Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 923
This funding opportunity, titled "Characterization of Mycobacterial Induced Immunity in HIV-infected and Uninfected Individuals (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (PAR 18-923), is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant announcement in the health research area (CFDA 93.855). It uses the R21 mechanism, which is typically aimed at early-stage, high-impact, and exploratory work, and it specifically does not allow clinical trials. The overall goal is to support innovative human immunology studies that clarify what kinds of immune responses protect people from infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and what immune signatures are triggered after vaccination with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) or investigational tuberculosis vaccines. The emphasis is on generating new insights into protective immunity and moving beyond the traditional immune readouts that have dominated TB research in the past.
Scientifically, the FOA is centered on understanding protective mechanisms at any point along the spectrum of mycobacterial exposure and disease. That includes early exposure and resistance to infection, latent infection, progression risk, and immune responses associated with TB disease or with vaccine-induced protection. A key feature is that studies may include both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected individuals, reflecting the real-world overlap between HIV and TB and the need to understand how HIV-related immune perturbations change TB susceptibility, immune control, or vaccine responsiveness. Rather than focusing only on conventional measures, the announcement encourages projects that interrogate immunity in deeper and more integrated ways, including novel functional assays that directly test host immune activity and more comprehensive immune profiling strategies.
Methodologically, the FOA explicitly encourages immune profiling and systems biology approaches. In practice, that could include multidimensional cellular phenotyping, transcriptomic or proteomic signatures, functional characterization of innate and adaptive immune compartments, and integrative analytic frameworks that connect different layers of immune data to clinical or exposure phenotypes. The announcement also highlights the development of new functional assays as an encouraged direction, which signals interest in tools that can more realistically capture protective immune activity in humans, such as assays that measure mycobacterial growth inhibition, antigen-specific functional responses, or other readouts designed to approximate mechanisms of protection rather than simply measuring immune presence. The broader intent is to stimulate creative, non-incremental research that helps identify immune correlates and mechanisms that could inform next-generation TB vaccine development and improved strategies to prevent infection or progression to disease.
From an applicant standpoint, eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based entities such as state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Academic eligibility includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Nonprofit organizations are eligible whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status, as are for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses. The opportunity also explicitly welcomes a wide range of additional organizational types, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized, eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) as well as regional organizations. This broad eligibility reflects an intent to draw in diverse research environments and populations, including settings where TB and HIV burdens are high.
In terms of key administrative details provided in the source, the FOA was created on 2018-09-17, with an original closing date of 2020-09-10. The funding instrument is a grant, and the award ceiling listed is $200,000. While the source snippet notes "ExpectedAwards:" without a value, the ceiling communicates the general scale expected for supported exploratory projects. Overall, the opportunity is designed to catalyze innovative, human-focused immunology research that can reveal how protective immunity to Mtb arises naturally or through vaccination, including in the context of HIV, and to advance tools and analytic strategies capable of identifying the immune mechanisms that matter most for preventing TB infection and disease.Apply for PAR 18 923
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Characterization of Mycobacterial Induced Immunity in HIV-infected and Uninfected Individuals (R21 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 2018-09-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-09-10. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- 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 title and identifier of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Characterization of Mycobacterial Induced Immunity in HIV-infected and Uninfected Individuals (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is identified as PAR 18-923.
Which agency is offering this grant?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant announcement.
What research area and CFDA number does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is in the health research area and is listed under CFDA 93.855.
What funding mechanism does this opportunity use?
It uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically intended for early-stage, high-impact, and exploratory research.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. The announcement explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed."
What is the overall purpose or goal of the FOA?
The goal is to support innovative human immunology studies that clarify (1) which immune responses protect people from infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and (2) what immune signatures are triggered after vaccination with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) or investigational tuberculosis vaccines.
What kinds of scientific questions is the FOA trying to advance beyond traditional TB research?
The FOA emphasizes moving beyond traditional immune readouts that have dominated TB research and encourages deeper, more integrated interrogation of protective immunity and vaccine-induced immune signatures.
What stages of mycobacterial exposure or disease can be studied under this FOA?
Studies can address protective mechanisms at any point along the spectrum, including early exposure and resistance to infection, latent infection, risk of progression, immune responses associated with TB disease, and immune responses associated with vaccine-induced protection.
Does this FOA allow studies that include both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected individuals?
Yes. A key feature is that studies may include both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected individuals to reflect the overlap between HIV and TB and to understand how HIV-related immune perturbations affect TB susceptibility, immune control, or vaccine responsiveness.
What is meant by "innovative human immunology studies" in the context of this FOA?
Based on the description provided, the FOA is looking for research that generates new insights into protective immunity using approaches that go beyond conventional measures, including novel functional assays and comprehensive immune profiling that better approximates mechanisms of protection in humans.
What methodological approaches are specifically encouraged?
The FOA explicitly encourages immune profiling and systems biology approaches, including multidimensional cellular phenotyping, transcriptomic or proteomic signatures, functional characterization of innate and adaptive immune compartments, and integrative analytic frameworks that connect immune data layers to clinical or exposure phenotypes.
Does the FOA encourage development of new assays?
Yes. The FOA highlights the development of new functional assays as an encouraged direction, signaling interest in tools that directly test host immune activity and are designed to approximate mechanisms of protection.
What are examples of functional immune readouts mentioned or implied in the description?
The description points to assays that can measure mycobacterial growth inhibition, antigen-specific functional responses, and other readouts intended to approximate protective mechanisms rather than simply measuring immune presence.
How does this FOA relate to TB vaccine development?
The broader intent is to identify immune correlates and mechanisms that could inform next-generation TB vaccine development and improved strategies to prevent infection or progression to disease.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S.-based entities such as state, county, city, or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.
Are institutions serving specific communities explicitly welcomed?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly welcomes Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and other listed categories.
Are tribal governments and community or faith-based organizations included in the eligible applicant types?
Yes. Eligible types include Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized, as well as faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligible applicant types include eligible federal agencies.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly listed among eligible applicant types.
Are non-U.S. organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The opportunity includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and regional organizations in the eligible applicant types listed.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed in the provided information is $200,000.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The provided source notes "ExpectedAwards:" but does not include a value, so the expected number of awards is not specified in the information provided.
When was this FOA created?
The FOA was created on 2018-09-17.
What was the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is 2020-09-10.
What is the main theme connecting TB and HIV within the FOA?
The FOA reflects the real-world overlap between HIV and TB and emphasizes understanding how HIV-related immune perturbations may alter TB susceptibility, immune control, or vaccine responsiveness while characterizing immune mechanisms relevant to protection against Mtb.
What kind of research style does the FOA aim to stimulate?
It is designed to catalyze creative, non-incremental, human-focused immunology research that can reveal how protective immunity to Mtb arises naturally or through vaccination and that advances tools and analytic strategies to identify immune mechanisms that matter for preventing TB infection and disease.
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