Funding Opportunities for COVID-19

• Internal Selection Competitions
• Internal Opportunities
• Opportunities for Current NIH Funded Researchers (Competitive Revisions & Supplements)
• Clinical and Translational Science Awards Limited Funding Opportunities
• NIH Funding Opportunities (New Applications)
• NSF Funding Opportunities & Priorities
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Department of Energy
• Department of Labor
• Department of State
• Environmental Protection Agency
• NASA
• NIST
• USAID
• Non-Federal Opportunities
• Relevant Links

Internal Selection Competitions

None currently posted.

Internal Opportunities

None currently posted.

Opportunities for Current NIH Funded Researchers (Competitive Revisions & Supplements)

See examples of NIH Administrative Supplements in Box (WUSTL Key required)

Notice of Special Interest: Competitive Revision and Administrative Supplements to Existing NICHD HIV Grants and Cooperative Agreements to Understand HIV Health Impacts of COVID-19 (NOT-HD-21-037)

First Available Due Date (09/15/2021); Expiration Date (05/08/2022)

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is issuing this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) in response to the need for research on how infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), may affect individuals with HIV and associated comorbidities, coinfections, and complications (CCCs). NICHD supports biomedical research to understand the effects of infection with HIV and SARS-CoV-2 among populations central to the NICHD mission, including pregnant, postpartum, and lactating women, infants, children, adolescents and young adults, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and individuals with physical disabilities or mobility impairments. This funding opportunity announcement encourages studies to examine the effect of the COVID -19 pandemic and infection with SARS-CoV-2 on social, behavioral and health outcomes in people with HIV (PLWH). Studies are expected to align with the HIV/AIDS research priorities outlined by the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR) in NOT-OD-20-018 UPDATE: NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities and Guidelines for Determining HIV/AIDS Funding.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) Announcing the Availability of Administrative Supplements and Urgent Competitive Revisions for Research on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (NOT-DA-21-041)

First Available due date: April 1, 2021; Expiration Date: March 31, 2022

• NIDA is issuing this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) to highlight the urgent need for continued research on the impacts of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. NIDA is especially interested in research collecting and examining data on the risks and outcomes for COVID-19 infection in individuals suffering from substance use disorders.
• In order to rapidly improve our understanding of the risks, prevalence, and available control measures for SARS-CoV-2 in substance using and/or HIV-affected populations, NIDA is encouraging the submission of applications for Administrative Supplements or Competitive Revisions to active grants to address the following research areas of interest:
  • Research to determine whether substance use (especially tobacco or marijuana smoking or vaping, opioids and other drug use) is a risk factor for the onset and progression of COVID-19 as well as the prolonged health consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Research to understand the respiratory effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection among individuals with substance use disorders (SUD), e.g., tobacco, marijuana, opioid, and methamphetamine use disorders.
  • Research to understand how the respiratory effects of COVID-19 influence the risk for opioid overdose and outcomes related to naloxone reversal.
  • Research to develop therapeutic approaches for comorbid SARS-CoV-2 infection and SUDs.
  • Research to evaluate drug-drug interaction of medications to treat SARS-CoV-2 and substances of abuse or medications to treat SUDs.
  • Research on the causes and consequences of health disparities in the onset and progression of COVID-19 among vulnerable populations (e.g., racial/ethnic minorities, sexual gender minorities), especially those who use substances.
  • Research to identify strategies to improve and implement more equitable prevention and treatment for all populations.
  • Research to understand system-level responses to COVID-19 prevention and risk mitigation in secure settings such as prisons and jails, with a particular emphasis on detainees with substance use disorder (SUD). For example:
  • Interactions of COVID-19 treatment with SUD treatments, including medications for opioid use disorders
  • Strategies for integrating COVID-19 and other infectious disease screening, prevention, and treatment protocols with SUD treatment and other health services.
  • Research to understand system- or organizational-level responses to identify, prevent, or mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in service settings that serve vulnerable populations, including people who are homeless or unstably housed.
  • Research to understand and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in all levels of treatment services, including methadone treatment programs and syringe exchange services.
  • Research on how potential overcrowding of emergency departments and health services impacts the treatment of opioid overdoses and opioid use disorder.
  • Research leveraging ongoing studies to assess the broad impacts of COVID-19 (e.g., school closures, food insecurity, anxiety, social isolation, family loss, economic impacts – e.g. job loss) on neurodevelopment, substance use, substance use disorders, and access to addiction treatment, with priority focus on health disparities and strategies towards equity.
  • Research on the bidirectional impacts persistent acute sequalae of COVID-19 (“long COVID”) on substance use behavior and outcomes.
  • Research on how neurological aspects of COVID-19, particularly those following acute infection, contribute to substance use disorder, interfere with the course of SUD recovery or affect toxicity of drugs of abuse.
  • Research on how addictive substances interfere with recovery from COVID-19 or contribute to post-COVID neurological symptoms.
  • Research on outreach and engagement of hard to reach population with substance use in COVID-19 vaccination programs
  • Research on how HIV among persons who use substances may impact the onset and progression of COVID-19.

