Highlighting opportunities and resources particularly suited to UNH
** means posted or updated < 7 days since the date above
Upcoming deadlines are shown in bold.
For organizations with more than one entry, new entries are added to the bottom of the list for that organization.
23andMe
Administration for Community Living (ACL)
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Allen Institute for AI
Amazon Web Services
American Lung Association
AXA Research Fund
Booz Allen Foundation
C3.ai
C-19 Priority Consortium
CARTO
Center for Cultural Power
Centre for Economic Policy Research
Cisco
Computing Innovation Fellows Program
CONVERGE
Council On Governmental Relations (COGR)
COVID-19 High Performance Computing (HPC) Consortium
COVID Information Commons
COVID Scholar
Cuebiq
data.org
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
Department of Defense (DoD)
Department of Education (US ED)
Department of Energy (DOE)
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Digital Science - Dimensions
Domo
Economic Development Administration (EDA)
Emergency Medicine Foundation
Emergent Ventures: Fast Grants
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Esri
Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research
Frontiers
Galaxy
Google
IBM
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
Institute for Research on Innovation and Science
International Fact Checking Network
Internet Society Foundation
Lean European Open Survey on SARS-CoV-2 Infected Patients
Library of Congress
Merck KGaA
Microsoft
MIT Solve: Health Security and Pandemics Challenge
Mozilla
NAPSG Foundation
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Bureau of Economic Research
National Council on Disability
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
National Geographic Society
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
National Institute of Corrections
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
National Research Mentoring Network
National Science Foundation (NSF)
National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI)
Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub
Open Geospatial Consortium
Our World in Data
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
Research Data Alliance
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Russell Sage Foundation
SafeGraph
Science Responds
Social Science Research Council
Society for Medical Decision Making
Sorenson Impact Foundation
Spencer Foundation
Stevens Initiative
Streamlyne Research
TD Bank
Unacast
Undergraduate Field Experiences Research Network
UNH CoRE COVID-19 Pilot Research Partnerships
UNH/Lewis-Burke Associates
Urban Institute
USAspending.gov
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
U.S. Department of Education (US ED)
Veterans Administration (VA)
World Health Organization (WHO)
XPRIZE
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23andMe COVID-19 Study
23andMe's objective is to investigate genetic links that could predispose individuals to severe COVID-19 symptoms. 23andMe’s large research database containing millions of genotyped individuals, combined with their ability to quickly survey our research participants, means that they are well placed to address questions related to the genetics of COVID-19 outcomes. If they are able to identify genetic links with COVID-19 outcomes, it may ultimately help researchers and scientists better understand the biology of the disease and why some experience more severe symptoms than others.
23andMe is eager to learn of ideas about how their database can support other PI's research on COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2. Researchers with ideas for collaboration projects can contact 23andMe at the email provided on the website.
Deadline: Open until further notice Details
Webinar: Successfully Engaging Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities via Technology: Strategies and Best Practices
Across the country, community-based organizations are responding to the needs of older adults and adults with disabilities by expanding options for virtual programming and service delivery. Virtual offerings can promote service continuity in lieu of in-person interactions, as well as foster social connectedness. Join ACL and other national stakeholders for a webinar highlighting programs, best practices, and tips for creating communities of learning and engagement via technology. Presenters will address marketing/outreach, barriers to virtual participation, strategies for holding interactive and inclusive conversations, and more.
Presenters: Ryan Elza, AARP Foundation; Stephen Ewell, Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Foundatio; Thomas Kamber, Older Adults Technology Services (OATS); Susan Stiles, National Council on Aging
Webinar Date/Time: July 9, 2020, 1:00 - 2:00 PM Details
This webinar will be recorded and posted on ACL’s COVID-19 webpage.
Novel, High-Impact Studies Evaluating Health System and Healthcare Professional Responsiveness to COVID-19 (R01)
AHRQ has published a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that invites R01 grant applications for funding to support novel, high-impact studies evaluating the responsiveness of healthcare delivery systems, healthcare professionals, and the overall U.S. healthcare system to the COVID-19 pandemic.
AHRQ is interested in funding critical research focused on evaluating topics such as effects on quality, safety, and value of health system response to COVID-19; the role of primary care practices and professionals during the COVID-19 epidemic; understanding how the response to COVID-19 affected socially vulnerable populations and people with multiple chronic conditions; and digital healthcare including innovations and challenges encountered in the rapid expansion of telehealth response to COVID-19.
AHRQ encourages multi-method, rapid-cycle research with the ability to: produce and disseminate initial findings (e.g., observations, lessons learned, or findings) within 6 months after award and then regularly throughout the remainder of the award period.
Deadline: June 15, 2020 RFA-HS-20-003
Accepting Preliminary Data as Post-Submission Material and Other COVID-19-Related Application Flexibilities
AHRQ is participating in an updated notice released by NIH regarding “Accepting Preliminary Data as Post-Submission Material and Other COVID-19-Related Application Flexibilities." The allowance re: preliminary data applies to applications submitted for due dates beginning May 25, 2020 for the Fall 2020 review meetings/January 2021 Council round. The deadline for submitting all post-submission materials, including preliminary data, will be 30 days before the study section meeting. Details
COVID-19 Research Grant Awards
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has awarded 26 research grants to explore essential questions about the delivery of healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research projects will focus on areas such as the increased use of telehealth, best practices in rural care settings, emergency management in hospitals, addressing critical barriers to effective pandemic response in hospitals that care for vulnerable populations, and improving clinician and patient safety. The grants also are intended to leverage innovations in digital healthcare research and ways healthcare delivery has been reshaped by the pandemic.
The grants have been awarded in two categories:
- Funding for 14 new projects to research the healthcare system’s COVID-19 response in four areas: improving the quality of care and patient outcomes; improving patient safety; understanding the pandemic’s impact on socially vulnerable populations and people with multiple chronic conditions; and understanding how digital health innovations such as telehealth contributed to the health system response to COVID-19.
- Funding to supplement 12 existing projects so that they may be refocused on COVID-19 topics.
The research will be conducted in numerous healthcare environments, including hospitals, primary care and other ambulatory care settings, pre-hospital care, long-term and nursing home care, home health care, mental health and substance use care, pharmacy, and transitions of care between settings. Details
AHRQ Announces Interest in Health Services Research on Health System and Healthcare Professional Responsiveness to COVID-19
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has release a Special Emphasis Notice (SEN) to inform the research community that it is interested in receiving health services research grant applications to develop models of care that improve access, quality, and outcomes of care related to COVID-19 and post-acute sequalae from COVID-19 (PASC). AHRQ is interested applications that develop, implement, and evaluate interventions and models of care, including those targeting the specific needs and challenges of disadvantaged populations and people living with MCC, that improve access, quality, and outcomes of care. Proposed studies may focus on the patient, clinician, practice, or system level interventions. Multilevel interventions are encouraged. AHRQ also encourages projects that produce and disseminate timely insights that can be used to improve patient care and inform healthcare delivery during both routine operations and public health emergencies.
Applications in response to this emphasis should use AHRQ’s standing R18, R03, and R01 funding mechanisms and enter the SEN number in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form.
This SEN is active until February 14, 2025 Details
Use of Telehealth During the COVID-19 Era
The systematic review, released on January 3, 2023 by the Effective Health Care (EHC) Program, assessed how to provide telehealth care by identifying characteristics of telehealth delivery, patient populations, settings, benefits and harms, and implementation strategies during the COVID-19 era. Details
COVID-19 Open Research Dataset (CORD-19)
The Semantic Scholar team at the Allen Institute for AI has partnered with leading research groups to provide CORD-19, a free resource of more than 128,000 scholarly articles about the novel coronavirus for use by the global research community. Details
AWS Diagnostic Development Initiative (DDI)
The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Diagnostic Development Initiative (DDI) is a two-year, $20M commitment to accelerate research and innovation to advance the collective understanding and detection of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in order to mitigate current and future outbreaks. AWS is offering AWS Promotional Credits and technical expertise to support the use of AWS services for projects by selected institutions and companies in four program areas: early disease detection, diagnostics, prognosis, and public health genomics.
Deadline: December 31, 2021 with priority consideration given to applications received before July 31, 2021 Details
COVID-19 and Emerging Respiratory Viruses Research Award
The American Lung Associatin is looking for proposals to advance research directly be related to COVID-19 and other novel respiratory viruses with pandemic potential. This award of $100,000 per year for up to two years is intended to support investigators with evidence of ongoing excellence and productivity in a related field.
The Lung Association is interested in applications that address the following types of clinical, basic, translational, and population health questions:
- A new understanding of the basic biology of respiratory viruses that could lead to better treatment and prevention
- Development of novel therapeutics and vaccines
- Understanding host factors that alter response to these infections
- Understanding individual, regional, or social factors increasing or decreasing community spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses
- Case tracking and epidemiological approaches to understanding COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses
Deadine: May 30, 2020 Details
Mitigating Risk in the Wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic
The AXA Research Fund has committed support to emergency research initiatives at the beginning of the crisis; however, it is also necessary to inform its aftermath as well as a potential second wave, particularly in lower income countries. It is also a time to start questioning how to better prepare for the next crisis – be it epidemic, climate or ecological – while we learn from the current one.
This Research Fund has launced a flash call for projects in the following areas:
- Protecting vulnerable populations from epidemics and catastrophes, including COVID-19: be it migrants, informal settlements, workers in the informal economy, isolated people, people with disabilities, the elderly
- Improving data collection and quality in health: how can data and technology help us get out of the crisis, understand it and mitigate it? How can it inform future containment and epidemic control?
- Understanding the effects of confinement and social distancing: what are the effects of confinement and social distancing on society and households? What are the mental health consequences? The social and domestic repercussions?
- Early warning and preparedness: how do we re-enforce our health infrastructure and ecosystem (including medical devices and drug supply) to be better prepared and how do we protect our health workers and caregivers?
- Preserving the environment and our health: connections between climate change, biodiversity loss and the origin of viral disease including socioeconomic dynamics leading to infectious disease outbreaks and sanitary crisis; Learnings from COVID-19 for mitigating future related crises in climate and biodiversity
Preference will be given to projects with a local focus and potential applicability on a global scale.
PI Eligibility: Mid-career researchers between PhD + 6 years and PhD + 10 years maximum
Required Effort: Research project must involve full-time work for the duration of the grant (with an exceptional acceptance of up to 20% time dedicated to teaching)
Institutional Limits: Only one candidate per department
If you plan to submit, please send an email to Kathy Cataneo to secure your spot.
Deadline: May 7, 2020 10:00 AM EDT (4:00 PM Paris time) Details
Innovation Grant
The Booz Allen Foundation has established a $1 million Innovation Fund to help nonprofits, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, innovators at colleges and universities, and startups and small businesses harness the power of data, technology, and diverse intellectual capital to improve COVID-19 relief efforts and make a difference. It wants to surface the most innovative solutions and empower the individuals and organizations behind those solutions to drive their development and implementation.
