NIH Weekly Funding Opportunities and Policy Notices
Notice NOT-EY-18-004 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
Funding Opportunity RFA-DA-18-017 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. This FOA supports developing and testing implementation approaches that scale-up evidence based interventions in low to middle income countries among PWID where they form an important component of the national HIV epidemic, including countries where PWID are a relatively emergent population for HIV cases. Projects need to align with national HIV/AIDS plans and provide models for large scale implementation, including QA/QC systems. Collaboration with local or regional PEPFAR and Global Fund programs is encouraged. Recently introduced syringe services and drug treatment settings should be leveraged as well as new health financing systems, criminal justice reforms or other local innovations that can be used to expand HIV prevention and treatment for PWID. Collaboration with NIH initiatives such as IeDEA (NIHs cohort of cohorts co-funded by NIDA) and existing NIDA-funded projects is encouraged.
Funding Opportunity PAR-18-547 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to solicit UG3/UH3 phased cooperative agreement research applications to plan and implement clinical trials. Awards made under this FOA will initially support a one-year milestone-driven planning phase (UG3), with possible transition to a clinical trial implementation phase of up to five years (UH3). Only UG3 projects that have met the scientific milestones and feasibility requirements may transition to the UH3 phase. The UG3/UH3 application must be submitted as a single application, following the instructions described in this FOA. The UG3 phase will permit the Principal Investigator to finalize the study team and will support activities to develop: the final clinical protocol; the Clinical Investigators Brochure (or equivalent), if needed; the data management system and other tools for data collection and quality management, safety and operational oversight plans; recruitment and retention strategies; and other essential documents such as the Manual of Procedures for the subsequent clinical trial in the UH3 phase. The UG3 planning phase is not designed for the collection of preliminary data on the efficacy of the intervention (such as pre-clinical studies with animals), or the collection of observational data from humans to support the rationale for a clinical trial. Evaluation of the potential subject population to determine individuals eligibility for participation in the future UH3 trial is allowed in the UG3 phase but not required. The UH3 phase of the award will support the conduct of one investigator-initiated clinical trial intended to assess safety and/or efficacy of various types of interventions.
Notice NOT-OD-18-121 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
Funding Opportunity PAR-18-538 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) invites applications for basic research to better characterize the affective, cognitive, social, and motivational parameters of impaired and intact decision making in both normal aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Research is sought that will characterize the extent to which basic behavioral and neural processes involved in decision-making are differentially impacted in normal aging and AD, investigate the influence of social factors on decision-making, and investigate the decision-making factors that render older adults (with or without cognitive impairment) vulnerable to financial exploitation and other forms of mistreatment and abuse. The FOA also invites applications to apply basic research on the processes involved in decision-making to the design of decision-supportive interventions for midlife and older adults with and without AD. Specific opportunities include the development of decision supportive interventions to leverage cognitive, emotional and motivational strengths of these populations: tools to assess decisional capacity; strategies for simplifying choices and offering better defaults; and the promotion of timely adoption of optimal delegation practices (e.g., power of attorney, living wills, etc.).
Funding Opportunity PAR-18-544 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) invites applications for basic research to better characterize the affective, cognitive, social, and motivational parameters of impaired and intact decision making in both normal aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Research is sought that will characterize the extent to which basic behavioral and neural processes involved in decision-making are differentially impacted in normal aging and AD, investigate the influence of social factors on decision-making, and investigate the decision-making factors that render older adults (with or without cognitive impairment) vulnerable to financial exploitation and other forms of mistreatment and abuse. The FOA also invites applications to apply basic research on the processes involved in decision-making to the design of decision-supportive interventions for midlife and older adults with and without AD. Specific opportunities include the development of decision-supportive interventions to leverage cognitive, emotional and motivational strengths of these populations: tools to assess decisional capacity; strategies for simplifying choices and offering better defaults; and the promotion of timely adoption of optimal delegation practices (e.g., power of attorney, living wells, etc.).
Funding Opportunity PAR-18-541 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN) encourages applications from small businesses seeking support to advance their small molecule drug discovery and development projects into the clinic. Participants in the BPN are responsible for conducting all studies that involve disease- or target-specific assays, models, and other research tools and receive funding for all activities to be conducted in their own laboratories. In addition, applicants will collaborate with NIH-funded consultants and can augment their project with NIH contract research organizations (CROs) that specialize in medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, formulations development, chemical synthesis including under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and Phase I clinical testing. Projects can enter either at the Discovery stage, to optimize promising hit compounds through medicinal chemistry, or at the Development stage, to advance a development candidate through Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling toxicology studies and phase I clinical testing. Projects that enter at the Discovery stage and meet their milestones may continue on through Development. BPN awardee institutions retain their assignment of IP rights and gain assignment of IP rights from the BPN contractors (and thereby control the patent prosecution and licensing negotiations) for drug candidates developed in this program.