Notice of Special Interest: Administrative Supplements for the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program to Address COVID-19 Public Health Needs (NOT-TR-21-017)

First Available Due Date is January 28, 2021; Expiration Date is August 17, 2024

• The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) is issuing this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) to highlight the urgent need for projects that address the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program is uniquely qualified to contribute to these efforts.
• NCATS expects to issue 1-4 awards for involvement with clinical studies and trials in support of COVID interventions, as well as providing clinical samples and assessing infectious or convalescent status.

Notice of Special Interest: Administrative Supplements for COVID-19 Impacted NIMH Research

Expiration Date: June 2, 2023

• The purpose of this Notice is to outline priorities for providing supplemental funding to investigators and institutions with active National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) awards that have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• In concert with the NIH priorities, the NIMH aims to prioritize supplement requests in the following order:

• Trainees with F32, K01, K08, and K23 awards that are in the last year of the award
  • Projects where the entire investment is at-risk including
  • Human subjects studies in which completion of enrollment and follow-up are critical for project success
  • Longitudinal cohort studies
  • Principal investigators whose grants are ending with no additional funding
  • Projects where substantial components of the investment are at risk
  • Resources that support multiple projects/institutions

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Simulation Modeling and Systems Science to Address Health Disparities (NOT-MD-20-025)
Expiration date is 5/8/2023; First available due date is 10/05/2020

• Research Objectives:
  • Foster trans-disciplinary partnerships and collaborations in understanding the etiology and causal pathways of health disparities using SMSS
  • Use SMSS to identify modifiable barriers and cost-effective factors to reduce and eventually eliminate health disparities
  • Use SMSS to improve patient safety and reduce medical errors for populations affected by health disparities
  • Use SMSS to assess and predict the spread and consequences of pandemics (e.g., SARS-CoV-2) and the effectiveness of interventions in populations affected by health disparities
  • Provide evidence-based simulation or prediction of the impact of effective or ineffective health disparities interventions delivered in real-world settings
  • Promote big data harmonization and novel analytic methods in SMSS to address minority health and health disparities
• Research Methodology
  • Examples of research methods could include but are not limited to:
  • System dynamics modeling
  • Network Analysis
  • Agent-based modeling
  • Dynamic microsimulation modeling
  • Discrete event simulation
  • Markov modeling
  • Hybrid simulation modeling (e.g., sequential design, enrichment design, integration design, and parallel design)
• Research Topics: Applications should be relevant to the objectives of the funding opportunity announcement and to at least one of the participating institutes’ and offices’ research interests. Researchers are strongly encouraged to review the general research interests of the participating ICs.

NIH Funding Opportunities (New Applications)

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) HIV/AIDS in the Era of COVID-19: When Pandemics Collide(NOT-AI-21-057)

First Available Due Date is September 07, 2021; Expiration Date is May 08, 2024

• The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to communicate special interest in epidemiology investigations to quantify the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention, incidence, transmission, and outcomes. This NOSI encourages research on the impact and strategies needed to adapt the HIV/AIDS response through agile and innovative support of prevention and care and the maintenance of sustained HIV viral suppression during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
• This NOSI encourages research that can quantify and describe the impact of COVID-19 acute and post-acute disease on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States and worldwide. PLWH may have systemic health disparities, co-morbidities, and socio-economic inequities that place them equally vulnerable to COVID-19. Public health mitigation efforts to control COVID-19 may create barriers to care for PLWH resulting in more severe disease and hospitalizations. This NOSI encourages research that can address and quantify the complicated cascade of events resulting from an acute respiratory pandemic on the existing HIV/AIDS pandemic, and the need for vigilant care to treat and prevent HIV transmission and outbreaks of new infections. Research into the interplay of protective effects, immunologic responses, and emergence of COVID-19 variants in PLWH is also needed.
• Use of data science and epidemic modeling approaches such as forecasting with machine learning, analysis of electronic health records and other data sources, and modeling the complications of interruptions and disruptions in prevention and care are encouraged, as are investigations into local complications of health care burdens and barriers to HIV control.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): COVID-19 Related School Disruptions Impact on Mental Health, Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Development of Children (NOT-MH-21-225)

First Available Due Date is June 5, 2021; Expiration Date is September 8, 2022

• NIMH is issuing this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) to highlight interest in research to understand the mental health impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on school-aged children, specifically ages 3 – 12. Particularly, we are interested in the potential impact of primary instruction settings disruptions (e.g., pre-school, elementary school) on the mental health, cognitive, social, and emotional development of children. Empirical data would aid in balancing health risks for various public health mitigation strategies affecting children in the current pandemic as well as inform how to both be prepared and respond to future public health emergencies, including pandemics and disaster scenarios.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Neurological and Neurocognitive Sequelae from SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 in Aging and Age-Related Neurodegeneration (NOT-AG-21-016)

First Available Due Date is June 5, 2021; Expiration Date is May 8, 2023.