Through the Innovation Fund, the Foundation is specifically targeting solutions and projects that will build lasting community resilience through protecting vulnerable populations and frontline workers or providing for the safe return to work. Nonprofits can apply for grants of up to $100,000. Individuals, teams of individuals, and eligible for-profit organizations can apply for microgrants of up to $10,000. Certain eligibility requirements apply.
Deadline: June 5, 2020 Details
Digital Transformation Institute (C3.ai DTI)
The C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute (C3.ai DTI) is a new new public-private research consortium that aims to use artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced computing to research solutions for COVID-19. Managed by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and the University of California, Berkeley, the consortium also involves C3.ai, Microsoft Corporation, Princeton University, the University of Chicago, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at UIUC.
The Institute has announced an initial call for proposals, AI Techniques to Mitigate Pandemic, which brings together Health and AI research. Up to $5.8 million in awards will be funded from this first call, ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 each.
Deadline: May 1, 2020 Details
C3.ai COVID-19 Data Lake
The C3.ai COVID-19 Data Lake uniquely integrates multiple data sources in a unified data model, ready for analysis – not just a list of links or a collection of data sets. Access data at no charge with any utility that supports RESTful APIs. Details
Societal Impact
Formed by Streamlyne, the COVID-19 Priority Consortium showcases promising COVID-19 research, provides tools to evalute current research on coronivirus treatments, and connects researchers and resources. Society Impact present key research findings and commentary related to the social impact of the pandemic. Details
COVID-19 Data Analytics
Using COVID-19 data to fight and contain the pandemic with advanced analytics is critical to protect public health and save lives. Using spatial data through mobile and web applications will allow us to beat Coronavirus faster. Resources are available for data gathering, social distancing analysis, overcrowding analysis, supply chain optimization, datavisualization, sentiment analysis, and PPE distribution management. CARTO can also provide assistance with data science support and data streams. Details
No Going Back: A COVID-19 Cultural Strategy Activation Guide for Artists and Activists
A global pandemic has magnified the flaws of our capitalist system, but, also, the power art and culture to uplift, disrupt and build community. The Center for Cultural Power offers NoGoingBack: A COVID-19 Cultural Strategy Activation Guide for Artists and Activists to meet the moment.
This illustrated resource points creators to ways they can make moving narratives that advance policy demands that are now within reach. It lays out frameworks and tools that support social change movements to harness the power of artists and culture makers in painting a picture of a more equitable and just future. It also highlights resources for artists who have been hard hit economically and professionally. No Going Back breaks down ways creators and movement groups might do the “what” and “how” of activation now and into the year ahead. Details
COVID Economics - Vetted and Real-time Papers
Launched at the end of March 2020, this free online CEPR publication.was created to quickly disseminate fast-rising scholarly work on the COVID-19 epidemic. It features formal investigations, based on explicit theory and/or empirical evidence. All areas of economics are presented, including, but not only, health, industrial organization, macroeconomics, finance, history, development, inequality, political economy and public finance, and concerns theory as well as empirical evidence. Details
Pandemic/COVID19 Science, Technology and Social Impact Grants
Cisco has issued an RFP for grants addressing both the science and technology aspects of these problem sets, and, particularly, in the intersections between them:
- Mathematical models for spread and the impact of pandemics
- Scalable simulation techniques for pandemics (e.g. with multi agents)
- Biomedical/Nano sensor devices for detecting symptoms and agents
- Algorithms for rapid exploration of the drug screening and discovery workflows (e.g., use reinforcement learning)
- Advanced computational biology techniques for sequencing, detecting viral evolution (e.g., in COVID-19)
- Algorithms and systems for contact tracing (with privacy preserving)
By cultivating stronger partnerships between scientists, technologists, and the broader community, Cisco hopes 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."
Deadline: Ongoing Details
This RFP may be withdrawn as research proposals are funded or as interest in the specific topic is satisfied. Researchers should plan to submit their proposals as soon as possible.
CIFellows 2020
The Computing Research Association (CRA) and the Computing Community Consortium (CCC) have announce a new Computing Innovation Fellows (CIFellows) Program for 2020 that targets recent and soon-to-be PhD graduates in computing whose academic job search was impacted by COVID-19. With funding from the National Science Foundation, the CIFellows 2020 program will offer 2 year postdoctoral opportunities in computing, with cohort activities to support career development and community building for this group of Fellows.
The Fellowship is open to all researchers whose work falls under the umbrella of the NSF Directorate for Computing and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), including computing education. Applicants must complete (or anticipate completing) the PhD degree or a first postdoctoral position between 7/1/2019 and 12/31/2020. Proposed mentors must be tenured or tenure-track faculty employed at a US academic institution and may not be applicant’s PhD advisor.
Video recording and Q&A from the May 26, 2020 webinar will be posted on the website by 5PM EDT May 28th.
Deadline: June 12, 2020 June 17, 2020 Details
COVID-19 Global Research Registry for Public Health and Social Sciences
The COVID-19 Global Research Registry for Public Health and Social Sciences is a worldwide registry for the identification of COVID-19-related research and risk reduction efforts. It has been launched by the National Science Foundation-supported CONVERGE facility and the Social Science Extreme Events Research (SSEER) Network in response to a call from the (NIEHS) Working Group for Disaster Research at the National Institutes of Health. Audiences who may be interested in this registry include researchers seeking collaborative opportunities, scientific advisors for government, industry, and non-profit organizations seeking social science knowledge, funders looking to address outstanding knowledge gaps, and journalists seeking scientific expertise.
Sharing this information will help:
- Highlight novel public health and social science research initiated in response to COVID-19
- Expand opportunities for research collaboration and reduce duplication of effort
- Identify unmet research needs
- Create possibilities to share and publish research instruments, data collection and ethics protocols, and data
- Set a comprehensive social science research agenda
Researchers are invited to register their COVID-19-related projects that focus on topics related to the social and behavioral consequences, policy responses, educational and economic impacts, and public health implications of COVID-19. The project-summary information that researchers share via the registry form will be made publicly available. Project updates will be communicated regularly via social media and the CONVERGE website. Details
Institutional and Agency Responses to COVID-19 and Additional Resources
COGR (an association of research universities and affiliated medical centers and independent research institutes) is maintaining a list of resources from the federal agencies, including agency guidance specific to federal award impact on individual grants and grantees, and from other organizations with ties to higher education. The list is updated frequently. Details
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. XSEDE Website
The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) has joined the COVID-19 High Performance Computing Consortium, making the NCAR-operated Cheyenne supercomputer available to scientists across the country who are working to glean insights into the novel coronavirus that has spread worldwide. Details
COVID Information Commons
Funded by an NSF RAPID award, researchers at Columbia University will create a COVID Information Commons (CIC) website to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration across various COVID research efforts, especially focusing on all the NSF-funded COVID Rapid Response Research (RAPID) projects. The CIC will serve as a resource for researchers as well as decision-makers from government, academia, not-for-profit and industry to leverage each other's findings, and invest in and accelerate the most promising research to mitigate the broad societal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also serve as a model for integrated knowledge sharing and collaboration on other public health challenges, in benefit to society.
Projects will be able to enter and publish information about their efforts in ways that are most relevant and user-friendly for a variety of potential stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and non-profit sectors. Information will be organized in multiple ways, for example, by research topics areas and by geography. In addition to information from NSF COVID-19 RAPID projects, the COVID Information Commons will incorporate coronavirus-related information from NSF Open Knowledge Network projects, as well as from other NSF research projects in general. Details
COVID Information Commons Student Paper Challenge
The COVID Information Commons (CIC) is an NSF-funded research collaboration and knowledge hub designed to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration across various COVID research efforts. The CIC Student Paper Challenge is an opportunity for undergraduate students to leverage the CIC NSF Award search tools and the global COVID-19 resources the CIC offers to learn how the scientific research community is working to address the widespread impacts of the pandemic and offer their own insights on the next steps for COVID-19 research.
Undergraduate students of all backgrounds and interests are encouraged to participate in this Challenge. Winning papers will be published on the CIC website and shared widely through the Northeast Big DAt Innovation Hub network, and authors will have the opportunity to present their insights at a future CIC community event.
Faculty are invited to share their COVID-19 research expertise as a mentor and/or judge. Mentors will hold virtual sessions in January, February, and March to coach students on their paper ideas. Judges will review submissions in April.
- Mentor participation form due: January 8, 2021
- Student participation form due: February 1, 2021
- Judge participation form due: March 15, 2021
COVID-19 Research Lightning Talks: Webinar and Q&A
Meet the scientists seeking new insights on COVID-19. Every month, we bring together a group of researchers studying wide-ranging aspects of the current pandemic, to share their research and answer questions from our community. Learn more about their ongoing efforts in the fight against COVID-19, including opportunities for collaboration. Details
Past Events Archive (Videos and Transcripts)
2020: September 16; October 16; November 13; December 9,
2021: January 13; February 10; April 16; May 19; June 9; July 16; Aug 18; Sep 22; Oct 26; Nov 15
2022: January 12; February 4; March 4; April 15; May 5; June 10; July 13; Oct 3
2023: January 31; April 24
Next COVID Research Webinar: TBD
2022 COVID Information Commons Student Paper Challenge Seeking Students, Mentors and Judges -- Deadline September 30
The COVID Information Commons (CIC) invites undergraduate and graduate students from higher education institutions around the world to leverage CIC resources and to participate in the 2022 CIC Student Paper Challenge. Students will have the opportunity to join the scientific research community addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Students can brainstorm research projects by exploring Theme Challenges related to the CIC's COVID-19 Research Lightning Talk presentations, including COVID and Data, COVID and Education, COVID and Molecular Biology, and COVID and Society.
- Students should submit a response to the Student Call for Participation to receive future communications from the CIC about the Challenge.
- STEM and healthcare researchers, professors, and professionals who are interested in participating in this challenge as mentors or judges should complete the Mentors and Judges Call for Participation.
Deadline: September 30, 2022 Details
COVID Information Commons Working Groups Information Session -- November 2 @ 1:00 PM
The COVID Information Commons (https://covidinfocommons.datascience.columbia.edu/) is establishing Working Groups for interested STEM professionals, students, and researchers.
During this meeting, the CIC Project Team will share information about the topics of greatest interest to the community (our survey indicates that COVID + Data and COVID + Education are of special interest) and discuss Working Group goals, structure, and process. Details
All Community Members Invited to Join One of the Newly Formed CIC Research Working Groups
The Working Groups will meet regularly to discuss various COVID-19 research topics. In the coming weeks, each Working Group will host an organizing session to determine Group focuses, meeting frequency, and priorities.
December 15, 2022 3:00-4:00 PM COVID & Pandemic Prevention, Policy, Risk Details
December 19, 2022 3:00-4:00 PM COVID & Social Impacts, Health Outcomes Details
December 20, 2022 4:30-5:30 PM COVID & Educational Outcomes Details
Interested in creating a different Working Group? Contact the CIC Project Team at info@covidinfocommons.net
Students of All Academic Backgrounds and Varying Research Experience Invited to Join the CIC Student Working Group
Students around the world will join a community of young professionals and researchers interested in the future of COVID-19 and post pandemic research.
