Questions and Answers for ReVAMPP Funding Opportunities

Research and Development of Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies for Pandemic Preparedness (ReVAMPP)

NIH published the following notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) on March 16, 2023: 

Updated May 19, 2023. We added a new second question below about Core Leader level of effort for the Data Management Core and Scientific Cores. We also added 14 new questions and answers from the April 14, 2023 webinar about the ReVAMPP Network NOFOs. 

Each time we add new questions or revise, we will revise the dated note shown at the top of this page to describe the latest update.

Yes, the 1.2 person months listed should be per year.

Yes, applicants are strongly encouraged to use a component Research Project for a separate R01 application at the same time to maximize chances of funding success.  If both the U19 and R01 applications are selected for funding, you will not have the option to withdraw from the multiproject grant. Please review Option to submit simultaneously as an R01 Application for more information.

Yes. However, as noted in the Research Centers NOFOs, the NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time.

For the ReVAMPP NOFOs, you can propose multiple component leads for cores and projects and use the multiple-PD/PI leadership attachment to explain your proposed structure.  Although all personnel listed on the Senior/Key Person form and the roles you provide on the application will be shown in the assembled application image used for funding consideration, only the person listed in the main PD/PI section of the Senior/Key Person form will be officially maintained in our systems as a lead of the component.

There are no restrictions on splitting the minimum effort between a Component Leader and Component co-leader, but we encourage you to check with your organization’s business office as some organizations have internal procedures that may apply here and must be followed by the applicant.

As described in the RFAs, each project leader must commit at least 1.2 person months effort to their project per year.

Yes.

Yes. The purpose of the industry partnership is to provide access to vaccine technology platforms, and expertise in manufacturing, clinical development, and regulatory pathways. Reviewers will assess whether to what extent the applications have appropriate and adequate expertise.

It would be acceptable for an application to have fewer research projects and a smaller budget focused on one responsive virus family. The NOFOs encourage Research Centers to work on more than one virus family to increase the breadth of virus families for the ReVAMPP Network as a whole.

Yes, multiple prototypes are allowed as long as each one is justified in the application.

The goal for the ReVAMPP Network is to identify and validate generalizable vaccine and mAb strategies for each virus family. Knowledge and strategies from one virus family is likely to inform identification and validation for other virus families, and this is a key component of the Network.

If there is an established industry partner, applicants are required to submit Letters of Support from the industry partner(s). Refer to the specific ReVAMPP Center NOFOs for guidance. You may submit additional Letters of Support, but unnecessary letters can pose a significant burden on peer reviewers and can limit the pool of experts who are allowed to review your application. Check Letters of Support for more information.

At present, the only opportunity to join the ReVAMPP Network is through these NOFOs.

Yes. Check the NOFO for requirements regarding the Data Management and Sharing Plan.

As described in the NOFOs, a Milestone plan is required for all 3 NOFOs. For the U19 Research Center NOFOs (RFA-AI-24-019 and RFA-AI-24-020), a Milestone Plan is required to be included in the Research Plan of the Overall, as well as for each Research Project. Check specific instructions in the NOFO you are responding to.

A PD/PI on an application to the CDSC RFA (RFA-AI-23-021) cannot be listed as PD/PI or other Key Personnel on applications to either of the Research Center RFAs (RFA-AI-23-019 and RFA-AI-23-020). Similarly, a PD/PI on an application to either of the Research Center RFAs (RFA-AI-23-019 and RFA-AI-23-020) cannot be listed as PD/PI or other Key Personnel on applications submitted to the CDSC RFA (RFA-AI-23-021).

A PD/PI on an application submitted to one of the Research Center RFAs cannot be listed as a PD/PI to the companion Research Center RFA, but can be listed as Key Personnel on applications to the companion Research RFA. For example, a PD/PI on an application to RFA-AI-23-019, cannot also submit an application as a PD/PI to RFA-AI-23-020, but could be listed as other Key Personnel (such as a collaborator, Core Lead, or Project Lead) in an application to RFA-AI-23-020.

No. Submit separate Research Center applications to each of the RFAs. In each application, you can include only the specific virus families listed on the respective RFA.

No. We plan to fund 6 or 7 Research Centers total for both Research Center RFAs (RFA-AI-23-019 and RFA-AI-23-020). There are 9 virus families and Research Centers are encouraged to work on more than one virus family. There is potential for multiple Research Centers to include research projects on the same virus family.

No. The investigators will determine which virus should serve as a prototype for a given family, but prototype selection must be justified. Considerations may include, but are not limited to, how well the prototype reflects properties shared by other members of the family, whether a single prototype is sufficient or whether multiple prototypes are needed to address differences amongst family members, the ease of working with the prototype virus, and whether vaccines against the prototype would have potential value for current public health needs.

Yes.

No. Each of the five families with Bunyavirales (Arenaviridae, Phenuiviridae, Perbunyaviridae, Hantaviridae, and Nairoviridae) are considered independent families.

Check Section VII of each NOFO for NIH scientific/research, peer review, and financial/grants management contacts.

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