• The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to inform applicants to the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of NIA’s interest in basic and clinical mechanistic research on neurological and neurocognitive sequelae originating from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in aging and age-related neurodegeneration.
• The specific research objectives of this NOSI are to rapidly expand the knowledge base on acute and long-term neurological and neurocognitive sequelae of COVID-19. NIA encourages investigator-initiated new and resubmission applications for research activity codes (i.e., R21, R01, R03) to address significant questions about the neurological and neurocognitive impacts of COVID-19 infection in aging and the interaction in older adults of COVID-19 with comorbid conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD). Animal and human studies are appropriate for this NOSI. This NOSI aims to promote collaborative and integrative efforts between investigators with different perspectives and backgrounds.
• Potential Research Areas: Research applications responsive to this NOSI will include projects investigating questions of importance to neurological and neurocognitive sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection in aging such as, but not limited to, the following:
  • Research on neurological and neurocognitive symptoms and sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection in older adults across the full range of illness severity (e.g., early alterations in sensory function, delirium, neuropsychiatric symptoms).
  • Studies in the context of aging and age-related neurodegeneration of the role of brain barriers in preventing SARS-CoV-2 from gaining access to neural tissues, and mechanisms through which SARS-CoV-2 compromises such barriers and propagates in the central nervous system (CNS);
  • Studies to elucidate mechanisms of susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in aging and age-related neurodegeneration.
  • Research on basic mechanisms underlying the neurobiology of COVID-19 pathophysiology, such as vascular changes, neuroinflammation, or acute hypoxic damage.
  • Research on genetic risk or protective factors that may alter cognitive function in older adults who have been afflicted with COVID-19.
  • Studies of COVID-19 susceptibility in people with AD/ADRD.
  • Neuropathological studies of COVID-19 and the contribution of brain tissue damage by SARS-CoV-2 to the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 in older adults.
  • Drug discovery research and development of novel drugs, as well as repurposing and repositioning existing drugs, for preventing and treating COVID-19 in older adults, particularly drugs that are specific for COVID-19 related CNS targets and CNS mechanisms related to or driving the viral-mediated pathophysiology, and research on blood-brain-barrier penetrant drug candidates to treat potential SARS-CoV-2 reservoirs in the CNS.
  • Research to develop computational and informatics methods (e.g., machine learning or artificial intelligence) integrating emerging multi-modal data for COVID-19 diagnosis, prevention, and treatment in older adults.
  • Research to develop devices or wearables for real-time detection and monitoring of cognitive and/or other neurological sequela in post-COVID-19 older adults.
  • Studies of long-term outcomes after recovery from COVID-19 in older adults across the range of illness severity, including neurocognitive, neuropsychiatric, and focal neurological deficits.
  • Research to develop novel models for investigating concurrent aging and neurodegenerative processes in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Notice of Intent to Publish a Research Opportunity Announcement for RADx-UP Return to School Diagnostic Testing Approaches (OT2 Clinical Trial Required)

Release date: February 12, 2021

• The purpose of this Notice is to alert the community that NIH plans to publish a Research Opportunity (RO) as part of the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics for Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) initiative to solicit research on COVID-19 diagnostic testing approaches to safely return children and staff to the in-person school setting in underserved and vulnerable communities. The RO will consist of two phases: 1) a targeted solicitation to rapidly accelerate ongoing research already in place in the school setting; 2) an open solicitation to start new cohorts or approaches to gain data related to safe return. The targeted solicitation will be by invitation only and will include programs currently in place in the school setting; applications will be accepted through early March 2021 for FY21 funding with the goal to make awards no later than April 2021. The open solicitation is expected to be published in mid-April and we will accept applications through early May 2021 for FY21 funding. The goal is to make awards by June 2021 for planned implementation in the 2021-2022 school year.
• Awards under this funding opportunity will be issued as Other Transaction Agreements (OT2), which are not grants, contracts or cooperative agreements. Other Transactions awards will involve active NIH program management. Furthermore, the OT funding mechanism provides NIH with the flexibility to design unique collaborations with private sector entities that may not have experience with commonly used assistance mechanisms such as grants and cooperative agreements.
• The goal of RADx-UP is to reduce COVID-19 associated morbidity and mortality disparities for those vulnerable and underserved populations that are disproportionately affected by, have the highest infection rates of, and/or are most at risk for adverse outcomes from contracting the virus. This Notice encourages researchers to leverage existing partnerships with key stakeholders to develop and implement specific, targeted approaches for school testing strategies to safely return children and staff to in-person school environments in underserved communities.

Notice of Special Interest: Medical Consequences of Smoking and Vaping Drugs of Abuse in Individuals with HIV and COVID-19 (NOT-DA-21-017)

First Available Due Date is May 5, 2021; Expiration Date is September 8, 2024.

• NIDA is interested in receiving research applications focusing on individuals with HIV who smoke or vape marijuana, tobacco, cocaine and/or methamphetamine to determine the long-term effects of their use among individuals with HIV and COVID-19.
• Research Areas:
  • The risks that smoking and/or vaping tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, and/or methamphetamine may have on acquiring the SARS-CoV2 infection in individuals with HIV.
  • The medical consequences, co-morbidity, and complications of SARS-CoV2 infection affecting cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, hematological, immunological, CNS and PNS systems in HIV individuals who smoke and/or vape tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, and/or methamphetamine.
  • Defining mechanisms by which substance use and HIV interact to increase susceptibility to severe COVID-19 affecting cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, hematological, immunological, CNS and PNS morbidity.
  • Utilization of large database- Electronic Health Records – strategies for retrospective and platform based prospective studies, cross analyses, and real-time health delivery and critical health-related decisions in emergency medicine settings.

Notice of Special Interest: Long-Term Neurocognitive Consequences of COVID-19 in Individuals Living with HIV and Substance Use Disorders (NOT-DA-21-018)

First Available Due Date is May 7, 2021; Expiration Date is September 8, 2024.

