BMGF Grand Challenges R26: New Approaches to Integrating Molecular Surveillance into Malaria Control Programs

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation calls for applications to identify new and innovative approaches to integrating malaria molecular surveillance into malaria surveillance and programmatic decision-making in malaria-endemic countries.

Deadline: 2 December 2020, 11:30 am PST (3 December 2020, 2.30 am Bangkok time)

What we are looking for:

We are looking for innovative proposals that will use MMS (Malaria Molecular Surveillance) data to enable NMCPs (National Malaria Control Programs) to inform their national and sub-national surveillance efforts, national strategic planning, and/or intervention implementation. These may include proposals that: create or expand laboratory, bioinformatics, and data interpretation capacity within NMCPs or at institutions closely affiliated with an NMCP; create or implement tools for communicating and sharing parasite and/or vector molecular surveillance data; and/or build relationships between groups with MMS capacity and NMCP partners. Proposals should target the use cases identified above that are ready or near-to-ready for programmatic deployment. We do not want respondents to be generating MMS data for research purposes; rather, the intent of this call is to support the application of MMS approaches to routine malaria surveillance and planning within NMCPs, Ministries of Health, or similar organizations.

While we welcome respondents from around the world, we are particularly interested in proposals from respondents working in high-burden malaria settings. All proposals must include a principal investigator or co-investigator from a malaria-endemic country.

Winning proposals should:

• Explain the rationale for and potential benefits of using MMS data in their setting
• Address one or more of the use cases outlined in the Challenge section above
• Include representation from the NMCP, Ministry of Health (MOH) representation, government agency or healthcare provider responsible for malaria control in the country / region
• Describe how MMS information arising from the project will be shared with the NMCP, MOH and other key stakeholders

A few examples of work that would be considered for funding:

• Implementing or scaling-up a laboratory assay for hrp2/3 deletion and / or antimalarial drug resistance marker surveillance in partnership with an NMCP
• Developing a web interface or reporting tool for communicating molecular data to stakeholders who do not have genomics / bioinformatics experience
• Creating a bioinformatics workflow for MMS data that goes from fastq file to a readable report summarizing the analysis results in a user-friendly way
• Developing and implementing a training program to familiarize NMCP staff with the use and interpretation of MMS data

We will not consider funding for:

• Proposals that do not include an investigator from a malaria-endemic country
• Proposals that do not include an explicit partnership with the NMCP, MOH or other authority responsible for malaria surveillance and control in the country / region
• Proposals that do not demonstrate how the results will immediately influence malaria decision-making by the relevant NMCP, MOH or other authority

More information here- https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/challenge/new-approaches-integrating-molecular-surveillance-malaria-control-programs 

Southeast Asia - Europe Joint Funding Scheme for research and innovation

5^th Joint Call for Proposals of Science and Technologies (S&T) in the Thematic Areas of Infectious Diseases (Incl. COVID-19) and Nanotechnologies

and

6^th Joint Call for Proposals of Innovation in the Thematic Areas of Digital Health (Incl. Infectious Diseases) and Bioeconomy (Incl. Application of ICT-Based Technologies)

Southeast Asia - Europe Joint Call Projects must comprise of at least 3 partners from 3 different countries (either 2 partners from 2 different Southeast Asian countries and 1 European partner or 2 partners from 2 different European countries and 1 Southeast Asian partner) applying for funding from funding agencies participating in the call. Funding will be provided for the duration of a maximum of three years (36 months).

THE 5TH JOINT CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Deadline: 15 October 2020 12:00 (noon) CET/ 17:00 Jakarta time

Thematic areas:

1. Infectious Diseases (incl. COVID-19)

There is a strong potential for collaboration in the area of COVID-19 as the whole world is affected by the outbreak situation and require actions, which can contribute tackling the COVID-19 related challenges. Hence, the thematic area of Infectious Diseases may include COVID-19 and related post-crisis research, e.g.:

·         Research into preventive measures against the next pandemic or epidemic

·         Long term studies e.g. related to population genomics, drugs, vaccines

·         Post-crisis research to mitigate the impact (e.g. PTSD or other mental health research)

This list of sub-thematic areas does not exclude the submission of project proposals without a COVID-19 related thematic focus.

2. Nanotechnologies

Nanoscience and nanotechnology are highly interdisciplinary and cut across industrial and commercial sectors to research and create new materials and devices with remarkable properties and functions. To name but a few, nanotechnology is being used in medicine, electronics, food, manufacturing and materials or water purification.

Countries contributing to the 5^th Call are:

Southeast Asia: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, The Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand

Europe: Belgium, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, and Turkey

Application Process

Proposals for S&T projects have to be submitted electronically using PT-Outline Web Tool

Link: https://ptoutline.eu/app/jfs20st  

THE 6th JOINT CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Deadline: 16 November 2020 12:00 (noon) CET/ 18:00 Jakarta time 

Thematic areas:

1. Digital Health (including Infectious Diseases)

Digital health is the convergence and use of modern digital technologies and services to enhance the efficiency of healthcare delivery and make medicines more personalized and precise. It would offer more innovative ways for monitoring health and well-being. These technologies include but are not limited to, telemedicine, mobile phones and applications, wearable devices, remote monitoring sensors. It also involves the development of interconnected health systems to improve the use of computational technologies, smart devices, computational analysis techniques and communication media to support healthcare professionals and patients manage illnesses and health risks, as well as promote health and well-being.