Details
CIC Working Groups for Students and Researchers
The COVID Information Commons (CIC) invites all community members, students, researchers, and scientists to join one of the CIC Research Working Groups and the Student Working Group
- The Education Impacts Working Group, Social Impacts & Health Outcomes Working Group, and Pandemic Prevention & Policy Research Working Group meet monthly to discuss various COVID-19 research topics of interest to the community.
- Students can find hands-on research and collaboration opportunities with the Student Working Group, which meets bi-weekly.
Learn more by visiting the CIC website, joining the CIC Slack Channel, or by subscribing to the Working Groups listserv!
COVID Scholar
Funded by DOE and NSF, COVID Scholar is a COVID-19 literature search powered by advanced NLP algorithms. It uses technology based on the Vespa.ai open source project. Details
Mobility Insights
As part of their commitment to sharing insights for the greater good, Cuebiq is providing free access to their Offline Intelligence dashboards and analyses. These include Mobility Dashboard, Economic Reopening Dashboard, Shelter-in-Place Analysis, Social Inequality Analysis, and Mobility Flow Analysis. Details
Inclusive Growth and Recovery Challenge
data.org, in partnership with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and The Rockefeller Foundation, has launched the $10 million data.org Inclusive Growth and Recovery Challenge. The challenge is an open call for breakthrough ideas that harness the power of data science to help people and communities thrive, especially in the wake of COVID-19’s economic impact. The program's goal is to tap into the expertise of a broad pool of thinkers and doers to catalyze innovative and scalable solutions to help individuals and communities thrive, all the while building resilience to withstand future challenges. The Challenge is open to any individual, organization, or collaboration from anywhere in the world, including nonprofits, for-profits, individuals 18+ and above, and governments and U.N. agencies.
Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
- jobs of tomorrow - leave no worker behind
- access to capital - leave no entrepreneur behind
- cities and towns - leave no place behind
Deadline: July 17, 2020 Details
DLA is now accepting Other Transaction Authority whitepapers on the following problem statements that support COVID-19:
- Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Re-Use and Decontamination
- Prototype PPE: N95 Equivalent Masks
DLA will be reviewing white papers and taking action as they are received due to the critical need for this equipment.
Deadline: May 4, 2020 1:00 PM EDT Details
Air Force Acquisition COVID-19 Task Force (DAF ACT) Commercial Solution Opening (CSO)
The DAF ACT is seeking innovative solutions for commercial technologies that can support the DAF ACT's mission to “provide relief, resilience, recovery, and stability to the nation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.” The CSO, a vehicle for future solicitations, is open to defense contractors, large and small businesses, and research institutions, with a focus on non-traditional organizations that do not typically work with the government.
DAF ACT Areas of Interest include the following COVID-19 related mission focus areas:
- Combating the Spread (predictive analytics, next hotspot, threat to current activities, decision support, etc.)
- Welfare of citizens (effects to transportation, movement of people and goods, education and development, physical training, regular HR functions, job transition, etc.)
- Readiness (continuing operations through the outbreak, coordinating with allies and partners, continuing long term projects, etc.)
- Logistics (security and protection, supply chain protection and assessment, etc.)
- Industrial base impacts (small businesses, payments, contracts, large system programs, protection and expansion of critical assets, etc.)
- Medical (telehealth, medical capacity and sustainment, medical supplies and equipment, etc.)
- Other solutions that support the national response to COVID-19
The Air Force expects to announce the initial Area of Interest for solution brief submissions:
Deadline: Ongoing until September 30, 2020
FOA: CSO_COVID_19 Response
Additional Info: Air Force COVID-19 Response Team website
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) RFP: Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program Investigator-Initiated Research Award for Emerging Viral Diseases and Respiratory Health
The PRMRP challenges the scientific and clinical communities to address at least one of the FY20 PRMRP Topic Areas of Emerging Viral Diseases and Respiratory Health (described in the FOA) with original ideas that foster new directions along the entire spectrum of research and clinical care. The proposed research must be relevant to active duty Service members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and/or the American public.
Deadlines: Preapplications, May 28, 2020 (Full proposals, June 12, 2020) Details
Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (METC)
A pre-announcement has been release for a Request for Project Proposals (RPP) to rapidly develop and deploy the National Emergency Telecritical Care Network (NETCCN) – a cloud-based, low-resource, stand-alone health information management system for the creation and coordination of flexible and extendable “virtual critical care wards.” Technology Focus Areas for potential other funding opportunities in 2020 are also listed. Details
RPP: Development of Treatments for COVID-19
A Request for Project Proposals (RPP) focused on developing prototypes for therapeutics that can treat COVID-19 has been issued. Specifically, MTEC is seeking “treatments with potential application to the prevention of COVID-19 infection” and “therapeutics that can be administered in a non-hospital environment.”
Deadline: White papers, April 8, 2020 at 12:00 pm ET
FOA: MTEC-20-09-COVID-19_Treatment_MIDRP “Development of Treatments for COVID-19”
RPP: Wearable Diagnostic for Detection of COVID-19 Infection
This RPP seeks wearable devices that can conduct continuous physiological monitoring without impacting the wearer’s daily activities and that are focused on pre- and very early symptomatic detection of COVID-19 infection. Proposed projects must currently be in development or commercially available given the “urgent need for development of rapid, accurate wearable diagnostics to identify and isolate pre-symptomatic COVID-19 cases and track/prevent the spread of the virus/
Deadline: May 13, 2020 at 12:00 pm ET
FOA: MTEC-20-12-COVID-19_Diagnostics "Wearable Diagnostic for Detection of COVID-19 Infection"
Additional RPPs are anticipated related to topics described in MTEC’s pre-announcement, including:
- Prophylactic(s)/Therapeutic(s) that can prevent and/or treat in a rapid manner (few hours to 2 days) potentially in a non-hospital environment. Repurposing FDA-approved drugs/biologics for prevention/treatment of COVID-19 or testing of drugs/biologics that have already demonstrated safety in humans for the prevention/treatment of COVID-19 are preferred
- Disease predictive modeling that provides early warning through data capture from several different streams of data to include social media and artificial intelligence (AI) parameter decision tools that would provide actionable information to medical service providers and command structures
- Patient monitoring, tracking, and management system for in-home or non-hospital environment patient tele-health services to include interface into the Cerner electronic health record
Newton Award for Transformative Ideas during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Up to 10 awards of $10,000-$100,000 will be presented to a single investigator or team of up to two investigators that develops a “transformative idea” to resolve challenges, advance frontiers, and set new paradigms in areas of immense potential benefit to DoD and the nation at large. Proposals should aim to produce novel conceptual frameworks or theory-based approaches that present disruptive ways of thinking about fundamental scientific problems that have evaded resolution, propose new, paradigm-shifting scientific directions, and/or address fundamental and important questions that are argued to be undervalued by the scientific community. Approaches can include analytical reasoning, calculations, simulations, and thought experiments. While data collection and production are therefore allowed, all supporting data should be generated without the use of laboratory-based experimentation or instrumentation.
Given the novelty of and circumstances surrounding this one-time Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the objective of this program is to generate proposals that are equally novel and pioneering. Therefore, this FOA should be viewed as an opportunity to propose work outside the bounds of traditional proposals.
Deadline: May 15, 2020 Details
Unite and Fight
The Air Force also announced that its effort, known as “Unite and Fight,” has expanded to include all of DOD under forthcoming efforts and solicitations, so that all of the Service Branches, DOD components, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) can evaluate and potentially fund proposals. Details
Potential areas of DOD interest
- Point-of-care diagnostic that provides rapid and accurate determination on exposure to COVID-19
- Prophylactic(s)/Therapeutic(s) that can prevent and/or treat in a rapid manner (few hours to 2 days) potentially in a non-hospital environment.
(Repurposing FDA-approved drugs/biologics for prevention/treatment of COVID- 19 or testing of drugs/biologics that have already demonstrated safety in humans are preferred.) - Disease predictive modeling that provides early warning through data capture from several different streams of data to include social media and artificial intelligence (AI) parameter decision tools that would provide actionable information to medical service providers and command structures
- Patient monitoring, tracking, and management system for in-home or non-hospital environment patient tele- health services to include interface into the Cerner electronic health record
Funding Digital Learning
US ED’s Office of Educational Technology has created an overview of federal funding available to support digital learning. They also provide advice to leaders planning on investing in educational technology for their organizations. Details
Conducting Education Research During COVID-19
This blog post from US ED's Institute of Educational Sciences (IES) discusses how IES-funded education researchers have been adapting their work due to school closings, canceled testing, and school reopening plans in the 2020-21 school year. Details
Department of Energy/COVID-19 Rapid Research Response
DOE is requesting input on strategic, priority research directions that may be undertaken using DOE user facilities, computational resources, and enabling infrastructure.
National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory (NVBL)
DOE has launched a National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory (NVBL) to open up DOE national laboratory user facilities and specialized instrumentation to all sectors of the research community to address COVID-19. The NVBL is taking advantage of DOE user facilities, including light and neutron sources, nanoscale science centers, sequencing and bio-characterization facilities, and high performance computer facilities, to address key challenges in responding to the COVID-19 threat.
Activities that could be supported include developing innovations in testing capabilities, identifying new targets for medical therapeutics, providing epidemiological and logistical support, and addressing supply chain bottlenecks. Details
Oak Ridge National Lab, Neutron Sciences - Rapid Access for COVID-19 Research
The DOE Basic Energy Sciences advanced neutron sources will provide remote rapid access to advanced user facilities to support research into the COVID-19 virus and the search for effective diagnostics and therapies. Facilities that will be made available at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) and High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), include neutron macromolecular crystallography, small-angle scattering, reflectometry, spectroscopy and imaging beamlines.
SNS and HFIR beamlines are supported by staff with expertise in neutron structural biology, biophysics, chemistry, and nanoscale materials science and engineering and could be used to help to develop physical, chemical and environmental controls to virus transmission, infection and replication, and guide in the development of new diagnostics and therapeutics of disease.
Researchers who would like to use these resources should submit a short rapid access proposal, outlining experiment aims and scope.
Deadline: Ongoing Details
A facility scientist will contact applicants regarding their proposals within 2 days
COVID-19 DOE Facilites and Partner Search by Topic
This resource created by DOE's Lab Partnering Service allows users to find researchers and DOE facilitities addressing a variety of topics related to COVID-19. Details
Visual COVID-19 Patent Search
Explore patents supported by funding from the Department of Energy or NASA with this tool provided by DOE's Lab Partnering Service. Details
The National Research Action Plan on Long COVID
Created in coordination with 14 government departments and agencies, the Research Plan introduces the first U.S. government–wide national research agenda focused on advancing prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and provision of services and supports for individuals and families experiencing Long COVID. It proposes an effective, comprehensive, and equitable research strategy to inform the national response to Long COVID. Details
Master Question List for COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is maintaing a “master question list” that quickly summarizes what is known, what additional information is needed, and who may be working to address such fundamental questions as, “What is the infectious dose?” and “How long does the virus persist in the environment?”
