Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 18 005
The Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Cooperative Research Centers (CRC): Vaccine Development funding opportunity (RFA-AI-18-005) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement (U19) designed to build coordinated research centers focused on advancing vaccines for major sexually transmitted infections where the vaccine pipeline is thin. The central goal is to bring together multidisciplinary teams in a collaborative center structure so that basic discovery, preclinical development, and translational planning can move forward in a more integrated and efficient way than individual projects typically allow. The FOA is explicitly aimed at vaccine development rather than treatment, and it uses the cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning NIH is expected to have substantial involvement in guiding and coordinating the program alongside the awardees.
Scientifically, the program prioritizes vaccines to prevent STIs caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhea), Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia), and Treponema pallidum (syphilis), reflecting the public health burden of these infections and the limited number of strong vaccine candidates currently in development. In addition to those three bacterial pathogens, the FOA also supports the development of prophylactic (preventive) vaccines for herpes simplex virus (HSV). In practice, the center model is meant to promote synergistic collaborations across relevant disciplines such as microbiology, immunology, antigen discovery, adjuvant and formulation science, animal model development, correlates of protection, and other supporting capabilities needed to mature vaccine concepts toward readiness for later-stage testing.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity falls under the health category and is associated with CFDA 93.855. The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes a wide range of U.S.-based organizations and government entities, such as state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicants such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
The FOA draws an important boundary around international participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-U.S. institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. However, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are eligible to participate, and foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement. In other words, the primary award must go to an eligible U.S.-based applicant, but parts of the research effort can include foreign components when appropriately justified and structured under NIH policy.
The announcement is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," which signals that applications should not propose clinical trials within the scope of this U19. The intent is to support the research and development steps that build credible vaccine candidates and the evidence base needed to move forward, without conducting clinical trial activities under this specific award. The funding opportunity was created on March 16, 2018, and the original closing date listed is June 20, 2018.Apply for RFA AI 18 005
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Cooperative Research Centers (CRC): Vaccine Development (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-03-16.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-06-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Cooperative Research Centers (CRC): Vaccine Development opportunity?
This funding opportunity (RFA-AI-18-005) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to support coordinated research centers focused on advancing vaccine development for major sexually transmitted infections (STIs) where the current vaccine pipeline is limited.
Which NIH award mechanism is used for this program?
The program uses a cooperative agreement mechanism (U19), which is intended for center-based, collaborative research programs.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement (U19)?
A cooperative agreement indicates that NIH is expected to have substantial involvement in guiding, coordinating, and participating in program oversight alongside the awardees, rather than operating purely as a traditional grant with minimal agency involvement.
What is the main goal of the program?
The central goal is to build multidisciplinary, collaborative research centers that can move vaccine concepts forward in an integrated way across basic discovery, preclinical development, and translational planning.
Is the focus on vaccines or treatments?
The FOA is explicitly aimed at vaccine development (prevention) rather than treatment.
Which infections/pathogens are prioritized for vaccine development under this FOA?
The program prioritizes vaccines to prevent STIs caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhea), Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia), and Treponema pallidum (syphilis).
Does the opportunity include support for viral STI vaccines?
Yes. In addition to the three prioritized bacterial pathogens, the FOA also supports development of prophylactic (preventive) vaccines for herpes simplex virus (HSV).
Why are these pathogens emphasized?
They are emphasized due to public health burden and the limited number of strong vaccine candidates currently in development, as described in the opportunity summary.
What kind of research approach is the center model intended to support?
The center structure is meant to promote synergy across disciplines and capabilities so that vaccine concepts can mature more efficiently than typical stand-alone projects.
What disciplines or capabilities are relevant to the program?
The opportunity highlights collaborative work spanning areas such as microbiology, immunology, antigen discovery, adjuvant and formulation science, animal model development, and correlates of protection, along with other supporting capabilities needed to advance vaccine candidates.
Are clinical trials allowed under this funding opportunity?
No. The announcement is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applications should not propose clinical trial activities within the scope of this U19 award.
If clinical trials are not allowed, what stage of work is this intended to fund?
It is intended to support research and development steps that strengthen vaccine candidates and build the evidence base and planning needed to move forward, without conducting clinical trials under this specific award.
What is the program type/category associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is in the health category.
What CFDA number is associated with this FOA?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 93.855.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes a wide range of U.S.-based organizations and government entities, as described in the FOA summary.
Are state and local government entities eligible?
Yes. Eligibility includes state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts.
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are eligible.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations are included in the eligible applicant categories.
Are nonprofits eligible, including those without 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status are both listed as eligible.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.
Are public housing authorities eligible?
Yes. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities are included among eligible applicants.
Does the FOA specifically call out eligibility for minority-serving institutions?
Yes. The FOA highlights additional eligible applicants such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes faith-based or community-based organizations among those highlighted as eligible.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are listed among the highlighted eligible applicants.
Are international (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply as the primary applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-U.S. institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization.
Can foreign components be included in an application led by a U.S. organization?
Yes. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are eligible to participate, and foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, as long as the primary award is to an eligible U.S.-based applicant.
What is meant by "foreign components are allowed" in this context?
It means that parts of the research effort may involve a foreign component under NIH policy, even though the applicant organization itself must be a U.S.-based eligible entity.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The funding opportunity was created on March 16, 2018.
What is the original closing date listed for this FOA?
The original closing date listed is June 20, 2018.
What is the full FOA identifier?
The full funding opportunity announcement identifier provided is RFA-AI-18-005.
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