2. Bioeconomy (including Application of ICT-based Technologies)

The Bioeconomy comprises those parts of the economy that use renewable biological resources from land and sea – such as crops, forests, fish, animals, and micro-organisms – to produce food, materials, and energy. Bioeconomy is a top-priority on the research agendas of the EU and ASEAN countries.

In addition to Bioeconomy issues, ICT is a crucial instrument for finding scalable and sustainable solutions. In the EU-STI Roadmap, pilots will be launched for innovative service creation based on existing technologies, with a focus on the participation of relevant innovation stakeholders from developing countries, including end-user community representatives (ICT-39-2016-2017: International partnership building in low and middle income countries in WP 2016-2017).

Countries contributing to the 6^th Call are:

Southeast Asia: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, The Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand

Europe: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Spain, and Turkey

Application Process

Proposals for Innovation projects have to be submitted electronically using PT-Outline Web Tool

Link: https://ptoutline.eu/app/jfs20in

Remark: This year, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) is joining only on the 5^th Call which are Infectious Diseases (including COVID-19) and Nanotechnologies, and Thailand Center for Excellence for Life Science (TCELS) is joining the 6th call on Digital Health (including Infectious Diseases).

More details on the Southeast Asia -Europe Joint Funding Scheme: 5^th and 6^th Joint Call for Proposals available Here

For further information, please contact

Ms. Phawika Rueannoi, International Collaboration, NSTDA

Tel: 02-1176935          

E-mail: phawika.rueannoi@nstda.or.th

Global Infectious Disease Research Training Program (NIH)

Global Infectious Disease Research Training Program (D43 Clinical Trial Optional)

D43 International Research Training Grants

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: PAR-20-229

Funding Opportunity Purpose

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages joint applications for the Global Infectious Disease (GID) Research Training programs from U.S. and low- and middle-income country (LMIC) institutions. The application should propose a collaborative training program that will strengthen the capacity of a LMIC institution to conduct infectious disease research not including HIV/AIDS. FIC will support research-training programs that focus on major endemic or life-threatening emerging infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases, infections that frequently occur as co-infections in HIV infected individuals or infections associated with non-communicable disease conditions of public health importance in LMICs.  Training related to prevention, treatment or public health approaches to any technical area of basic, epidemiology, clinical, behavioral or social science health research may be supported.  Research Training programs should incorporate didactic, mentored research and professional development skills components to prepare individuals for careers that will have significant impact on the priority health research needs of LMICs.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) allows support of trainees as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial; or a separate ancillary clinical trial or proposing to gain research experience in a clinical trial led by another investigator, as part of their research and professional development.

Eligibility

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply

Award Budget

Application budgets are limited to $230,000 per year for new awards and $276,000 per year for renewal awards (total direct costs).

Award Project Period

The maximum project period allowed is 5 years.

Key Dates

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): July 14, 2020

Letter of Intent Due Date(s): 30 days prior to the application due date

*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: August 4, 2022

Deadline
Application Due Date(s)

August 14, 2020

All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on the listed date(s).
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.

Full details: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-20-229.html

International Research in Infectious Diseases (NIH)

International Research in Infectious Diseases (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

R01 Research Project Grant

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: PAR-20-108

Funding Opportunity Purpose

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to invite applications for support of high-priority, regionally relevant infectious disease research by international investigators in resource-constrained countries. Applicant organizations must be headquartered in foreign (non-U.S.) resource-constrained countries (i.e. low-income economies, lower-middle-income economies, and upper-middle-income economies by World Bank Classification). Eligibility status of applicant organizations will be determined by this World Bank Classification list at application submission date.

Eligibility

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply
Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Award Budget

Applications may request a budget of up to $125,000 per year in direct cost and a maximum of $625,000 in direct costs over a five-year project period.

Award Project Period

The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project period is 5 years.

Key Dates

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): June 15, 2020

Letter of Intent Due Date(s): 30 days prior to the application due date

*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: August 20, 2022

Deadline
Application Due Date(s)

July 15, 2020

All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on the listed date(s).
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.

Full details: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-20-108.html

International Summit in Human Genetics and Genomics (August 31 – October 1, 2020) NIH

The International Summit in Human Genetics and Genomics 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.