Funding Opportunity PAR-18-546 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN) invites applications from neuroscience investigators seeking support to advance their small molecule drug discovery and development projects into the clinic. Participants in the BPN are responsible for conducting all studies that involve disease- or target-specific assays, models, and other research tools and receive funding for all activities to be conducted in their own laboratories. In addition, applicants will collaborate with NIH-funded consultants and can augment their project with NIH contract research organizations (CROs) that specialize in medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, formulations development, chemical synthesis including under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and Phase I clinical testing. Projects can enter either at the Discovery stage, to optimize promising hit compounds through medicinal chemistry, or at the Development stage, to advance a development candidate through Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling toxicology studies and phase I clinical testing. Projects that enter at the Discovery stage and meet their milestones may continue on through Development. BPN awardee Institutions retain their assignment of IP rights and gain assignment of IP rights from the BPN contractors (and thereby control the patent prosecution and licensing negotiations) for drug candidates developed in this program.
Notice NOT-DK-18-005 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
Funding Opportunity PAR-18-539 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The purpose of the International Research Scientist Development Award (IRSDA) is to provide support and protected time (three to five years) to advanced postdoctoral U.S. research scientists and recently-appointed U.S. junior faculty (applicants must be at least two years beyond conferral of doctoral degree) for an intensive, mentored research career development experience in a low- or middle-income country (LMIC), as defined by the World Bank (http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country-and-lending-groups, including low-income, lower-middle-income, and upper-middle-income countries) leading to an independently-funded research career focused on global health. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications from early-career investigators from any health-related discipline who propose career development activities and a research project that is relevant to the health priorities of the LMIC under the mentorship of LMIC and U.S. mentors. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed specifically for applicants proposing to serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or a separate ancillary study to an existing trial, as part of their research and career development. Applicants not planning an independent clinical trial, or proposing to gain research experience in a clinical trial led by another investigator, must apply to companion FOA (PAR-18-MMM).
Funding Opportunity PAR-18-540 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The purpose of the International Research Scientist Development Award (IRSDA) is to provide support and protected time (three to five years) to advanced postdoctoral U.S. research scientists and recently-appointed U.S. junior faculty (applicants must be at least two years beyond conferral of doctoral degree) for an intensive, mentored research career development experience in a low- or middle-income country (LMIC), as defined by the World Bank (http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country-and-lending-groups, including low-income, lower-middle-income, and upper-middle-income countries) leading to an independently-funded research career focused on global health. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications from early-career investigators from any health-related discipline who propose career development activities and a research project that is relevant to the health priorities of the LMIC under the mentorship of LMIC and U.S. mentors. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed specifically for applicants proposing to serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or a separate ancillary study to an existing trial, as part of their research and career development. Applicants not planning an independent clinical trial, or proposing to gain research experience in a clinical trial led by another investigator, must apply to companion FOA (PAR-18-MMM).
Funding Opportunity PA-18-531 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to stimulate research focused on the role of early-life factors (maternal-paternal, in utero, birth and infancy, puberty, adolescence, and young adult years) in cancer development later in life. Given that the current emerging evidence from limited research indicates a potentially important role for early-life events and exposures in cancer development, it is necessary to better understand 1) the early-life (maternal-paternal, in utero, birth and infancy, puberty, adolescence, and young adult years) factors that are associated with later cancer development; 2) how early-life factors mediate biological processes relevant to carcinogenesis; and 3) whether predictive markers for cancer risk based on what happens biologically at early life can be measured and developed for use in cancer prevention strategies. Markers that predict malignancy or pre-malignant conditions would allow assessment of early-life exposures with relevant outcomes without having to wait decades for cancer development. Ultimately, a better mechanistic understanding of how early-life events and exposures contribute to the etiology of cancer later in life will allow for the development of effective interventions during pregnancy or early life that may have a profound impact on cancer prevention.
Funding Opportunity PA-18-532 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to stimulate research focused on the role of early-life factors (maternal-paternal, in utero, birth and infancy, puberty, adolescence, and young adult years) in cancer development later in life. Given that the current emerging evidence from limited research indicates a potentially important role for early-life events and exposures in cancer development, it is necessary to better understand 1) the early-life (maternal-paternal, in utero, birth and infancy, puberty, adolescence, and young adult years) factors that are associated with later cancer development; 2) how early-life factors mediate biological processes relevant to carcinogenesis; and 3) whether predictive markers for cancer risk based on what happens biologically at early life can be measured and developed for use in cancer prevention strategies. Markers that predict malignancy or pre-malignant conditions would allow assessment of early-life exposures with relevant outcomes without having to wait decades for cancer development. Ultimately, a better mechanistic understanding of how early-life events and exposures contribute to the etiology of cancer later in life will allow for the development of effective interventions during pregnancy or early life that may have a profound impact on cancer prevention.