• NIDA is interested in receiving research applications focusing on studying the long-term neurocognitive consequences of the COVID-19/HIV/SUDs syndemic.
• This NOSI encourages, but is not limited to, research applications in the following areas:
  • Long-term neurocognitive effects of HIV/COVID-19/SUDs. Basic science studies to explore changes in neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, biochemistry, learning and behavior.
  • Clinical studies to evaluate cognitive, behavioral, neuropsychiatric, neuro-therapeutic outcomes, etc. Staging and categorizing of cognitive dysfunction. Differentiation between HAND and COVID-19 neurocognitive impairment in individuals with and without SUDs. Validation of neurocognitive scales for HAND and COVI-19 neurocognitive impairment.
  • Neurocognitive studies in individuals with HIV/COVID-19/SUDs classified by age/gender/race/socioeconomic status/drug of choice use/ART regime/HCV status/other co-morbidities/criminal justice involvement, etc.
  • Therapeutic strategies for such neurocognitive dysfunction in the context of HIV. Effectiveness of NMDA receptor antagonists, Anticholinergics, B12 supplements, Thiamine, SSRI’s, Benzodiazepines, Antipsychotics, etc., and its interactions with ART and SUDs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Mindfulness; Meditation; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and others.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): NIDCR Support for Research on the Physiological Involvement of Oral Cavity in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (NOT-DE-21-001)

First Available Due Date is June 5, 2021; Expiration Date is May 8, 2023.

• The oral/nasal route serves as the SARS-CoV-2 point of entry into the host thus playing a pivotal role in viral spread and COVID-19 onset and progression. As such, limiting viral infectivity, replication, shedding, and load at the point of entry is crucial to containing COVID-19 progression, as well as transmission to others. This NOSI will support studies focused on the role of oral/nasal cavity and oral manifestations related to SARS-CoV-2 and/or COVID-19 within the NIDCR mission. The areas of interest include:
  • Investigation of the biological underpinnings of SARS-CoV-2 infection, transmission, and progression in the oral cavity, including the microbiota oral-gut axis and its dysbiosis; effects of ACE2 expression distribution and function at oral/nasal SARS-CoV-2 point of entry; salivary glands as a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2; oral mucosal immunity, and differential interactions of SARS-CoV-2 mutants/variants with oral/nasal cells.
  • Investigation of the physiological mechanisms of oral manifestations of COVID-19, including salivary gland dysfunction in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility; SARS-CoV-2 related causes of taste dysfunction; oral lesions; and changes in vascularization.
  • Establishment of predictive value and prognostic potential of oral manifestations of the severity of COVID-19 and post-acute sequalae of COVID-19.
  • Definition of the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and oral/nasal microbiota and potential therapeutic roles of pre/probiotics and other exogenous modulators of these viral-bacterial interactions, as well as blockers of viral-receptor interactions that may limit infectivity of SARS-CoV-2.
  • Development of tools and technologies to facilitate studies in the focus areas of this initiative, including animal models, ex vivo models including oral/nasal tissue chip platforms, and computational modeling of virus-receptor interactions, among others.
• Projects that overlap with or will result in incremental knowledge gained from existing investments in COVID-19 research by NIDCR or NIH initiatives such as the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx), are discouraged. Clinical observations and other descriptive studies without mechanistic analyses will be considered non-responsive.
• Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Program Official to discuss responsiveness and appropriate mechanism before submission.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Aging-Relevant Behavioral and Social Research on Conronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (NOT-AG-21-015)

First Available Due Date is March 4, 2021; Expiration Date is May 8, 2023.

