Funding News Edition: March 16, 2022 See more articles in this edition
Our new funding opportunity announcement (FOA) will support investigators developing or producing medical diagnostics capable of rapid differential species identification and corresponding phenotypic antibacterial susceptibility profiles for bacteremia or hospital-acquired pneumonia. If your research can match our scientific aims, consider applying through the FOA Partnerships for Rapid Diagnostics and Phenotypic Antibacterial Susceptibility Testing for Bacteremia or Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (R01, Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
Ultimately, NIAID seeks diagnostics capable of rapid, sensitive, specific, culture-independent species identification and phenotypic antimicrobial sensitivity profiles of key hospital-associated pathogens. For this FOA, a "final" product is not required as part of the Research Plan.
Your proposed project must incorporate multiple bacterial targets, focusing on either three or more bacterial pathogens causing bacteremia:
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
- Acinetobacter baumannii
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Enterobacter species
- Extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Group B Streptococcus
Or three or more bacterial pathogens causing hospital-acquired pneumonia:
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Haemophilus influenzae
All proposed diagnostic technologies should detect pathogens from a primary blood specimen (bacteremia) or specimens normally collected for suspected hospital-acquired pneumonia.
As you gather proof-of-concept data demonstrating feasibility, you may develop assays and prototypes; prepare samples; develop broad-use platform or production technology; adapt products or platform technologies to new applications; optimize products or technologies; develop processes; manufacture; or validate diagnostics.
Your proposed diagnostic should be rapid, culture-independent, sensitive, and specific—parameters defined explicitly within the FOA linked above. Additionally, you should strive for your prototype to be easy-to-use, random access, adaptable, and cost-effective.
Industry Participation
This FOA has an unusual requirement: applications from academic institutions must demonstrate substantive investment and participation in the project by at least one industry participant. This could be a large or small; domestic or foreign; pharmaceutical, biotechnology, bioengineering, or chemical company; or non-profit agency with demonstrated experience in product development.
Substantive investment entails product or prototype development support and guidance; personnel; in-kind contributions of materials or reagents; provision of animal or other laboratory models for evaluation; subcontracts; regulatory support; or data management resources.
You may include support for industrial partner activities in the application budget.
Applications from industrial institutions or product development non-profit agencies do not require a partner.
Application Requirements
The FOA has a single due date: June 1, 2022, at 5 p.m. local time of the applicant organization. Submit an optional letter of intent 30 days before the application deadline.
Your budget request should not exceed $500,000 in annual direct costs, although you may request an additional $150,000 for major, essential equipment in the first year of the award. Account for support for industrial partner activities within your budget request.
The maximum project period is five years.
Contact Dr. Michael Schaefer at mschaefer@niaid.nih.gov or 240-627-3364 if you have any questions about NIAID’s research priorities. For questions about peer review, contact Dr. Soheyla Saadi at saadisoh@niaid.nih.gov or 240-669-5178.