Funding Opportunity PA-18-529 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)is to stimulate research focused on the role of early-life factors (maternal-paternal, in utero, birth and infancy, puberty, adolescence, and young adult years) in cancer development later in life. Given that the current emerging evidence from limited research indicates a potentially important role for early-life events and exposures in cancer development, it is necessary to better understand 1) the early-life (maternal-paternal, in utero, birth and infancy, puberty, adolescence, and young adult years) factors that are associated with later cancer development; 2) how early-life factors mediate biological processes relevant to carcinogenesis; and 3) whether predictive markers for cancer risk based on what happens biologically at early life can be measured and developed for use in cancer prevention strategies. Markers that predict malignancy or pre-malignant conditions would allow assessment of early-life exposures with relevant outcomes without having to wait decades for cancer development. Ultimately, a better mechanistic understanding of how early-life events and exposures contribute to the etiology of cancer later in life will allow for the development of effective interventions during pregnancy or early life that may have a profound impact on cancer prevention.
Funding Opportunity PAR-18-534 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to support clinical studies that will fill gaps in the design of upcoming clinical trials in rare neurological or neuromuscular diseases by validating clinical outcome measures or biomarkers, or by characterizing cohorts of relevant patients. Through the support of trial readiness studies, NINDS expects to accelerate the initiation of clinical trials for rare diseases and to increase the likelihood of success in those trials.
Funding Opportunity PAR-18-514 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. This funding opportunity (FOA) encourages small business-based (STTR) research and development of commercial pharmaceutical interventions to extend lifespan and/or healthspan, to prevent, treat, and/or slow the progression of symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's disease related dementia (ADRD) in human cells and/or tissue, in-vitro models, and/or non-human animals.
Funding Opportunity PAR-18-512 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. This funding opportunity (FOA) encourages small business-based (SBIR) research and development of commercial pharmaceutical interventions to extend lifespan and/or healthspan, to prevent, treat, and/or slow the progression of symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's disease related dementia (ADRD) in human cells and/or tissue, in-vitro models, and/or non-human animals.
Funding Opportunity PAR-18-519 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage applications that propose either basic, clinical, or a combination of basic and clinical studies to investigate how functional changes in the sensory and/or motor systems impact the development and progression of Alzheimers disease. Studies may include older adults and/or animal models and may employ a variety of approaches, including cellular, molecular, imaging, physiological and genetic, to address this need. For clinical studies, leveraging of existing longitudinal cohorts already collecting sensory and motor assessments is highly encouraged.
Funding Opportunity PAR-18-523 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The NEI uses UG1 cooperative agreement awards to support investigator-initiated large-scale clinical trials, human gene-transfer and stem cell therapy trials, and other complex or high resource- or safety-risk clinical trials. These projects are multifaceted and of high public health significance, requiring clear delineation of study organization including roles and responsibilities and require careful performance oversight and monitoring for patient safety. For purposes of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the proposed study must be intended to evaluate interventions aimed at screening, diagnosing, preventing, or treating vision disorders, or to compare the effectiveness of two or more established interventions. The NEI UG1-supported studies are typically funded as a group of linked companion grant awards including the Chairs Grant, the Coordinating Center, and Resource Centers, when appropriate. For less organizationally complex projects, details pertaining to data management and statistical analyses, resource center and recruitment activity may be included as part of the Chair's Grant application. Specifically, this FOA encourages applications for the Chair's grant, which includes the scientific rationale, study aims and significance of the research project
Funding Opportunity PAR-18-522 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The NEI uses UG1 cooperative agreement awards to support investigator-initiated large-scale clinical trials, human gene-transfer and stem cell therapy trials, and other complex or high resource- or safety-risk clinical trials. These projects are multifaceted and of high public health significance, requiring clear delineation of study organization including roles and responsibilities and require careful performance oversight and monitoring for patient safety. For purposes of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the proposed study must be intended to evaluate interventions aimed at screening, diagnosing, preventing, or treating vision disorders, or to compare the effectiveness of two or more established interventions. The NEI UG1-supported studies are typically funded as a group of linked companion grant awards including the Chairs Grant, the Coordinating Center, and Resource Centers, when appropriate. For less organizationally complex projects, details pertaining to data management and statistical analyses, resource center and recruitment activity may be included as part of the Chair's Grant application. Specifically, this FOA encourages applications for the Resource Center grant which provides imaging, laboratory, or other requisite services for a multi-center clinical trial or other complex or high risk clinical trial.