The Master Question List (MQL) is intended to quickly to present the current state of available information to government decision makers in the operational response to COVID-19 and allow structured and scientifically guided discussions across the federal government without burdening them with the need to review scientific reports, and to prevent duplication of efforts by highlighting and coordinating research. Details
Multidisciplinary Research into Epidemics and Pandemics in Response to the Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) has issued a call for a multidisciplinary funding initiative to support projects addressing the prevention, early detection, containment and investigation of the causes, impacts and management of epidemics and pandemics, taking the example of SARS-CoV-2 and other microorganisms and viruses that are pathogenic to humans.
This includes, for example, the investigation of:
- the challenges and effects of an epidemic or pandemic and of measures taken for healthcare systems;
- psychological, social and cultural factors in the emergence, spread and treatment of epidemics and pandemics and the legal and ethical implications;
- the impacts on global and regional economic development, production and value creation chains, logistics, transport and communication;
- fundamental biological and medical aspects of a pathogen and the associated symptoms, as well as therapeutic methods or preventive measures in combination with one or more of the above topic areas
Proposals will also be considered for:
- projects designed to gather and record basic data on the current epidemic and current countermeasures, which can serve as the basis for future retrospective analyses
- projects involving the simulation of the spread and consequences of pandemics and the effectiveness of interventions
Deadline: Letter of Intent, July 1, 2020 (Proposal, September 1, 2020) Details
Access to COVID-19 Research
For researchers, clinicians and anyone else involved in the global research effort to manage and minimize the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic, early knowledge and access to research being carried out and published globally is crucially important to inform their work. To facilitate this, Digital Science is making available all COVID-19 related published articles, preprints, datasets and clinical trials from Dimensions in one file, updated daily, and free for anyone to access. Details
CORONAVIRUS TRACKER
With updates every 10 minutes, tools from Domo allow users to stay up-to-date with valuable coronavirus (COVID-19) data summarized by confirmed cases, geography, testing and treatment, projections, and economic impact. Visualizations and data downloads are available. Details
FY 2020 Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) - CARES Act Addendum
The Department of Commerce’s (DOC) Economic Development Administration (EDA) will support a broad array of development initiatives with potential to expand economic activity and recovery through funding for construction, non-construction (i.e. strategic development, infrastructure development strategies etc.), technical assistance, and planning. The agency will also provide support for additional regional assistance beyond EAA activities for qualified applicants, including innovation grants that are similar to EDA’s Build to Scale program (formerly “Regional Innovation Strategies”).
According to the NOFO, examples of projects funded by the program include “economic recovery planning and preparing or updating resiliency plans to respond to future pandemics, implementing entrepreneurial support programs to diversify economies, and constructing public works and facilities that will support economic recovery, including the deployment of broadband for purposes including supporting telehealth and remote learning for job skills.”
As with all EDA awards, coordination with EDA’s regional offices is crucial for ensuring proposed projects fit the scope, eligibility intentions and funding amounts designated for the program.
Coronavirus Entrepreneurship & Innovation Challenge
EDA announced during a webinar on EDA and the CARES Act that it intends to launch a new funding opporunity as part of its response to COVID-19. Currently called the Coronavirus Entrepreneurship & Innovation Challenge, the program would allocate approximately $25 million for innovation and support activities (not for individual businesses or technologies).
Potential applicants may be addressing the needs and unique operating environment necessitated by the coronavirus to support one or more of these areas of interest:
- Biotechnology, health security, and supply chain innovation
- Regional, national, and government connectivity
- Innovation and entrepreneurship
- Access to capital
Details of the competition and a timetable for launch have yet to be set. When available, the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) will be posted on EDA's funding opportunity webpage.
View the webinar here. (Discussion of the Challenge begins at approx. minute 21 of the recording.)
COVID-19 Research Grant Opportunities
The Emergency Medicine Foundation is awarding funding of up to $100,000 in new research grants on emergency medicine areas related to COVID-19. Topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including Design, Cleaning, Re-use
- Ventilator Scarcity
- Telemedicine
- Laboratory Testing
- Rapid Screening, Triage and Testing
- Clinical Diagnosis
- Epidemiology of Disease
- Therapeutics
- Diagnostic Radiology, including Point of Care Ultrasound
- Emergency Medicine Workforce, including Safety
- Emergency Physician Wellness
- Special Populations, such as High Risk, Homeless, Non-English Speaking, Transplantation Patients
Deadline: June 5, 2020 Details
Fast Grants Available
"If you are a scientist at an academic institution currently working on a COVID-19 related project that could help with the COVID-19 pandemic within the next six months and in need of funding, we invite you to apply for a Fast Grant. Fast Grants are $10k to $500k and decisions are made in under 48 hours. If we approve the grant, you'll receive payment as quickly as your university can receive it."
Fast Grants Paused
Due to receipt of a very large number of qualified submissions, Fast Grant applications are currently paused. If Fast Grants secures additional funding, issuing of new grants will be resumed. Potential applicants can visit the website to sign up to be notifed if applications are reopened and to view a list of some of the awards made. (Recipients can decline to be identifed publicly.)
WEBINAR: EPA Expands Research on COVID-19 in the Environment
EPA scientists are building on a foundation of world-class research by applying their knowledge to reduce the risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This research will help states & territories, tribes, and local governments, including public health agencies guide homeowners, business owners, and others reduce the risk of exposure.
This Joint Homeland Security Research/Tools & Resources Webinar which took place on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 highlights research the EPA is working on with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) including:
- Environmental Cleanup and Disinfection
- Wastewater Virus Detection:
- Salivary Antibody Assay Development
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program
This annual programs offered by EPA's Office of Environmental Justice supports and empowers communities working on solutions to local environmental and public health issues. The program is designed to help communities understand and address exposure to multiple environmental harms and risks. Environmental Justice Small Grants fund 1-year projects with award amounts up to $50,000. The current RFA places special emphasis on projects focusing on COVID-19 impacts, as well as climate and disaster resiliency. Additionally, EPA is emphasizing projects addressing diesel pollution in underserved communities living near ports and railyards as part of EPA’s Ports Initiative.
While UNH cannot apply to these programs directly, UNH could be a strong partner with the community organizations that are eligible to apply.
Deadline: May 7, 2021 Details
National Priorities: Innovative Sampling Designs for Public Health Surveillance of Coronaviruses and Other Pathogens in Wastewater
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for effective tools to monitor the emergence and spread of infectious diseases. Wastewater sampling has been widely deployed during the pandemic as a cost-effective, screening-level approach to assess infection levels in the community. In addition to improved analytical detection methods and understanding of pathogen fate and transport in sewer systems, advancing wastewater-based monitoring will require well-designed sampling networks and public health data integration approaches.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking applications proposing innovative research to inform effective wastewater sampling network designs which allow for early detection and can provide evidence of spread of infection from national to local levels in a form that can be readily used by public health agencies nationwide to address current and future epidemics/pandemics.
Deadline: December 15, 2021 Details
COVID-19 GIS Hub
A wide variety of maps, datasets, applications, and more for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are available that will help users understand, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19 in their community or organization. Details
FFAR Board of Directors Public Conversation 2020 - Update on FFAR-supported COVID-19 Research
The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research’s (FFAR) sixth annual Public Conversation on October 8, 2020 from 12:30pm to 2:00pm EST will include an update on FFAR's COVID-focused research by Sally Rockey, FFAR Executive Director and Mark Keenum, FFAR Board Chairman and Mississippi State University President.
Details (with registration link)
Coronavirus Knowledge Hub
The Frontiers Coronavirus Knowledge Hub provides an up-to-date source of trusted information and analysis on COVID-19 and coronaviruses, including the latest research articles, information, and commentary from its world-class scientific community. Funding resources, data resources, IUIS webinars, and expert videos are available. Details
COVID-19 Analysis on Usegalaxy
This resource provides publicly accessible infrastructure and workflows for SARS-CoV-2 data analyses. It presents best practices for the analysis of SARS-CoV-2 data (genomics, evolution, and cheminformatics) using open source tools and public cyberinfrastructure for transparent, reproducible analyses of viral datasets. Details
COVID-19 Research Grants
Google Cloud research credits will be provided for leveraging Google’s computing capabilities and infrastructure to study therapies, vaccines, track critical data, and identify new ways to combat COVID-19.
Deadline: Ongoing Details
COVID-19 Public Dataset Program
To aid researchers, data scientists, and analysts in the effort to combat COVID-19, Google Cloud has made a hosted repository of public datasets, (e.g., Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering (JHU CSSE); the Global Health Data from the World Bank, OpenStreetMap data) free to access and query. Researchers can also use BigQuery ML to train advanced machine learning models with this data right inside BigQuery at no additional cost. Training is available to help teach the fundamentals of working with these datasets on Google Cloud. Details
Call for Code Global Challenge - Take on COVID-19
With the unprecedented effect of COVID-19, unite to help communities across the globe deal with the impact of the greatest crisis of modern times. Use open source technology in the cloud to build solutions that can provide crisis communication, remote education, and community cooperation.
Some developers know what they want to build for Call for Code, but for those who don't, there are starter kits. These quick-start guides help you understand the scope of the problem and start building applications tied to easy-to-understand use cases in a matter of minutes.
Deadline: July 31, 2020 Details
IMLS CARES Act Grants for Museums and Libraries
The IMLS CARES Act Grants for Museums and Libraries grant program invites project proposals that focus on preserving jobs, training staff, addressing the digital divide, planning for reopening, and providing technical support and capacity building for digital inclusion and engagement while prioritizing services for high-need communities. IMLS encourages efforts to develop programs, tools, models, partnerships, and other resources that will address immediate concerns and have the potential to inspire and benefit museums and libraries throughout the nation. Projects will take place between September 1, 2020 and August 31, 2022.
A recording and a transcript of the May 14th Informational Webinar is available here.
Deadline: June 12, 2020 Details
Please contact Eugenia Opuda for more information about the proposal that was funded!
Reopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) Information Hub: A COVID-19 Research Project
As libraries and museums around the country begin to resume operations and reopen to the public, the need for clear information to support the handling of core museum, library, and archival materials has become increasingly urgent.
OCLC, a nonprofit library technology and research organization, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Battelle are conducting research on how long the COVID-19 virus survives on materials that are prevalent in libraries, archives, and museums. The project will draw upon the research to produce authoritative, science-based information on how—or if— materials can be handled to mitigate exposure to staff and visitors.
