Related Announcements

PA-20-184 - Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) 

PA-20-185 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-20-196 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) 

PA-20-195 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PAR-22-060 - Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PAR-21-155 - Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

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PA-21-260 - PHS 2021-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH and CDC for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Required) 

PA-21-261 - PHS 2021-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Required) 

PA-21-262 - PHS 2021-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

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Issued by

National Eye Institute (NEI)

Purpose

The National Eye Institute (NEI) is issuing this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) to support research addressing the urgent need to provide accessible home-based COVID testing to people who are visually impaired. 

Background and Goals 

The global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had widespread impacts. The respiratory disease, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), exhibits a wide range of clinical outcomes from asymptomatic to severe complications and death. Concerns regarding highly transmissible variants, such as omicron, have underscored the need for public health measures that will mitigate infection rates. 

Testing is a particularly important component of the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to the crucial roles that vaccine uptake, physical distancing, and masks have played in slowing the spread of the virus and preventing future outbreaks. Testing provides infection status to symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, which can allow a COVID-19-positive person to isolate and initiate contact tracing with others. With the potential for SARS-CoV-2 reinfection, new viral variants arising that may be resistant to current vaccines, and possible transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from vaccinated to unvaccinated people, testing will continue as a key strategy to reduce the spread of the virus. 

Currently, two types of viral tests are available to detect infection status – an antigen test and a molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.  Both are available at community testing sites and national pharmacy chains. For people with visual disabilities, however, access can be difficult. For example, individuals who cannot drive vehicles or use transportation may not be able to access tests that require people to remain in the vehicle when obtaining samples.  

In 2021, at-home rapid antigen tests that can identify SARS-CoV-2 were given FDA Emergency Use Authorization for self-testing without needing to ship samples to a lab. They are particularly important for people who have difficulty reaching testing sites and have been in high demand as infection rates rise and people seek them ahead of gatherings and travel. For people with visual disabilities, securing at-home tests is only part of the challenge; currently, there are limited at-home testing options that people with visual impairment can use independently. Existing test kits do not provide instructions in Braille, large text, or audio formats. The interaction with the test requires precise visuomotor dexterity to insert the sample.  Interpreting the results relies on low-contrast visual cues, often using colors to convey information.  Although technologies exist for other diagnostics to deliver information by tactile means, SARS-CoV-2 tests do not.  

This NOSI encourages researchers to leverage existing partnerships and build new partnerships with key stakeholders to develop and implement specific, targeted approaches for home-based testing strategies for people with visual impairment. Strategies should be scalable, sustainable, and consider the multiple stakeholders (e.g., visually impaired, blind children, adults with low vision, older adults,  parents/guardians, caregivers). 

Key issues to be addressed include but are not limited to:  

• determining appropriate testing approaches (surveillance, screening, and/or diagnostic testing) for people who are visually impaired  

• reducing barriers to home -testing and establishing testing strategies suitable for people who are visually impaired 

• developing new technologies to address current limitations 

Application and Submission Information

This notice applies to due dates on or after March 7, 2022, and subsequent receipt dates through March 9, 2024.   

Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) or any reissues of these announcements through the expiration date of this notice. 

PA-20-184 Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) 

PA-20-185 NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-20-195 NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-20-196  NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) 

PAR-22-060 Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PAR-21-155 Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-21-259  Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) (Omnibus/Parent R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-21-260  Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Required) 

PA-21-261  Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Required) 

PA-21-262  Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) (Omnibus/Parent R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-20-272 Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional) 

PA-21-071 Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and the funding opportunity announcement used for submission must be followed, with the following additions:

• For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-EY-22-010” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.

Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

Inquiries

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Sangeeta Bhargava, Ph.D
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Telephone: 301-435-8175
Email: Sangeeta.Bhargava@nih.gov