• NIA is issuing this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) to highlight the continuing need for behavioral, psychological, social, and economic research on SARS-CoV-2 and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There is a need for ongoing research on the longer-term effects of COVID-19 on the health and well-being of those infected, those caring for the sick, and many others whose lives were disrupted by the pandemic and its associated mitigation and prevention strategies. Beyond effects on individuals, this pandemic has brought about unprecedented social and economic disruption that is expected to have long-term and profound effects on the health of the population. These effects will likely be particularly acute for NIH-designated health disparity populations, and other COVID-19 vulnerable groups including older adults, who have experienced higher rates of COVID-19 infection, who in some cases rely on the efforts of paid and unpaid care partners, and who may have additional barriers to accessing the medical system itself. Further, middle-aged and older frontline healthcare and essential workers and their families face unique risks of exposure to both infection and other health-related outcomes by virtue of their employment.
• Recommended areas of research include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Use of longitudinal studies collecting multidisciplinary data (often from nationally representative and diverse samples) in order to elucidate how COVID-19 related changes in the social, economic, institutional, and policy environments differentially impact the health and welfare of people across the life course and in vulnerable social groups; inform programs and policies to prepare the world for the next pandemic; and compare regional and national impacts and approaches.
  • Use of longitudinal studies to gather unique “real-time” data for rapid assessments of risk factors and outcomes in order to guide evolving public health and treatment strategies.
  • Studies exploiting “natural experiments” associated with COVID-19 economic and health shocks as well as differences in local policies related to mitigation and prevention in order to assess direct and indirect impacts on health and well-being.
  • Studies focused on the challenges involved in informing vulnerable populations about preventative health measures (e.g., hand washing, mask wearing, physical distancing, vaccine uptake) and securing and maintaining broad adherence in order to slow virus spread and limit illness and deaths. For example: How do vulnerable groups and older adults more generally get their information and what sources do they trust? What factors support or discourage adherence to prevention practices and vaccine uptake? What accounts for individual, age, and group differences in adherence to prevention efforts? Do social networks serve to reinforce or disrupt prevention efforts?
  • Studies focused on how the short- and longer-term pandemic has influenced economic and social shocks (e.g. unemployment, foreclosure, loss of health insurance) affecting the health and well-being of different populations (e.g., rural/urban, older/middle age/younger, racial/ethnic groups).
  • Studies examining how physical distancing requirements and associated social isolation and loneliness impact the health and well-being of midlife and older adult populations, including impacts on psychological well-being, cognitive health, and health behaviors. What strategies implemented by individuals, health systems, institutions, communities, and local governments have been more or less successful at mitigating social isolation and loneliness among older adults?
  • Research considering how mitigation strategies and accompanying financial strain influence health care utilization and health, including individuals with disabilities, multiple chronic conditions, mild cognitive impairment, and/or Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias, as well as their care partners and families. What are the interrelated health and economic implications of stay-at-home policies on the health and well-being of midlife and older adults with family care responsibilities, including care for children and older family members?
  • Evaluation of strategies used by health systems to reallocate resources, rapidly train practitioners, communicate preventative practices, and maintain adherence to public health and clinical guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular interest in those that serve high-risk groups (e.g., nursing homes) and resulting racial, ethnic, and/or regional disparities in access/care.
  • Studies examining the extent to which existing age, racial, ethnic, gender, socioeconomic, or geographic health disparities are exacerbated by the COVID-19 epidemic, including studies of 1) differential access to and use of health care services, and 2) differential access to information about, attitudes toward, and uptake of preventive measures, testing, and vaccines.
  • Research to address vaccine hesitancy, uptake, and implementation among NIH-designated health disparities populations and other COVID-19 vulnerable populations. For example: How do multilevel factors, including policies, health systems, communication modalities (e.g. social media), community-level factors, and interpersonal and individual-level variables reduce or maximize vaccine access, uptake, and series completion in different populations? How might programs to reduce concerns, increase trust and preparedness, and facilitate uptake of the vaccine be best implemented in various settings and environments (e.g., nursing homes, assisted living facilities, medical centers, dental clinics, community health clinics, pharmacies, Tribal health facilities, workplaces, pharmacies, remote care settings, and non-healthcare contexts)?

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Effects of smoking and vaping on the risk and outcome of COVID-19 infection (NOT-DA-21-011)

First Available Due date is June 5, 2021; Expiration Date is September 8, 2024.

• The purpose of this notice is to communicate NIDA’s interest in supporting research on the effects of smoking or vaping tobacco or marijuana on the risk of acquiring COVID-19 and the clinical course of the infection. This Notice is a reissuance of NOT-DA-20-084.
• Research Objectives: NIDA is interested in receiving research applications focusing on individuals who smoke or vape either marijuana and/or tobacco to determine: 1) the risk of contracting a COVID-19 infection, 2) the effects on asymptomatic COVID-19 infected persons, and 3) the course of the COVID-19 infection.
• This NOSI encourages research to understand:
  • The risks that smoking or vaping tobacco or marijuana may have on acquiring the COVID-19 infection.
  • The medical consequences, co-morbidity, and complications of COVID-19 infection in individuals who smoke or vape tobacco or marijuana.

The medical consequences of COVID-19 in individuals who smoke and vape with comorbid conditions such as: SUD, HIV and other immunosuppressive diseases, mental health disorders, diabetes mellitus, obesity, cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, and hepatic pathologies, as well as cancer.

Notice of Special Interest: Effects of smoking and vaping on the risk and outcome of COVID-19 infection (NOT-DA-20-084)

Expiration date is September 8, 2024; First Available Due Date is January 4, 2021

• The purpose of this notice is to communicate NIDA’s interest in supporting research on the effects of smoking or vaping tobacco or marijuana on the risk of acquiring COVID-19 and the clinical course of the infection.
• Research Objectives: NIDA is interested in receiving research applications focusing on individuals who smoke or vape either marijuana and/or tobacco to determine: 1) the risk of contracting a COVID-19 infection, 2) the effects on asymptomatic COVID-19 infected persons, and 3) the course of the COVID-19 infection.
• This NOSI encourages research to understand:
  • The risks that smoking or vaping tobacco or marijuana may have on acquiring the COVID-19 infection.               
  • The medical consequences, co-morbidity, and complications of COVID-19 infection in individuals who smoke or vape tobacco or marijuana.
  • The medical consequences of COVID-19 in individuals who smoke and vape with comorbid conditions such as: SUD, HIV and other immunosuppressive diseases, mental health disorders, diabetes mellitus, obesity, cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, and hepatic pathologies, as well as cancer.