The curriculum will be in English and at the graduate school level (Master’s degree and beyond) for healthcare professionals (Researchers, Physicians, Dentists/Scientists, Nurses, Counselors, Graduate and Medical School trainees) from developing nations. It is re-constructed annually to meet the goals and will include the following:

• Two weeks of general courses in genetics and genomics research and medicine, and one week of field trips and hands-on workshops for all attendees.
• Followed by one week of personalized meetings, observer ship, clinics etc. with experts in the field of interest indicated in the cover letter and based on the needs of their countries, where identified. This may not include hands-on training unless feasible.
• Field visits to state-of-the-art laboratories such as GeneDx, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Maryland Public Health Laboratories, National Center for Advancing Translational Science, National Intramural Sequencing Center, etc. for learnings in cytogenetics, molecular genetics, biochemical genetics, newborn screening, pharmacogenomics, sequencing, clinical bioinformatics and systems management.
• Detailed learning and/or training at world-renowned clinical and research facilities and hospitals, such as the National Institutes of Health, the Institute of Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Division of Genetics and Metabolism at Children's National Health System, the Maternal and Fetal Medicine program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, and at the Maryland Public Health Laboratories.
• Introduction to technologies such as next-generation sequencing, exome sequencing, gene panels, MRIs, sonograms etc., for their role in research and prevention, diagnosis and treatment of genetic disease; data collection, analysis, interpretation and submission.
• The role of genetic and genomic counseling, and support groups in managing inherited diseases.
• Usefulness of telecommunications and long-distance learning modules, in research and medicine, in remote areas with limited facilities.
• Lectures in ethical, legal and social implications of genomic information.
• Introduction to precision medicine and the importance of newborn screening.
• Provide candidates with numerous opportunities for a one-on-one interaction with experts in the field to foster collaborations (research and/or clinical) and to address other concerns related to the field.
• Provide a networking platform that will facilitate communication, partnerships and collaborations, between research groups and professionals involved in the summit.
• Interaction with members of the United Nations, USAID, NGOs and other agencies to learn about the ways and means of successfully sustaining programs in genetics and genomics in developing nations, and strategies for their inclusion and implementation as a nation-wide program.

Eligibility

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. 

How to Apply

We are now accepting applications for the 2020 Summit. A ‘complete’ application package must be submitted via email to ishgg@nih.gov and cc: mkaur@mail.nih.gov by Nov 29th, 2019. Selections are on a rolling basis and seats are limited so please apply early. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Link to Full Details:

https://www.genome.gov/event-calendar/An-International-Summit-in-Human-Genetics-Genomics

Accelerating Discovery of Efficacious Pre-erythrocytic Stage Malaria Vaccines (NIH)

Accelerating Discovery of Efficacious Pre-erythrocytic Stage Malaria Vaccines (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

U01 Research Project – Cooperative Agreements

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Numbers: RFA-AI-19-059

Funding Opportunity Purpose

The purpose of this initiative is to stimulate basic research, discovery, and early translational research to enable and accelerate the generation of highly efficacious pre-erythrocytic stage malaria vaccines, including sporozoite-based vaccines. Cross-fertilization and collaboration among investigators from malaria vaccine research and other basic research areas such as parasite biology, parasite genomics, pathogenesis, and host immunology are highly encouraged. The goal is to generate one or more promising vaccine candidates against human malaria that exhibit performance superior to currently available sporozoite-based vaccines and are suitable for further downstream process development and future clinical evaluation.

Eligibility

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.

Award Budget

The application budget may not exceed $750K in direct costs per year and should reflect the actual needs of the project.

Award Project Period

The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project period is 5 years.

Key Dates

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): December 17, 2019

Letter of Intent Due Date(s): December 17, 2019

*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 18, 2020

Deadline
Application Due Date(s)

January 17, 2020
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/rfa-files/RFA-AI-19-059.html

Mobile Health: Technology and Outcomes in Low and Middle Income Countries (NIH)

Mobile Health: Technology and Outcomes in Low and Middle Income Countries (R21/R33 - Clinical Trial Optional)

R21/R33 Phased Innovation Award

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Numbers: PAR-19-376

Funding Opportunity Purpose

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage exploratory/developmental research applications that propose to study the development, validation, feasibility, and effectiveness of innovative mobile health (mHealth) interventions or tools specifically suited for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that utilize new or emerging technology, platforms, systems, or analytics. The overall goal of the program is to catalyze innovation through multidisciplinary research that addresses global health problems, develop an evidence base for the use of mHealth technology to improve clinical and public health outcomes, and strengthen mHealth research capacity in LMICs. Applicants are required to propose partnerships between at least one U.S. institution and one LMIC institution.

Research Objectives and Scope

This FOA encourages research projects that study the development, feasibility, validation, and effectiveness of mHealth tools and/or interventions for the prevention, diagnosis, management, and treatment of specific health conditions or for disease agnostic/cross-cutting applications. Applicants are encouraged to propose research projects that have the potential to provide an understanding of principles underlying effective mHealth interventions or tools that are generalizable to the field. Research projects may include some mHealth technology development along with feasibility, acceptability, usability, validation, and effectiveness studies. User-centered and iterative design are highly encouraged during development stages. Applications should include as rigorous study designs as possible.

Eligibility

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.

Award Budget

The R21 phase may not exceed $125,000 in direct costs in any single year of the R21 phase. The R33 phase may not exceed $200,000 in direct costs in any single year of the R33 phase.

Award Project Period

The project period is limited to 2 years for the R21 phase and up to 3 years for the R33 phase. The total project period may not exceed 5 years.   

Key Dates

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): October 19, 2019

Letter of Intent Due Date(s): October 19, 2019

*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: December 04, 2020

Deadline
Application Due Date(s)

November 19, 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-19-376.html