Deadline: 10-Oct-2025
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has announced a new funding opportunity to establish a Data and Analytics Coordinating Center (DACC) in support of the Viral Infections in the Young Lung (VINYL) Consortium.
This initiative will work alongside a Clinical Coordinating Center, five clinical centers, and a Biorepository to build a collaborative network focused on understanding viral lower respiratory tract infections in hospitalized children under the age of two.
The VINYL Consortium aims to address the mechanisms and variability of conditions such as bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS). The program will follow a prospective cohort of 1,500 young patients, beginning at the point of hospitalization and continuing through a six-month post-discharge check, with long-term follow-up at ages four to five. A hybrid follow-up model will be used, combining electronic health records, questionnaires, and in-person visits. Control groups may also be incorporated, leveraging existing studies or networks.
The DACC will play a central role in ensuring the success of this multi-site effort. Responsibilities include harmonizing data collection, building and managing the data platform, coordinating pre-screening and site activation, and supporting cohort retention. It will also link to the Biorepository to organize biospecimen data and ensure all study resources, including imaging, are made accessible to the broader research community through a public platform.
This opportunity aligns with NHLBI’s wider mission to fund research on lung diseases and sleep disorders, supporting advancements in areas such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pediatric lung diseases, and critical care. By focusing on viral infections in early childhood, the VINYL Consortium seeks to generate insights that could improve long-term pulmonary health outcomes.
NHLBI intends to commit $800,000 in FY26 to support one award under this program. Application budgets are capped at $500,000 in direct costs in the first year, increasing incrementally to $700,000 in years three through seven. The award is planned as a long-term investment to cover the seven-year consortium.
Eligibility extends across a wide range of U.S.-based entities, including higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, state and local governments, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. However, foreign organizations are not eligible to apply, and no foreign subawards or subcontracts will be permitted. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations, as well as foreign consultants or equipment procurement, may still participate within program guidelines.
This funding call offers an important opportunity for institutions to take a leadership role in building a national infrastructure to study childhood viral infections and their impact on lung health, while contributing to long-term improvements in prevention and treatment strategies.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.