National Institute of Health: Seeking Applications for Zika Virus (ZIKV) Complications

Deadline: 7 January 2020

The National Institute of Health (NIH) is seeking applications for its Zika Virus (ZIKV) Complications with an aim to provide support for research on Zika virus (ZIKV) and its complications.

The participating NIH institutes are issuing this FOA to determine whether ZIKV infection causes microcephaly and other congenital abnormalities in babies and the potential rapid spread of ZIKV to the United States.

Priorities (Not Limited)

• Demonstrate the causative role of infection in pregnancy with ZIKV in the etiology of fetal microcephaly, structural brain defects, and other congenital malformations
• Basic research to understand the ZIKV infection pathogenesis and transmission to the fetus, whether in-utero, postpartum, or breastfeeding
• Population-based studies to characterize the epidemiology of ZIKV infection in the mother-infant dyad
• Clinical studies to improve the understanding of the mechanisms and risks of maternal-to-child transmission of ZIKV
• Determine the timeline for when and how women transmit ZIKV to the fetus
• Strategies to prevent transmission of ZIKV to the fetus after infection in the mother
• Studies to determine the optimal screening for and management of ZIKV infection in pregnant women and in exposed fetuses
• Studies to understand the mechanisms by which ZIKV affects the developing nervous system and other organ systems
• Studies to characterize the association of ZIKA virus infection with ocular phenotypes
• Research to develop lab-based or point-of-care diagnosis for ZIKV using saliva as a biofluid
• Studies to characterize the outcome of viral infection on craniofacial skeletal and dental phenotype with or without microcephaly
• Studies to understand pregnancy outcomes in women infected with ZIKV
• Studies to identify sequelae in infants infected with ZIKV as well as potential sequelae in exposed but uninfected infants
• Strategies to identify neurologic and other manifestations in infants with and without microcephaly such as developmental delays and other neurologic or physical disorders
• Studies to assess and characterize the natural history and long-term neurodevelopmental consequences of ZIKV infection in children

Funding Information

• Direct costs are limited to $275,000 over an R21 two-year period, with no more than $200,000 in direct costs allowed in any single year.
• The scope of the project should determine the project period. The maximum period is 2 years.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Organizations

• 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 NIH 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)
• Governments
  • State Governments
  • County Governments
  • City or Township Governments
  • Special District Governments
  • Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
  • Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized)
  • Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government
  • U.S. Territory or Possession

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
• Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions)

Foreign Institutions

• Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.
• Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.
• Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via given website.

For more information, please visit Grants.gov.