To achieve these goals, the partnership is working on several fronts:
- Collect, review, and summarize authoritative research that applies to materials commonly found in the collections and facilities of archives, libraries, and museums
- Ongoing consultation and engagement with a project steering committee, working groups, and other subject matter experts from archives, libraries, and museums
- Laboratory testing of how COVID-19 interacts with a selection of materials commonly found in archives, libraries, and museums; and identifying methods of handling and remediation
- Synthesize the above inputs into toolkit resources that support reopening and operational considerations
- Share project information and toolkit resources through the project website and amplified by member associations and support organizations that serve archives, libraries, and/or museums
OCLC and Battelle will publish research briefings based on literature reviews and specialist knowledge gathered during the project. These briefings will be designed to support evidence-based decisions about operations, policies, and workflows. Details
IMLS American Rescue Plan Grants
The IMLS American Rescue Plan grants program supports museum and library services in addressing community needs created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and in assisting with recovery. Projects may continue, enhance, or expand existing programs and services, or they may launch new ones to address emergent needs and unexpected hardships.
Grant Amount: $10,000-$50,000 Grant Period: One year
Cost Share Requirement: Museum Entities and Library Entities must provide funds from non-federal sources in an amount that is equal to or greater than the amount of your IMLS request.
Deadline: June 28, 2021 Details
COVID-19 Impact Report Aggregate (10 IRIS Universities)
The Institute for Research on Innovation and Science (IRIS) is a consortium of research universities using big administrative data to understand, explain, and improve higher education and research. This report aggregates data from 10 participating univerisities to show research spending and employment patterns pre- and post-pandemic. Details
CoronaVirusFacts Alliance - Call for research proposals
Since Jan. 24, coordinated by the International Fact-Checking Network, more than 100 fact-checkers from 74 countries have been working together in the largest collaborative fact-checking effort ever launched: the CoronaVirusFacts / DatosCoronaVirus Alliance. On March 19, the alliance published its database of fact-checked content, which identified more than 800 falsehoods about the spreading pandemic. Today, the CoronaVirusFacts database offers more than 5,000 fact checks that have been published by 88 organizations in 44 different languages. It is the most comprehensive and active database about COVID-19 mis/disinformation.
The next step for the CoronaVirusFacts Alliance is to more fully tap the expertise and work of academics and researchers. Fact-checkers understand that the alliance's database gathers many in-depth stories and can offer a better understanding of the "infodemic." By working together, fact-checkers and academic researchers will expand the knowledge base about COVID-19 and further elevate the fight against health mis/disinformation. Access to the full dataset will be provided only to vetted researchers to prevent monetization and exploitation of the dataset created by the fact-checkers.
The International Fact-Checking Network is accepting proposals from academics and researchers.
Possible topics to be addressed include but are not limited to:
- Investigating claims and the spread of mis/disinformation on COVID-19 across different media platforms and different national or language environments.
- Exploring themes, styles, imagery or other features of mis/disinformation around COVID-19.
- Investigating the characteristics and behaviors of actors (both individuals and groups) that surfaced and helped spread COVID-19 hoaxes.
- Finding ways to measure the impact of the fact-checking activity when addressing certain hoaxes.
- Analyzing the limitations and challenges that fact-checkers have faced to tackle mis/disinformation during the COVID-19 outbreak. Surfacing questions and areas of improvement for fact-checkers in future collaborative efforts.
The International Fact-Checking Network will provide all accepted applicants with access to the data accumulated by the CoronavirusFacts Alliance.
A limited number of the accepted proposals – those that can clearly demonstrate the need for funding – could be awarded up to $10,000 to conduct the study.
To request this support, researchers should demonstrate that their work will have an imminent impact on the fact-checking community and that the IFCN's funding is crucial for their work.
Deadline: May 29, 2020 Details
Accepted proposals will be notified by June 12. Grant recipients will be notified by June 19.
Emergency Response Grant Programme with Focus on COVID-19
The Internet Society Foundation has launched a new emergency response grant programme, targeting organizations working on projects that utilize the Internet to improve lives during or in response to an emergency situation. With a 2020 focus on the COVID-19 coronavirus response, the Foundation will solicit grant applications from programmes that respond to the pandemic both during the immediate period of the crisis and in the aftermath. The Foundation is committed to working with organizations that take known Internet-based technical solutions and apply them to COVID-19 responses, or are pivoting from their regular activities to create new projects or reworked technical solutions that respond to the pandemic.
A few examples of projects that the Foundation may consider for funding include:
- applications that accelerate and coordinate humanitarian response
- services that promote and enable distance learning for students
- platforms that establish new pathways to alternative livelihoods
- indexes that demonstrate urban and/or rural pandemic preparedness
Grants of $250,000 – $500,000 will be awarded to organizations for projects lasting up to 12 months.
Deadline: May 17, 2020 Details
LEOSS Public Data Set
The LEOSS public data set constitutes patient data from the LEOSS cohort after a data cleaning process, e.g., verifications for a complete documentation of course of disease and plausibility checks. The public data set is anonymized using the LEOSS data protection concept.
Variables included are:
- age
- gender
- month of diagnosis
- classification of the present clinical phases
- outcome
- presence of administered vasopressor agents
- performed invasive ventilation
- superinfections (proven/suspected/probable as one category)
- remaining symptoms in the recovery phase
Responses to COVID-19 in the United States
The coronavirus pandemic has prompted a comprehensive government response from the federal, state, and local governments. This report, Federal, State, and Local Government Responses to COVID-19, highlights selected responses from Congress and the many executive agencies that act under the authority of the US President. It also provides examples of state government measures, including both state legislation and state executive actions. Finally, it considers local government approaches to the pandemic, which vary across the states, depending in part on how much power localities are granted under state law. Details
Research Grants
Grants of 100,000 to 500,000 euro (approximately $110,000 to $550,000) for up to three years are available for the focus area of pandemic preparedness and fighting new emerging viral infectious diseases. The 2020 research grants program is open to scientists in all career stages who are affiliated with any research-based institution, university or company in all countries all over the world.
Deadline: August 31, 2020 Details
Microsoft AI for Health COVID-19
This grant program provides Azure cloud and High-Performance Computing capabilities to assist work bynonprofits, academia, and governments that contributes to our understanding of COVID-19 and/or improves our ability to respond to the pandemic. Microsoft's team of AI for Health data science experts, whose mission is to improve the health of people and communities worldwide, is also open to collaborations with COVID-19 researchers as they tackle this critical challenge. More broadly, Microsoft’s research scientists across the world, spanning computer science, biology, medicine, and public health, will also be available to provide advice and collaborate per mutual interest.
Deadline: June 15th, 2020 or until further notice Details
Health Security and Pandemics Challenge
MIT Solve, a marketplace for social impact innovation is seeking technological solutions that can slow and track the spread of an emerging outbreak, for example by improving individual hygiene, developing low-cost rapid diagnostics, analyzing data that informs decision making, and providing tools that support and protect health workers. Looking toward the long-term, Solve is also seeking solutions that focus on preventative and mitigation measures that strengthen access to affordable primary healthcare systems, enhance disease surveillance systems, and improve healthcare supply chains. The initial grant amount is $10,000, with the possibility for larger awards in later phases.
Deadline: June 18, 2020 Details
Mozilla Open Source Support Program (MOSS) COVID-19 Solutions Fund
The COVID-19 Solutions Fund, as part of the Mozilla Open Source Support Program (MOSS), will provide awards of up to $50,000 each to open source technology projects which are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in some way.
The Fund will accept applications for reasonably mature projects that can immediately deploy the funding to develop:
- hardware (e.g., an open source ventilator)
- software (e.g., a platform that connects hospitals with people who have 3D printers who can print parts for that open source ventilator)
- software that solves for secondary effects of COVID-19 (e.g., a browser plugin that combats COVID related misinformation)
Deadline: Ongoing Details
COVID-19 Geospatial and Situational Awareness Resources
The National Alliance for Public Safety GIS (NAPSG) Foundation has compiled publicly accessible COVID-19 geospatial and situational awareness resources from a variety of sources for the purpose of providing a clearinghouse of resources that may be helpful to the public safety and GIS/technology community in responding to COVID-19. Details
NASEM Forum on Postsecondary Response to COVID-19: Hubs of Knowledge and Resources for the Nation
The Board on Higher Education of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted a series of conversations to bring together academic, industry, government, and civic leaders across the country to understand the varied facets of what has happened so far, what is currently happening, and what is expected to happen in the weeks and months ahead. Each conversation focused on a specific topic related to how the 4,000+ colleges and universities—and the researchers who work there—are supporting the response efforts.
April 24: What are possible long term implications of postsecondary responses?
April 23: What are the implications of this being a truly global event?
April 22: What are models for volunteering?
April 17: How can we provide policy advice to the nation faster?
April 16: How can we crowd-source scientists to improve public information?
April 15: How can and are laboratories shifting research agendas?
April 09: How can researchers help the national response efforts?
Video recordings are available of the sessions. Details
Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN)
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, in collaboration with the National Science Foundation, will establish the Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN), a network of leading individuals and institutions in the social and behavioral sciences to facilitate rapid responses to actionable social, behavioral, and economic-related COVID-19 questions from decision-makers. Details
Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN) COVID-19 Survey Archive
This searchable, open-access archive houses probability-based surveys on the COVID-19 pandemic conducted in the United States and internationally. It supports SEAN, an expert group convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, in collaboration with the National Science Foundation, to connect policymakers, researchers and the public with critical social, behavioral and economic inquiry relating to the pandemic. Details
Critical Findings on COVID-19
For more than 150 years, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have issued reports detailing leading research on public health and infectious disease. In response to the global outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, the National Academies has continued this work by issuing publications related to disease transmission, preventative measures, vaccinations, and more that can inform the public response to the pandemic. Critical Findings on COVID-19 includes summaries and highlights of many of our key publications on COVID-19, including consensus study reports, workshop and webinar proceedings, and rapid expert consultations. Details
Impact of COVID-19 on the Careers of Women in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Impact of COVID-19 on the Careers of Women in Academic STEMM identifies, names, and documents how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the careers of women in academic STEMM during the initial 9-month period since March 2020 and considers how these disruptions - both positive and negative - might shape future progress for women. This publication builds on the 2020 report Promising Practices for Addressing the Underrepresentation of Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine to develop a comprehensive understanding of the nuanced ways these disruptions have manifested. Impact of COVID-19 on the Careers of Women in Academic STEMM will inform the academic community as it emerges from the pandemic to mitigate any long-term negative consequences for the continued advancement of women in the academic STEMM workforce and build on the adaptations and opportunities that have emerged. Details
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Careers of Women in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: Discussion, Reflection, and Understanding
On March 31, from 1 to 4 pm EST, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will host an event designed to highlight, discuss, explore, and expand our understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the professional and personal lives of women throughout the research workforce. Building of the National Academies consensus study report, The Impacts of COVID-19 on the Careers of Women in Academic Science, Engineering, and Medicine (released on March 9, 2021),
Register to join the facilitated dialog around the findings and research questions laid out in the Women and COVID-19 report, reflect on the recommendations that were put forward last year in the Promising Practices report, and discuss research and new information that may help science, engineering, and medicine emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic a more equitable and resilient ecosystem. Details
Societal Experts Action Network: Understanding and Communicating about COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy, Effectiveness, and Equity|
As COVID-19 vaccinations continue and accelerate across the U.S., a new rapid expert consutation from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine offers advice for decision-makers communicating to the public about vaccine efficacy, effectiveness, and equity — drawing on findings from social and behavioral science. Effective communication can help people make vaccination decisions that are right for them and their community, and build public trust in the COVID-19 vaccination program, says the consultation.
