Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement to Investigate Impact of Initial Influenza Exposure on Immunity in Infants (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Notice Number: NOT-AI-18-020

Key Dates

Release Date: February 15, 2018
Estimated Publication Date of Funding Opportunity Announcement: 04/02/2018
First Estimated Application Due Date:07/02/2018
Earliest Estimated Award Date: 03/01/2019
Earliest Estimated Start Date: 03/01/2019

Related Announcements
None

Issued by
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Purpose

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is issuing this Notice to promote a new initiative that will solicit applications to support research to determine how initial and repeated natural influenza infections and/or influenza vaccinations shape infant and childhood immunity to future influenza exposures, through support of prospective longitudinal human infant cohorts. The ultimate goal of this research effort is to provide key information to facilitate design of durable, broadly protective influenza vaccines.

This FOA will utilize the U01 activity code. This Notice is provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive applications. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

The FOA is expected to be published in April 2018 with an expected application due date in July 2018.

Research Initiative Details

This Notice encourages investigators interested in creating a multidisciplinary team with broad expertise in influenza immunologic research, establishment of infant cohorts, clinical research operations, and data management and analysis to begin to consider applying for this FOA. This initiative will support establishment and immunologic analyses of infant cohorts to determine how initial and repeated natural influenza infections and/or influenza vaccinations shape future immune responses to subsequent influenza exposures. Inclusion of pregnant women and post-partum mothers in the prospective cohorts is encouraged to examine the effects of maternal influenza exposure. Studies with foreign components are allowed. Ideally, data collected from the cohorts will include exceptionally detailed clinical history and information, varied biological samples, and assay outcomes to provide information for research hypotheses on mechanisms of infant immunity to influenza. This effort responds to the need for increased investments in clinical and basic research in well-characterized infant cohorts and will explore the impact of birth year, vaccination, and natural infections on influenza immunity, as well as addressing critical questions in influenza immune imprinting research. Studying how infant immune responses are altered and expanded by their encounter with future influenza infections and/or vaccinations will be critical to understanding the breadth and quality of influenza-specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, and will help inform the design of durable, broadly protective influenza vaccines.

Funding Information

Estimated Total Funding TBD
Expected Number of Awards TBD
Estimated Award Ceiling TBD
Primary CFDA Numbers 93.855

Anticipated Eligible Organizations

Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education
Private Institution of Higher Education
Nonprofit with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education)
Nonprofit without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education)
Small Business
For-Profit Organization (Other than Small Business)
State Government
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized)
County governments
City or township governments
Special district governments
Independent school districts
Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization (Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
U.S. Territory or Possession
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized)
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entity (Foreign Organization)
Regional Organization

Applications are not being solicited at this time.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Kristina T. Lu, Ph.D.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Telephone: 240-627-3307
Email: lukr@mail.nih.gov