Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 19 011
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "Computational Models of Immunity (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-AI-19-011; CFDA: 93.855) supports research projects that build and use computational models to better explain how protective immunity is induced and/or maintained against infectious pathogens other than HIV, and how vaccines against those pathogens work. The emphasis is not just on creating a model as a one-off product, but on developing models that can genuinely improve biological understanding and guide experimental decisions about immunity and vaccination.
A central theme of the FOA is iterative model development tied closely to immunological experimentation. In practice, that means applicants are expected to combine computational work with experimental validation in a feedback loop: initial models generate predictions, experiments test those predictions, and results are then used to refine and strengthen the models. NIH is looking for models that become more accurate, more robust, and more useful over time because they are continuously checked against real immunology data. The goal is to move beyond purely theoretical modeling and toward computational frameworks that can reliably help explain mechanisms, forecast immune outcomes, and inform vaccine or immunology study design.
Another major priority is broad usability and sharing. The FOA explicitly aims to make the computational models and the data produced through funded projects readily available to the larger research community. This reflects an expectation that outputs will be built in a way that other scientists can access, reuse, and extend them, whether for additional model refinement or to directly support biological experimentation. The intent is to create community resources rather than isolated tools that only work within one lab.
The program also includes community-building activities. In addition to supporting research projects, the FOA notes support for workshops and symposia designed to encourage adoption and effective use of computational immunity models by the wider research community. These convenings are meant to spread methods, improve collaboration between computational and experimental groups, and help standardize or accelerate progress in this area.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a Cooperative Agreement mechanism (U01). A cooperative agreement typically implies substantial scientific or programmatic involvement from NIH staff compared with a standard research project grant, which often means closer coordination around milestones, deliverables, and collaborative expectations. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," signaling that applications should not propose clinical trials as defined by NIH policy; the supported work is intended to be non-clinical-trial research focused on modeling and experimental immunology rather than interventional studies in human participants.
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across the public, private, nonprofit, and academic spectrum. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations (other than federally recognized governments); public housing/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Key timeline and funding details provided in the source include an original closing date of 2019-06-10 and a creation date of 2019-01-30. The award ceiling is listed as $750,000. The source excerpt does not specify the number of expected awards (it is left blank), so the exact anticipated award count is not provided in the supplied data.Apply for RFA AI 19 011
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Computational Models of Immunity (U01 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 2019-01-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-06-10. (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 $750,000.00 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 of this NIH funding opportunity?
The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is titled "Computational Models of Immunity (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)."
What is the FOA number and CFDA listing provided?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-AI-19-011, and the CFDA number provided is 93.855.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
This FOA supports research projects that build and use computational models to better explain how protective immunity is induced and/or maintained against infectious pathogens other than HIV, and how vaccines against those pathogens work. The focus is on models that improve biological understanding and help guide experimental decisions in immunity and vaccination.
Are HIV-related computational immunity models included?
No. The FOA is focused on infectious pathogens other than HIV.
Is this FOA mainly about building a one-time computational model deliverable?
No. The emphasis is not on creating a model as a one-off product. NIH is looking for models that become increasingly accurate, robust, and useful over time because they are iteratively tested and refined using immunology data.
What does NIH mean by "iterative model development" in this FOA?
Applicants are expected to combine computational modeling with experimental validation in a feedback loop. Initial models generate predictions, experiments test those predictions, and the results are used to refine and strengthen the models.
Does the FOA expect experimental immunology to be connected to the modeling work?
Yes. A central theme is close integration of computational work with immunological experimentation, including experimental validation of model predictions and subsequent model refinement based on the resulting data.
What kinds of outcomes does NIH want these computational models to support?
The FOA aims to move beyond purely theoretical modeling toward computational frameworks that can reliably help explain immune mechanisms, forecast immune outcomes, and inform vaccine or immunology study design.
Is model sharing and community access a priority under this FOA?
Yes. The FOA explicitly aims to make computational models and the data produced through funded projects readily available to the broader research community, with the intent of creating community resources rather than isolated lab-specific tools.
What does the FOA say about making outputs usable by other researchers?
It reflects an expectation that models and data will be built so that other scientists can access, reuse, and extend them for further model refinement or to directly support biological experimentation.
Does this program include any community-building activities beyond research awards?
Yes. In addition to supporting research projects, the FOA notes support for workshops and symposia intended to encourage adoption and effective use of computational immunity models by the wider research community.
What is the purpose of the workshops and symposia mentioned in the FOA?
These convenings are meant to spread methods, improve collaboration between computational and experimental groups, and help standardize or accelerate progress in computational modeling of immunity.
What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity using a Cooperative Agreement mechanism (U01).
What does a U01 cooperative agreement imply in general for NIH involvement?
A cooperative agreement typically implies substantial scientific or programmatic involvement from NIH staff compared with a standard research project grant, which can mean closer coordination around milestones, deliverables, and collaborative expectations.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applications should not propose clinical trials as defined by NIH policy. The supported work is intended to be non-clinical-trial research focused on modeling and experimental immunology rather than interventional studies in human participants.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across the public, private, nonprofit, and academic spectrum, including various government entities, institutions of higher education, tribal governments and organizations, housing authorities, nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status, as described in the FOA), for-profit entities (including small businesses and other than small businesses), and other entities.
Are state and local governments eligible applicants?
Yes. The eligible applicants listed include state governments, county governments, city/township governments, and special district governments.
Are schools and higher education institutions eligible?
Yes. The FOA lists independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education as eligible applicants.
Are tribal entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations (other than federally recognized governments). It also highlights Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized.
Are nonprofits eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA lists nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education, in that nonprofit category as described) and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education, in that nonprofit category as described).
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA lists for-profit organizations other than small businesses and also lists small businesses.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights faith-based or community-based organizations among additional eligible applicant categories.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations as eligible.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights U.S. territories or possessions as eligible applicant categories.
Does the FOA highlight eligibility for specific institution types like HBCUs and HSIs?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and AANAPISIs.
What is the listed award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling is listed as $750,000.
How many awards does NIH expect to make under this FOA?
The provided source excerpt does not specify the number of expected awards (the field is left blank), so the anticipated award count is not provided in the supplied information.
What are the key dates included in the provided information?
The creation date is listed as 2019-01-30, and the original closing date is listed as 2019-06-10.
What is the overall emphasis of NIH in this FOA, based on the description provided?
The FOA emphasizes computational models that are tightly linked to experimental immunology through iterative prediction-testing-refinement cycles, and it prioritizes broad sharing and usability of resulting models and data to benefit the wider research community.
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