Undertaken by the Societal Experts Action Network, the rapid expert consultation was sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and conducted in collaboration with the Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.
The consultation outlines a process for producing communications content about COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and effectiveness:
- Identify the outcomes that are most relevant to recipients’ decisions through community partnerships, such as the convenience of getting the vaccine or the benefits to society of getting vaccinated.
- Summarize the evidence regarding those outcomes, such as the vaccine’s ability to reduce hospitalizations or prevent death, emphasizing the quality of the evidence and the institutions involved in the vaccine program.
- Identify the most relevant subset of evidence to share with a specific audience, such as how the vaccine was tested on people like them.
- Evaluate messages before dissemination, using techniques like think-aloud interviews, in which people from the target audience read a draft message and state how they interpret its meaning.
Biomedical Research COVID-19 Impact Assessment: Lessons Learned and Compelling Needs
This discussion paper is part of the National Academy of Medicine's Emerging Stronger After COVID-19: Priorities for Health System Transformation intitiative which commissioned papers from experts on how 9 key sectors of the health, health care, and biomedical science fields responded to and can be transformed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Details
Rapid Response and Novel Research in Earth Science Solicitation: NNH20ZDA001N-RRNES
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2020 Program Element A.28 Rapid Response and Novel Research in Earth Science (RRNES) is an opportunity for “making innovative use of NASA satellite data to address regional-to-global environmental, economic, and/or societal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Prior to proposal submission, PIs must contact:
(1) the most relevant NASA program officer (http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/program-officers-list/#earth) AND
(2) the current Rapid Response and Novel Research in Earth Science (RRNES) program officer (listed in the solicitation)
DEADLINE: Ongoing until March 29, 2021 Details
NASA ESD anticipates reviewing proposals within 10 days of submission.
NASA's Space Apps COVID-19 Challenge!
From May 30-31, 2020, citizen scientists around the world will solve challenges related to COVID-19 using NASA’s open-source data in an all-virtual, global hackathon.
The focus will be on the following four themes:
- Learning about the virus and its spread using Space-based data
- Local response/change and solution
- Impacts of COVID-19 on the Earth system/Earth system response
- Economic opportunity, impact, and recovery during and following COVID-19
Complete challenge statements will be posted on the Space Apps website the week before the hackathon.
All NASA, ESA, and JAXA civil servants, contractors, and current and past awardees and their teams are eligible to serve as subject-matter experts. Personnel from other US government agencies are also eligible. You will be matched with appropriate challenges, if possible.
Depending on your availability, you are invited to participate in the following ways:
-
Engage with participants in the chat rooms over hackathon weekend (May 30-31)
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Judge project submissions (June to mid-July, exact dates TBD)
Please contact Sarah Hemmings (sarah.n.hemmings@nasa.gov) and Julie Chamberlain (julie.n.chamberlain@nasa.gov) with questions.
Volunteer here Space Apps website: https://www.spaceappschallenge.org
Expression of Interest for SMD’s Augmentations and Funded Extensions Solicitation
At the Virtual Community Town Hall on July 9, 2020, SMD announced that it would be accepting requests for funded extensions and augmentations to existing awards to help make up for increased costs directly attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. SMD’s priorities for funding extensions and augmentations, in the likely case that demand exceeds available funding, are in an SMD policy document, Augmentations and Funded Extensions in Response to COVID-19.
In order to estimate the size of this new program, SMD asks currently funded researchers who may request an extension or augmentation to submit an “Expression of Interest” (EOI) via the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES). SMD asks that EOIs be submitted by August 21, 2020 as a Notice of Intent (NOI) in response to NNH20ZDA010L via NSPIRES.
Non-NSPIRES submissions will not be accepted or acknowledged. SMD will not provide any feedback on a submitted Expression of Interest. An EOI submission is not required for the submission of a proposal. An EOI’s contents do not limit the content of submissions to the “SMD Post-COVID Recovery” solicitation. NASA SMD will keep EOI contents confidential and will use responses to improve management of the augmentation and extension processes.
A forthcoming amendment adding a new program element to the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) – 2020, solicitation NNH20ZDA001N, is expected to be entitled “SMD Post-COVID Recovery” with requests for augmentations and funded grant extensions due to be submitted after October 1, 2020.
Deadline: August 21, 2020 Details
FAQs re: SMD’s Augmentations and Funded Extensions Solicitation
The Science Mission Directorate (SMD) has added 13 new Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQS) for “Expression of Interest” (EOI) SMD call for Augmentations and Funded Extensions on the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES). Details
COVID Salary Flexibility Extension for NASA SMD Grants
Until recently, government-wide rules (e.g., in OMB memo M-20-26) allowed recipients of grants and cooperative agreements the flexibility to pay salaries and benefits of participants who could not work because of COVID-19 (e.g., because they could not get into a necessary facility closed due to COVID-19). Because the government-wide flexibility in OMB memo M-20-26 ended on 9/30/20, NASA has issued Grant Notice 20-02 allowing, on a case-by-case basis, for this flexibility to be extended so grantees may continue to pay salaries.
NASA's Science Mission Directorate has created a web page to host Grant Notice 20-02, provide information about COVID and grants and, at the bottom of that page, provide an easy way for grantees to request an extension of the now expired flexibility so PIs may (with approval from their organization) continue to pay salaries of participants who cannot work because of COVID-19. Details (Closed)
E.10 SMD Call for COVID Augmentations and Funded Extensions
ROSES-2020 Amendment 75 releases final text and due dates for E.10 Post-COVID Recovery. As articulated in SMD policy document 36 "Augmentations and Funded Extensions in Response to COVID-19" the research of graduate students and post-docs are the highest priority followed by that of non-tenured and soft-money early career researchers (within 10 years of their terminal degree). Proposals to this program element without any support for graduate students, post-docs or non-tenured or soft-money early-career researchers are not eligible.
Deadline: Ongoing until March 5, 2021 Details
Requests received by January 4, 2021 will be processed as a group.
Requests submitted Jan 5 - Mar 5 will form a second group and will be processed together.
COVID-19 Working Papers
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) conducts and disseminates non-partisan economic research. More than 400 NBER working papers have presented pandemic-related research. These papers are open access and have been collected for easy reference. Like all NBER papers, they are circulated for discussion and comment, and have not been peer-reviewed. Details
COVID-19's Broadscale Impact on the Lives of People with Disabilities
The National Council on Disability (NCD) seeks proposals for a cooperative agreement to develop NCD’s annual progress report which will examine COVID-19’s broadscale impacts on the lives of people with disabilities in seven major areas: nondiscriminatory access to healthcare; the direct care workforce; group housing; education; employment; mental health; and communications. The report will also include a discussion of the intersection of disability and race, and of transportation impacts.
The research and findings in this report will provide policymakers, including the White House and Congress, and federal agencies, with insight needed to make policy decisions to improve the current and future welfare of people with disabilities in a national emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic. The report will also provide people with disabilities information on federal policy, legislation, and initiatives related to emergency preparedness and response.
Deadline: August 21, 2020 Details
National Endowment for the Arts to Receive Funds from American Rescue Plan to Help Save Organizations and Jobs in the Arts Sector
The American Rescue Plan includes funding for the National Endowment for the Arts to support organizations and jobs in the arts sector that have been impacted by the pandemic. The $135 million allocated for the Arts Endowment in this historic legislation represents a significant commitment to the arts and a recognition of the value of the arts and culture sector to the nation’s economy and recovery. Per the legislation, 40 percent of the $135 million will be directed to regional arts organizations and state arts agencies to be distributed through their funding programs. These funds and the 60 percent awarded directly by the Arts Endowment will not require cost share/matching funds from grantees.
The Arts Endowment is moving quickly to develop guidelines and application materials for the competitive funding process. The goal is to craft a process which factors in important issues such as equity and access and which will benefit as many nonprofit arts organizations as possible.
NEA anticipates releasing the guidelines and application materials for American Rescue Plan funding by late April; they will be posted in the grants section of the Arts Endowment’s website.
FAQs regarding the American Rescue Plan funding have been posted. Details
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) will receive $75 million in supplemental funding to assist cultural institutions affected by the coronavirus as part of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act economic stabilization plan.
Approximately 40 percent of the appropriation, or $30 million, will be distributed directly to the 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils, based on the standard population formula used for their annual appropriation. The remaining 60 percent, or $45 million, will support at-risk humanities positions and projects at museums, libraries and archives, historic sites, colleges and universities, and other cultural nonprofits that have been financially impacted by the coronavirus.
NEH CARES: Cultural Institutions
Emergency relief grants will provide up to $300,000 to cultural nonprofits to support a range of humanities activities across the fields of education, preservation and access, public programming, digital humanities, and scholarly research through December 31, 2020. Funding is to be used for short-term activities that emphasize retaining or hiring humanities staff at cultural organizations across the country to maintain or adapt critical programs during the pandemic.
NEH invites applications from eligible organizations seeking support for at-risk humanities positions and projects that have been impacted by the coronavirus. Through this funding opportunity, NEH will award grants to museums, libraries and archives, historic sites, independent research institutions, professional organizations, colleges and universities, and other cultural organizations across the country to help these entities continue to advance their mission during the interruption of their operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Deadline: May 11, 2020 Details
Applicants will be informed of funding decisions by June 2020.
American Rescue Plan: Humanities Organizations
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 appropriated supplemental funding to NEH to provide emergency relief to institutions and organizations working in the humanities that have been adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This grant program invites applications from eligible organizations seeking support for humanities positions and projects that have been adversely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Through this funding opportunity, NEH will award grants to museums, libraries and archives, historic sites, independent research institutions, academic presses, professional organizations, colleges and universities, and other humanities organizations across the country to help these entities continue to advance their mission during the interruption of their operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. In keeping with Congress’s intent in enacting the American Rescue Plan, applicants may propose new humanities projects or focus on sustaining core humanities programs and activities.
Deadline: May 14, 2021 Details
COVID-19 Science Fund
The Society is providing funding for projects focused on how humanity and the natural world have reacted to and are living through the unparalleled circumstances created by COVID-19 in order to better understand how the pandemic—or the threat of another—will shape the world for years to come. Proposed projects should be focused on better understanding and/or providing solutions to the situations created or magnified by the pandemic, thereby helping us to understand and address the challenges and changes of living in a COVID-19 world.
Grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded in support of research, conservation, and technology projects on:
- Community-Based and Inclusive Conservation
- Impacts of Tourism Changes on Cultural Heritage Sites and Wildlife
Only applications that propose activity in the applicant’s country of residence will be considered.