Notice of Special Interest: Research on Rehabilitation Needs Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic (NOT-HD-20-031)

Expiration date is May 8, 2023; First Available Due Date: February 05, 2021

• This NOSI invites research applications on the rehabilitation needs of COVID-19 survivors. At present, the best acute rehabilitation plan for people who have recovered from severe cases of COVID- 19 is unknown. Similarly, the long-term rehabilitation needs and sequalae of people who recover from COVID-19 are not well understood. Furthermore, the interplay of existing physical disabilities and recovery from COVID-19 is also unknown.
• Research applications are also sought to understand the impact of disruptions to rehabilitation services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated mitigation actions. Applications that measure the impact of delayed treatment for common disabling conditions, such as stroke, are also sought.
• Finally, research applications investigating the social, behavioral, and economic impact of COVID-19 on people with physical disabilities and their caregivers are requested.
• Topics of interest include but are not limited to:
  • New clinical trials of acute, chronic, home, and community-based rehabilitation interventions (types, dosing, timing, and intensity) for survivors of severe COVID-19 (e.g. with lung involvement, neurological symptoms, or muscle wasting)
  • EHR analysis of rehabilitation services associated with COVID-19 treatment
  • Physical, social, economic, and health outcomes for patients who receive COVID-19 rehabilitation
  • Studies of how pandemic containment and mitigation actions, such as social distancing requirements, affect the care and well-being of people with disabilities and their caregivers
  • Studies focused on addressing the unique needs of formal and informal caregivers in assisting/supporting survivors of COVID-19 use new methods of rehabilitation delivery during the pandemic
  • Studies of how social distancing guidelines and requirements are implemented and impact people with disabilities in institutions, group settings, and other non-traditional settings
  • Studies examining the impact of healthcare-related stigma, discrimination, harassment, and/or refusal of care on seeking COVID-related healthcare for people with disabilities
  • Development and testing of new methods for delivery of rehabilitation in the home. Target patient groups include both people requiring rehabilitation following COVID-19 as well as typical rehabilitation patients
  • Development and testing of novel metrics of function for use in the home environment with emphasis on the use of mobile or digital devices

Health Services Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01 – Clinical Trial Optional) PAR-20-310

Application Due Dates: November 27, 2020; March 17, 2021; November 17, 2021; March 17, 2022; November 17, 2022; February 17, 2023. Expiration Date is March 28, 2023.

• The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage innovative health services research that can directly and demonstrably contribute to the improvement of minority health and/or the reduction of health disparities at the health care system-level as well as within clinical settings.
• Examples of research methods could include, but are not limited to:
  • Cluster-randomized, randomized or practical clinical trials of the effectiveness of new or existing technologies (e.g., telehealth), non-technological interventions, and multi-level interventions that involve broad inclusion of patients from health disparity populations and addresses a disease or condition that disproportionately impacts health disparity populations (e.g., infectious diseases such as COVID-19, chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, asthma, and others, mental health/substance abuse disorders including perinatal depression, and maternal and infant mortality).
• Research topics of interest include but are not limited to:
  • Studies on the effects of emerging infectious diseases such as the COVID-19 pandemic on disparities in health care utilization and health outcomes among medically vulnerable populations such as institutionalized and non-institutionalized older adults; persons with chronic conditions, mental health and/or substance abuse disorders, complex medical needs, and/or with compromised immune system function; and pregnant women. In addition, examine the effects of these infectious diseases on disparities in health care utilization and health outcomes among socially vulnerable populations such as the homeless, the recently incarcerated, immigrants, persons with disabilities, and children.
  • Studies on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on disparities in access to care and quality of care for health disparity populations, taking into account how it impacts the structure and organization of different health care systems that serve health disparity populations, including those living in rural areas.
  • Research to examine the role of federal, state and local policies in different sectors (e.g., health care, labor, transportation, housing) in exacerbating or reducing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, chronic medical conditions, or other diseases that have disproportionate effects on minority health and health disparities.
  • Studies of clinical procedures or guidelines into existing care systems such clinician or health care system decision-making about advanced ventilatory support for patients with severe advanced COVID-19 or other acute severe diseases with high mortality.

Notice of Special Interest: Emerging Viral Infections and their Impact on the Male and Female Reproductive Tract (NOT-HD-20-021)
Expiration date is 07/16/2023; First Available due date is 10/05/2020.

• The purpose of this Notice is to invite applications proposing cutting-edge research on emerging viral infections that are thought to primarily impact non-reproductive sites, at least at initial presentation, but may also affect the male and/or female reproductive tract. The recent global outbreak of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is not an anomaly and will most likely not be the last virus occurrence. Today, infectious diseases are emerging and reemerging more quickly than ever before. In the last four-five years alone, two viral infections, one caused by the Zika virus (ZIKV) and the other caused by a SARS-CoV-2 (Covid19), have spread world-wide, resulting in death, severe disease with yet, unknown, long-term morbidities., or severe birth defects to the new-born. Both ZIKV and SARS-CoV-2 infections may affect male and/or female reproductive systems in addition to other non-reproductive sites. Therefore, it becomes essential to investigate possible effects of emerging viruses on reproductive tissues and cells to better understand potential impacts on fertility that may be sex specific.
• Currently, knowledge gaps exist in our understanding of viral infections of both male and female reproductive tract tissues. This NOSI is interested in the recently emergent ZIKA and novel corona viruses, as well as other yet unidentified viruses which may significantly impact public health. Areas of interest of this NOSI include, but are not limited to:
  • Consequences of infection, e.g., cells affected and outcomes of infection – infertility, miscarriage, live births, orchitis, epididymitis, pelvic pain;
  • Mechanism of action for infectivity of reproductive tract tissues;
  • Mechanism of sexual transmission;
  • Whether the reproductive tract acts as a reservoir for viruses;
  • Sex-specific differences in infection as they may relate to reproductive tract tissues and cells;
  • The impact of race and ethnicity on reproductive system impacts of viruses;
  • Impact of nutrition, e.g., Vitamin D sufficiency and the understanding of mechanisms that explain the impact of obesity;
  • Development of model systems to study infections in reproductive tract tissues, e.g., organoids (for R21 applications only)
• Non-responsive applications:
  • Infections exclusively localized to the reproductive tract, e.g., urinary tract infections, chlamydia, HPV, HSV, hepatitis B;
  • Epidemiological analysis of a particular infection.

Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-20-238)
Application due dates: May 17, 2021, May 17, 2022, May 17, 2023

• The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to support research on interventions to improve health in Native American (NA) populations. This includes 1) etiologic research, where there is a significant gap in knowledge, that will directly inform intervention development or adaptations, 2) research that develops, adapts, or tests the efficacy or effectiveness of health promotion and disease prevention interventions, 3) research that tests culturally informed treatment or recovery interventions and 4) where a sufficient body of knowledge on intervention efficacy exists, research on dissemination and implementation that develops and tests strategies to overcome barriers to the adoption, integration, scale-up, and sustainability of effective interventions. Existing data suggest that significant acute and chronic disease inequities exist for NA populations.  Concurrently, NA populations experience unique sociopolitical, historical, and environmental stressors and risks that may exacerbate health conditions and/or impact the effectiveness of existing solutions to address the conditions. They also possess unique strengths and resiliencies that can mitigate stressors or inform intervention strategies. Through this initiative, intervention and related research is sought to build upon community knowledge, resources, and resilience to test science-based, culturally appropriate solutions to reduce morbidity and mortality through identification and remediation of precursors to diseases and disorders and through culturally informed treatment.  Interventions should be designed with a consideration for sustainability within the communities where they are tested, and have the flexibility to be readily adapted, disseminated, and scaled up to other communities where culturally appropriate. For the purposes of this FOA, Native Americans include the following populations: Alaska Natives, American Indians (whose ancestral lands fall at least partially within the U.S. mainland border), and Native Hawaiians.  The term ‘Native Hawaiian’ means any individual any of whose ancestors were natives, prior to 1778, of the area which now comprises the State of Hawaii.
• NHLBI: One of the Examples of projects of interest to NHLBI include the following: Strategies and behavioral interventions that may mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on heart, lung, blood, and sleep diseases and disorders

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Utilizing Telemedicine or Other Remote-Based Platforms to Develop and Support Treatments for Substance Use Disorders
This notice applies to standard R01 and R21 due dates on or after October 5, 2020 and subsequent due dates until 1/8/24.

• We expect this NOSI to accelerate the development of 1) remotely-delivered SUD treatment interventions, and 2) remote methods for collecting outcome measures evaluating the safety or efficacy of SUD treatments. These advances will facilitate the delivery of effective treatments to those in need and permit the execution of clinical trials when physical access to clinical research sites is limited. Ultimately, both these advances will lead to improved treatment options for individuals with SUD.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): NIDCD is Interested in Supporting Research on the Impact of COVID-19 on Mission Specific Sensory and Communication Disorders
This notice applies to due dates on or after October 5, 2020 and subsequent receipt dates through September 8, 2022.

• NIDCD invites applications for research on COVID-19 in relation to NIDCD’s scientific programs of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech and language (HBTSVSL). Given the early stage of COVID-19 research, it is critical that there is a strong premise for research proposals submitted in response to this NOSI. When appropriate, NIDCD encourages multi-disciplinary approaches to move the research beyond in vitro and animal models.

Long-Term Effects of Disasters on Health Care Systems Serving Health Disparity Populations (R01- Clinical Trial Optional) (PA-20-172)
Standard due dates starting 10/5/20; expires September 8, 2023.

• This FOA supports investigative and collaborative research focused on understanding the long-term effects of natural and/or human-made disasters, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, on health care systems serving health disparity populations in communities in the U.S.

NSF Funding Opportunities & Priorities

Joint NSF-BSF Programs Dealing with the Coronavirus Disease
Applications may be submitted anytime

• The U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) is accepting applications dealing with the Coronavirus Disease in all the active NSF-BSF programs. Applications must be written jointly by an Israeli scientist in an Israeli institution and a U.S. scientist from a U.S. research institution. Proposals should be submitted through the NSF Rapid Response Research (RAPID) funding mechanism. Presently, all biology units of the NSF (BIO), Geosciences, Materials, Physics and CBET divisions are open for submission.

NSF Dear Colleague Letter on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (NSF 20-052)
Applications may be submitted anytime

• NSF is accepting proposals to conduct non-medical, non-clinical-care research that can be used immediately to explore how to model and understand the spread of COVID-19, to inform and educate about the science of virus transmission and prevention, and to encourage the development of processes and actions to address this global challenge.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

None currently posted.

