Identification and Characterization of Persistence Mechanisms of Select Protozoan Pathogens (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AI 21 075

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 21 075

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a discretionary grant funding opportunity titled "Identification and Characterization of Persistence Mechanisms of Select Protozoan Pathogens (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AI-21-075 (CFDA 93.855). This announcement supports health-related research using the NIH R01 mechanism, with an emphasis on basic and translational laboratory studies rather than human subject clinical trials. The core purpose is to deepen scientific understanding of how certain protozoan parasites persist in hosts or environments despite immune pressure or drug exposure, and to generate the research tools, datasets, and experimental strategies needed to identify, validate, and "credential" new therapeutic approaches aimed at persistent protozoan infections.

The scientific focus is on persistence mechanisms, meaning the biological pathways and survival strategies that allow protozoan pathogens to remain in a host long-term, evade clearance, rebound after treatment, or tolerate stressful conditions. The opportunity is framed to encourage work that clarifies these mechanisms at a level that can realistically inform drug discovery and treatment development. In practice, that can include identifying parasite factors (genes, proteins, metabolic programs), host factors (immune or tissue environments that permit persistence), and parasite-host interactions that drive chronicity or relapse. It also explicitly highlights the need for enabling resources: tools such as assays, model systems, biomarkers, screening platforms, or other strategies that make it easier to discover and rigorously evaluate candidate drugs or drug targets specifically relevant to persistent infection states.

Funding is provided as a grant (FundingInstrumentType: Grant) in the Health activity area, with an award ceiling listed as $500,000. The original closing date for the opportunity was February 8, 2022, and the record shows a creation date of October 18, 2021. While the number of expected awards is not specified in the provided source data, the intent is to fund meritorious R01-scale research projects that can materially advance the field by explaining persistence biology and by producing practical approaches for moving potential therapies forward.

Eligibility is broad and includes many common applicant categories: 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 that are not federally recognized governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories as stated); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The opportunity also calls out additional eligible applicants, emphasizing inclusion of diverse institution types and organizations that often serve specific communities or regions. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations), regional organizations, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. Collectively, this eligibility language signals that NIH is open to applications from a wide range of academic, governmental, nonprofit, community, and international partners, which fits the global burden and cross-border nature of protozoan diseases.

A key restriction is embedded in the title: "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." That means the supported work is not intended to run clinical trials or test interventions in human participants under a clinical trial framework. The appropriate scope is therefore preclinical, mechanistic, and tool-building research, including work in laboratory systems, computational approaches, in vitro assays, and animal or other non-human models when justified. The overall outcome NIH is seeking is a stronger mechanistic foundation for why protozoan infections persist and a clearer path to therapies that can eliminate persistent forms, reduce relapse, and improve durable cure rates by targeting the biology that standard approaches may miss.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Identification and Characterization of Persistence Mechanisms of Select Protozoan Pathogens (R01 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 2021-10-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-02-08. (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 $500,000.00 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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