health department, hospital) located in one or more eligible foreign (non-U.S.) countries.