Department of Energy

COVID-19 High Performance Computing (HPC) Consortium Request for Proposals
Applications may be submitted anytime

• The COVID-19 High Performance Computing Consortium is a unique private-public effort to bring together federal government, industry, and academic leaders who are volunteering free compute time and resources on their world-class machines. Researchers are invited to submit COVID-19 related research proposals to the consortium, which will then be reviewed for matching with computing resources from one of the partner institutions.

Department of Labor

None currently posted.

Department of State

2020 TIP Office Annual Program Statement to Address the Impacts of COVID-19 (SFOP0007233)

Application closing date is April 15, 2022.

• This announcement is specifically focused on addressing short-term, targeted needs related to COVID-19 and human trafficking. The Department of State is rising daily to meet the historic challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, all over the world. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, traffickers continue to operate to ensure victims are not free to choose where they live, how they work, or who has access to their bodies. Economic uncertainty, movement restrictions, lockdowns, and disruptions to state services have made the most vulnerable more vulnerable. Traffickers are capitalizing on the chaos of the pandemic, finding ways to increase their exploitation. As government and philanthropic efforts and resources are stretched to respond to the pandemic, financial support for anti-trafficking efforts is limited. The TIP Office recognizes the impact COVID-19 has on efforts to combat human trafficking, and seeks to address the specific short-term challenges that have arisen from the pandemic.
• The Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office) announces an open competition for funding to address the impacts of COVID-19 on efforts to combat human trafficking and support government measures to counter human trafficking outside the United States.
• The Annual Program Statement is an open-ended, annual funding opportunity to generate competition for new awards. The Annual Program Statement is open for approximately one year (August 14, 2020 – April 15, 2022), during which U.S.-based and foreign non-profits, non-governmental organizations (including faith-based organizations), public international organizations, institutes of higher education, and for-profit entities can submit applications at any time. The TIP Office will allocate up to $3.5 million for this initiative and plans to issue awards on a regular basis to address the rapidly changing needs and opportunities. Applicants may submit applications for no less than $100,000 to work in one or more countries that directly aligns with the programming priorities listed in this announcement. This announcement is specifically focused on projects that address short-term targeted needs related to COVID-19 and human trafficking.

Environmental Protection Agency

None currently posted.

NASA

None currently posted.

NIST

None currently posted.

USAID

None currently posted.

Non-Federal Opportunities

Wellcome, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Mastercard
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and Mastercard have committed up to $125 million in seed funding to speed-up the response to the COVID-19 epidemic by identifying, assessing, developing, and scaling-up treatments. The COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator will play a catalytic role by accelerating and evaluating new and repurposed drugs and biologics to treat patients with COVID-19 in the immediate term, and other viral pathogens in the longer-term.

Topics: The Accelerator is seeking partners for the following activities:

• Identifying candidate compounds by testing approved drugs for activity against COVID-19, screening libraries of compounds with confirmed safety data, and considering new investigational compounds and monoclonal antibodies.
• Developing drugs or monoclonal antibodies that pass initial screening.
• Scaling up production and commercialization of successful drugs and monoclonal antibodies.

CISCO Pandemic/COVID19 Science, Technology and Social Impact

• Cisco is interested in both the science and technology aspects of these problem sets, and, particularly, in the intersections between them. By cultivating stronger partnerships between scientists, technologists, and the broader community; we hope to achieve an acceleration of scientific research and conservation outcomes as we push the boundaries of our technologies and architectures to support larger-scale studies, more sophisticated analyses, and translation of learnings across multiple domain areas.

COVID-19 Early Treatment Fund (CETF)
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis

• CETF is raising funds to test the most promising existing drugs in outpatient trials and helping those studies recruit patients. We are the only organization in the world that is exclusively focused on outpatient trials testing treatments immediately after infection. A scientist can apply for funding and get up to a $1M commitment in less than a week. Funding multiple shots on goal quickly is the fastest way to end the pandemic.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF): Pioneering Ideas – Exploring the Future to Build a Culture of Health
Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year

• Pioneering Ideas: Exploring the Future to Build a Culture of Health seeks proposals that are primed to influence health equity in the future. The Foundation is interested in ideas that address any of these four areas of focus: Future of Evidence; Future of Social Interaction; Future of Food; Future of Work. RWJF welcomes proposals from scientists, anthropologists, artists, urban planners, and community leaders – anyone, anywhere who has a cutting edge idea that could alter the trajectory of health and increase opportunities for everyone in the United States to live their healthiest life possible.
• While this RFP is focused on broader and longer-term societal trends and shifts that were evolving prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Foundation recognizes the unique circumstances and learning created by the COVID-19 pandemic may inform your response. It is at your discretion whether you propose a project related to the pandemic directly or indirectly.

Relevant Links

Additional COVID-19 Funding Opportunities

SPIN COVID-19 Links

Webinar: Proposal Writing in the Time of COVID-19 Recording and Slides from June 11, 2020.

COVID-19 & Social Determinants of Health Working Group

• Lead by Karen Joynt Maddox, MD, MPH, co-director of the Center for Health Economics and Policy, the Institute for Public Health’s COVID-19 and Social Determinants of Health Working Group convenes regional researchers, practitioners and public health workers interested in discussing research, data, and opportunities for collaboration.
• According to Dr. Joynt Maddox, the goals of the group are to “connect people across the university around this important topic to enable novel collaborations and help create meaningful change in clinical care and policy.”

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