Deadline for Statement of Interest: March 31, 2021, 11:59 PM EDT Details
- Applicants will receive decisions on their statement of interest by April 8, 2021.
- Full applications will be due by 11:59pm EDT May 19, 2021.
- Applicants will receive a funding decision in summer 2021.
- Proposed project activities should occur after funding decisions are made; allow at least four weeks for submitting award paperwork and payment processing.
Boosting Innovative GEOINT - Research, Broad Agency Announcement (NGA BIG-R BAA) Topic 1: Modeling the Path to COVID-19 Recovery
NGA has posted its first BAA topic for Modeling the Path to COVID-19 Recovery. This solicitation seeks to fund retrospective and predictive analyses of human behavior, human mobility, and spatial heterogeneity in infectious disease transmission during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The BAA will be open for three years, and NGA anticipates announcing additional topics.
Abstracts, for Topic 1, though not required, are strongly encouraged and should be submitted via email to BIGRBAA@nga.mil by August 4, 2020.
Deadline: September 9, 2020 Details
NIC FY 2020 COVID 19 – Operational Challenges for Corrections
The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) is seeking applications for funding under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 to support knowledge sharing around the nationwide correctional challenges that prisons, jails, and community services face during the COVID19 pandemic.
Since its inception, the COVID 19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the nation’s prisons, jails, pre-trial, probation, parole and other community services. This has required correctional leaders and managers to become creative in developing new responses and methods to their agency operations, as well as rethink the way that business practices are carried out both now and in the future.
NIC has been monitoring the reactions of the field through our networks, as they have provided feedback and information sharing regarding potential solutions, security and safety concerns, as well as the effects on the wellbeing of staff and inmates.
At the end of this Cooperative Agreement, the awardee will supply a final document on the critical lessons learned, as well as pertinent feedback gained from correctional professionals. Additionally, the information contained in the final document will be included in a National Forum, and will instrumental in providing an overview of the variation in operations, including the creativity and challenges during the pandemic.
Deadline: August 27, 2020 Details
NIST and COVID-19
NIST has several research projects underway to support efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Overview are provided for the projects in:
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Biological Measurements
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Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence, Data and Analytics
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Personal Protective Equipment
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Manufacturing and Industry
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Ventilators
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Wireless Innovations
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Energy and Environment
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Technology Transfer Resources
Administrative Supplements
Current grantees may be eligible to apply for an administrative supplement. Contact your program officer to discuss proposed research on SARS-CoV-2/COVID-2019.
See Funding Opportunities Specific to COVID-19 for IC-specific notices of interest.
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Development of Biomedical Technologies for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) has issued an NOSI to highlight the urgent need for accelerating the development, translation, and commercialization of technologies to address Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The NIBIB is seeking applications to develop life-saving technologies that can be ready for commercialization within one to two years.
Example technologies include, but are not limited to:
- Rapid point-of-care and home-based testing/diagnostics
- Wearable, implantable, and remote sensors/imagers for physiological monitoring
- Medical imaging technologies and algorithms/artificial intelligence (AI) for rapid detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of lung infection
- Non-contact sensing and imaging for rapid mass screening and vital sign assessment
- Digital health platforms and models that integrate data, assess risk, and provide illness surveillance and management tools
- Technologies (including simulation platforms) for training healthcare workers and optimizing clinical workflows
- Robotic and automation technologies to limit caregivers’ exposure and/or reduce burden on the healthcare system
- Technologies for protecting healthcare workers, first responders, and caregivers
- Oxygenation systems (e.g., ECMO, ventilators, intubation) and components designed for rapid deployment, access, and potential operation by minimally trained personnel
- High-confidence disinfection technologies
- Novel therapeutic strategies using engineered biological systems, including cell-based and synthetic biology technologies
Applicants must follow the NOSI-specific instructions regarding submission and application content.
Deadline: Varies Details
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): NIEHS Support for Understanding the Impact of Environmental Exposures on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has issued an NOSI to address the urgent need for mission-relevant research to understand the impact of environmental exposures on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its causative agent, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2). NIEHS is particularly interested in applications that will provide insight into the role of environmental exposures in pathogenicity, transmission, individual susceptibility, or prevention and intervention strategies.
Possible research interests include, but are not limited to the following:
- Examine the role of environmental exposures in impacting individual susceptibility to SARS-Cov-2 infection, or the development and severity of COVID-19 disease
- Investigate the role of lifestyle factors (e.g. diet, physical activity) as modifiers of the effects of environmental exposures on the development or severity of COVID-19 disease
- Leverage existing biological samples or data from human or animal research studies to test hypotheses examining the impact of environmental exposures on susceptibility to SARS-Cov-2 infection and COVID-19 disease severity or progression (e.g. detection of SARS-Cov-2 infection in an existing environmental epidemiology study)
- Utilize previously developed research tools or technology platforms that can be applied to understand how environmental exposures impact COVID-19 spread, or disease progression and severity (e.g. personal exposure monitoring, geospatial mapping, risk modeling tools, biomarkers to detect infection)
- Apply multi-omics approaches that can accelerate identification of biomarkers/metabolic signatures of infection or disease progression using animal models as well as in study participants of existing environmental health studies
- Understand the role of exposure-induced perturbations in respiratory microbiome and its contributions to COVID-19 susceptibility and disease progression
- Assess the impact of COVID-19-related interventions (including social or physical distancing or public health messaging) on changes in the spread of COVID-19 as well as environmental exposures and related human health outcomes
- Determine the potential health effects of increased personal/community use of disinfection products for COVID-19 control
- Develop or apply educational, community-based, or other public health strategies that address the intersection between environmental exposures and COVID-19
- Identify climate or weather-related factors that influence population susceptibility to SARS-Cov-2 infection and COVID-19 disease
- Examine the potential impact of environmental health disparities on the spread of COVID-19 disease
NIEHS considers the COVID-19 pandemic to be an unpredictable event that provides a limited window of opportunity to collect human biological samples or environmental exposure data (e.g., measuring levels of pollutants in air or water during a long period of social distancing due to COVID-19). Accordingly, applications for new R21 grants (projects that do not build off of an existing NIEHS grant) should be submitted to RFA-ES-19-011 “Mechanism for Time-Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)” provided the time-sensitive criteria described therein are met.
Applicants must follow the NOSI-specific instructions regarding submission and application content.
Deadline: Multiple deadlines through May 3, 2021 Details
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Data Driven Research on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) has issued a Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) to highlight the urgent need for innovative high-risk/high impact research on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in relation to NLM’s strategic goal of fostering data driven research.
NLM is encouraging the submission of R21 applications to address the following research areas of interest:
- Methods for mining clinical data that can be used to identify or predict presence of COVID-19 in biomedical phenotype data, or other relevant topics such as discovery of risks for infection by SARS-Cov-2 viruses, use of standard terminologies for these viruses in federated health data sets
- Public health surveillance methods that mines genomic, viromic, health data, environmental data and/or data from other pertinent sources such as social media, to identify spread and impact of SARS-Cov-2
Applications are expected to focus on informatics and data science methods to help address the COVID-19 pandemic in a timely manner. Applications that are not responsive will be withdrawn without review
Deadline: June 16, 2020 Details
Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx)
RADx is a fast-track technology development program supported by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) that leverages the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Point-of-Care Technology Research Network (POCTRN). RADx will support novel solutions that build the U.S. capacity for SARS-CoV-2 testing up to 100-fold above what is achievable with standard approaches. RADx is structured to deliver innovative testing strategies to the public as soon as late summer 2020 and is an accelerated and comprehensive multi-pronged effort by NIH to make SARS-CoV-2 testing readily available to every American.
NIBIB is providing substantial support to accelerate the development, validation, and commercialization of innovative point-of-care and home-based tests, as well as improvements to clinical laboratory tests, that can directly detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. NIBIB will support the full range of product development including commercialization and product distribution.
Deadline: Rolling submissions until further notice Details
Project proposals will be reviewed within a week of receipt.
Emergency Awards: Rapid Investigation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has released 2 funding announcements to provide expedited funding for new research on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. The opportunities solict applications for new projects via the R21 (Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant) and R01 (Research Project Grant) funding mechanisms.
Areas of high priority are listed with detail in the FOAs and include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Studies to understand critical aspects of viral infection, replication and pathogenesis
- Studies to understand critical aspects of viral transmission
- Identification and characterization of the onset and duration of immunity in healthy and at-risk populations
- Virologic and serologic surveillance studies and natural history studies to understand the origin of the virus including the animal host reservoir, potential intermediate hosts, factors leading to spill over events, evidence of continued spill over events and studies at the human-animal interface
- Studies to assess and characterize the natural history and long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection in various human populations including at risk populations
- Development or improvement of clinical diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 to increase the sensitivity, specificity and ability to provide rapid results
- Development and testing of SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic candidates, in relevant in vitro, ex vivo or animal models
- Development of SARS-CoV-2-specific or broadly protective coronavirus vaccine candidates
- Studies to inform the development of vaccination strategies for at-risk populations including use of age-specific adjuvants or novel antigen formulations/dosing
- Development of assays and animal models
- Assess animal models for SARS-CoV-2 and how the models compare to human infection including animal models that represent at risk populations (elderly, immunocompromised, very young, pregnant models)
- Development of animal models for transmission experiments
- Development of organoid culture models and/or ex vivo explant models
- Computational modeling studies to identify and evaluate interventions to protect at-risk populations and for making public health policy decisions for control and mitigation measures
- Study interactions and impact between SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens including influenza (e.g., co-infections, interference)
- Comparative studies of SARS-CoV-2 to other coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-1 and MERS
- Data science approaches to develop algorithms, models, and informatics solutions
Deadline: Applications for both FOAs will be accepted on a rolling basis until 04/30/2021
FOA: R21, Clinical Trial Not Allowed FOA: R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed
Notice of Additional Due Date and Additional “Areas of Focus Especially of Interest” of PAR-19-373 and PAR-19-384, Research on Biopsychosocial Factors of Social Connectedness and Isolation on Health, Wellbeing, Illness, and Recovery (R01)
PAR-19-373 and PAR-19-384 solicit research projects that seek to model the underlying mechanisms, processes, and trajectories of social relationships and how these factors affect outcomes in health, illness, recovery, and overall wellbeing. An additional application due date of June 8, 2020, has been added for these funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) and Areas of Focus #1 and #3 have been modified to include an emphasis on needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deadlines: June 8, 2020 and March 17, 2021 PAR-19-373 PAR-19-384
All other aspects of these FOAs remain unchanged.
