Up to $1,000,000 available for Innovation Award – United States

Deadline: 2-Nov-21

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the applications for Innovation Award: COVID-19 and Health Equity to fund innovative research that will strengthen and advance COVID-19 health equity research.

The FDA Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE) serves to promote and protect the health of diverse populations through research and communication of science that addresses health disparities.

Objectives

These efforts focus on advancing innovative research that will strengthen and advance COVID-19 health equity research.
The following studies are encouraged under this FOA.
- Proposals that advance diversity in COVID-19/COVID-19 variant clinical trials including efforts that
  - identify barriers to enrollment for underrepresented populations (e.g. racial, ethnic minorities),
  - advance evidence for racial and ethnic clinical trial data,
  - employ innovative strategies/trainings/education methods to increase enrollment for underrepresented populations in clinical trials (e.g. racial, ethnic minorities), and/or
  - improve communication strategies and informed messages for underrepresented populations (e.g. racial, ethnic minorities).
- Proposals that advance equity in COVID-19 data including efforts that
  - increase evidence to support evaluation of outcomes of FDA-regulated products by demographic data including, but not limited to, ethnicity, race, age, and geography, and/or
  - leverage big data, novel data sources and artificial intelligence/machine learning options to contribute to informing the continued evaluation of the safety and efficacy of FDA-approved products (therapeutics, diagnostics, and vaccines) or products subject to EUAs/EUA expansion.
- Proposals that increase understanding of diverse voices affected by COVID-19, including efforts that
  - support research to leverage novel data sources to understand diverse patient preferences and unmet needs, and/or
  - support expansion of culturally and linguistically tailored education (e.g., patient, healthcare providers).

Funding Information

FDA/OMHHE intends to fund up to $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 in support of this cooperative agreement program.
It is anticipated that up to five (5) awards will be made, not to exceed $1,000,000 in total costs (direct plus indirect).
The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project period is 1 year.

Eligible Individuals

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for FDA support.

Eligibility Criteria

Higher Education Institutions
- Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
- Private Institutions of Higher Education
The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for FDA support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:
- Hispanic-serving Institutions
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
For-Profit Organizations
- Small Businesses
- For-Profit Organizations (Other than Small Businesses)
Other
- Independent School Districts
- Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities
- Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Faith-based or Community-based Organizations
- Regional Organizations
Foreign Institutions
- Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply.
- Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.
- Foreign components are not allowed.