Open-Access Data and Computational Resources to Address COVID-19
This list by the Office of Data Science Strategy is a compilation of COVID-19 open-access data and computational resources provided by federal agencies, including NIH, public consortia, and private entities. These resources are freely available to researchers. Details
NIAID Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Select Research Areas for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has issued a Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) to highlight the need for research on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in select scientific areas using PA-20-200, the NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
In order to rapidly improve our understanding and available control measures for SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, NIAID is encouraging the submission of applications to address the following research areas of interest:
- Studies to understand critical aspects of viral infection, replication, pathogenesis, and transmission;
- Studies on the evolution and emergence of SARS-CoV-2 viruses including the identification of factors that affect viral host-range and virulence;
- Development of sensitive, specific, and rapid clinical diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2;
- Development of SARS-COV-2 therapeutic candidates, especially broad-spectrum therapeutics against multiple coronavirus strains;
- Identification and evaluation of the innate, cellular and humoral immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection, including, but not limited to: cross-reactive antibodies from individuals exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses; viral epitopes critical for T cell activation or antibody binding and neutralization; immune-mediated pathology or host factors that might predispose to severe infection; and studies to examine duration of protection or the potential for reinfection; and
- Development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates, including approaches for pan-coronavirus protection, that include emerging antigen design strategies, novel platforms or delivery approaches, adjuvants, or assessing cross-neutralization potential of SARS-CoV vaccine candidates.
Deadlines: June 16, 2020, October 16, 2020, February 16, 2021, June 14, 2021 PA-20-200
Notice of Early Expiration Date
Emergency Awards: Rapid Investigation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has issued two FOAs that provide an expedited funding mechanism for research on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 using the R01 and R21 funding mechanisms. Applicants interested in pursuing NIH funding support utilizing either of these mechanisms are encouraged to consider the following funding opportunities:
- Emergency Awards: Rapid Investigation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Deadline: Rolling until April 30, 2021 PAR-20-178
- Emergency Awards: Rapid Investigation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Deadline: Rolling until April 30, 2021 PAR-20-177
NIH Director’s Emergency Early Independence Awards (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional)
Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Common Fund will dedicate funds provided by the CARES Act to support a total of 5-10 Early Independence Awards (through this FOA) or Transformative Research Awards (through RFA-RM-20-020) that bring new, innovative perspectives and approaches to the prevention of, preparation for, or response to coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, domestically or internationally. Any relevant area of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 research is welcome, including behavioral/social science research, research on health disparities, novel therapeutics, and other related topics. As with all High-Risk, High-Reward Research program applications, innovation may be technological or conceptual.
The NIH Director's Early Independence Award (a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research program of the NIH Common Fund) supports exceptional junior investigators who wish to pursue independent research soon after completion of their terminal doctoral degree or post-graduate clinical training, thereby forgoing the traditional post-doctoral training period and accelerating their entry into an independent research career. For the program to support the best possible researchers and research, applications are sought which reflect the full diversity of the research workforce. Individuals from diverse backgrounds and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations are strongly encouraged to apply to this Funding Opportunity Announcement.
This FOA solicits applications responsive only to the COVID-19 public health emergency through support of the CARES Act. All other Early Independence Award applications must be submitted in response to RFA-RM-20-014.
Deadline: September 4, 2020 RFA-RM-20-021
NIH Director’s Emergency Transformative Research Awards (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Common Fund will dedicate funds provided by the CARES Act to support a total of 5-10 Transformative Research Awards (through this FOA) or Early Independence Awards (through RFA-RM-20-021) that bring new, innovative perspectives and approaches to the prevention of, preparation for, or response to coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, domestically or internationally. Any relevant area of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 research is welcome, including behavioral/social science research, research on health disparities, novel therapeutics, and other related topics. As with all High-Risk, High-Reward Research program applications, innovation may be technological or conceptual.
The NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award Program supports individual scientists or groups of scientists proposing groundbreaking, exceptionally innovative, original, and/or unconventional research with the potential to create new scientific paradigms, establish entirely new and improved clinical approaches, or develop transformative technologies. For the program to support the best possible researchers and research, applications are sought which reflect the full diversity of the nation’s research workforce. Individuals from diverse backgrounds and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations are strongly encouraged to apply to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. The NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) Program of the NIH Common Fund.
No preliminary data are required. Projects must clearly demonstrate, based on the strength of the logic, a compelling potential to produce a major impact on SARS-CoV-2 prevention, preparation, or response.
This FOA solicits applications responsive only to the COVID-19 public health emergency through support of the CARES Act. All other Transformative Research Award applications must be submitted in response to RFA-RM-20-013.
Deadline: September 30, 2020 RFA-RM-20-020
NIMHD Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Community Interventions to Address the Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic for Health Disparity and Vulnerable Populations
The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) has released a Notice of Intent to Publish an FOA for research on community interventions to “ameliorate the impact of psychosocial, sociocultural, behavioral, and socioeconomic consequences of COVID-19 on the health of populations known to experience health disparities and other vulnerable populations.” This funding opportunity will be for new R01 projects, with or without a clinical trial component. Details
This FOA was published on June 26th; see below for details (6 items down)
NIMH Notice Announcing the Availability of Common Data Elements for Research Related to the Public Health Emergency Caused by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
The purpose of this Notice is to extend the data-harmonization effort at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) announced in NOT-MH-15-009 to research protocols pertaining to the public health emergency caused by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
NIMH has already made a significant investment in a data repository to hold human subjects data related to mental illness and related fields. This repository allows data from multiple sources to be aggregated and easily accessed by the research community. However, the data repository is most useful when research laboratories collect data using the same set of data elements. With this Notice, NIMH offers guidance on the use of consensus-derived common data elements (CDEs) pertaining to mental health outcomes that were previously discussed in NOT-MH-15-009 and a set of newly available measures regarding experiences during the COVID-19 public health emergency and exposures to the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19).
The goal of this Notice is to reduce proliferation of one-off survey items and to facilitate data integration, collaboration, and comparisons across data sets. Details
Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Digital Healthcare Interventions to Address the Secondary Health Effects Related to Social, Behavioral, and Economic Impact of COVID-19 (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) with other ICs are issuing this Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement to promote new initiatives that will solicit applications to support research to determine the role and impact of digital health interventions [e.g., mobile health (mhealth), telemedicine and telehealth, health information technology (IT), wearable devices] to address secondary health effects of the social, behavioral, and economic changes following the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among populations who experience health disparities and vulnerable populations.
This FOA will utilize the R01 activity code and academic researchers will be required to partner with digital health developers and/or existing well-established digital health delivery platforms to prepare and submit applications. This notice is provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive applications. Details of the planned FOAs are provided below. Details
This FOA was published on June 17th; see below for details (3 items down)
Notice of Special Interest: NIDCD is Interested in Supporting Research on the Impact of COVID-19 on Mission Specific Sensory and Communication Disorders
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (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.
Areas of COVID-19 related research encouraged through this Notice include, but are not limited to studies on or related to:
- The effects of prolonged oral intubation on laryngeal function and voice production
- Short-term and long-term effects of COVID-19 on the auditory, vestibular or olfactory systems
- The prevalence, onset, and resolution of acquired deficits (i.e. HBTSVSL) among patients with COVID-19 across the lifespan and in association with various underlying genetic predispositions and health conditions
- The molecular mechanisms underlying chemosensory dysfunction due to SARS-CoV-2 infection
- The impact of stress/isolation on speech, language or fluency recovery/development in children or adults
- The impact of potential congenital transmission of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection to the newborn in relation to the auditory, vestibular, olfactory, or vocal function and/or the impact on speech production or language acquisition
- Potential ototoxicity from therapeutics or vaccination related to COVID-19
- Worsening of communicative function because of physical distancing, sheltering in place, and wearing of protective personal equipment during mitigation of this infectious pandemic
- Telehealth service delivery to individuals with communication disorders
- Multidisciplinary collaborative teams including clinicians, basic biologists, geneticists, quantitative scientist, epidemiologists or other researchers to study COVID-19 related human conditions and behaviors, bioethical considerations, health-service delivery, health services in low-resource areas, and health disparities within NIDCD mission areas
This notice solicits applications to R01 and R21 Parent Announcements for due dates on or after October 5, 2020 and subsequent receipt dates through September 8, 2022. Details
Accepting Preliminary Data as Post-Submission Material and Other COVID-19-Related Application Flexibilities
NIH has released an update regarding “Accepting Preliminary Data as Post-Submission Material and Other COVID-19-Related Application Flexibilities” which also includes information about instructions to reviewers. The allowance re: preliminary data applies to applications submitted for due dates beginning May 25, 2020 for the Fall 2020 review meetings/January 2021 Council round. The deadline for submitting all post-submission materials, including preliminary data, will be 30 days before the study section meeting. Details
Community Interventions to Address the Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Health Disparity and Vulnerable Populations (R01- Clinical Trial Optional)
NIH encourages applications to implement and evaluate community interventions testing:
- the impacts of mitigation strategies to prevent COVID-19 transmission in NIH-designated health disparity populations and other vulnerable groups
- already implemented, new, or adapted interventions to address the adverse psychosocial, behavioral, and socioeconomic consequences of the pandemic on the health of these groups
Deadlines: August 28, 2020; December 1, 2020 Details
Digital Healthcare Interventions to Address the Secondary Health Effects Related to Social, Behavioral, and Economic Impact of COVID-19 (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)
The purpose of this funding opportunity (PAR-20-243) is to focus on the role and impact of digital health interventions [e.g., mobile health (mhealth), telemedicine and telehealth, health information technology (IT), and wearable devices] to address access, reach, delivery, effectiveness, scalability and sustainability of health assessments and interventions for secondary effects (e.g., behavioral health or self-management of chronic conditions) that are utilized during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in populations who experience health disparities and vulnerable populations.
Deadline: August 20, 2020, December 2, 2020, March 2, 2021 Details
New and Updated COVID-19 FAQs
All COVID-19 FAQs were reviewed and revised to align with NIH Implementation of OMB Memorandum M-20-26.
Impacted FAQs are marked as new/updated. Details
Guidance for Applicants Preparing Applications for the Fall 2020 Due Dates During the COVID-19 Pandemic
NIH has issued notice NOT-OD-20-122:
“This Notice provides guidance for investigators and institutions preparing NIH grant applications for the May 2021 Council round, beginning with applications submitted for the September 25, 2020 due date.
NIH grant applications should NOT include contingency plans that would outline steps needed to recover from temporary, emergency situations, or institutional return-to-the-workplace plans, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contingency plans will not be considered in peer review but, if needed, COVID-19 contingency plans will be requested and carefully considered by NIH staff before funding.
Reviewers will continue to receive instruction to assume that temporary, emergency problems arising from the COVID-19 pandemic will be resolved and complications related to COVID-19 should not affect their scores. Reviewers will be instructed to disregard situations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, e.g., temporary declines in productivity, availability of key personnel, proposed patient populations, animal facility shutdowns, etc.”
Mechanistic Studies of the Interaction between SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 and Diseases and Organ Systems of Interest to NIDDK (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)will support basic and clinical mechanistic research on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) susceptibility, routes of infection, course of disease, morbidity and mortality in people with pre-existing diseases, or adverse acute or chronic outcomes in organs, tissues, and biological systems of specific interest to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). These include diabetes and other metabolic diseases, obesity, and endocrine, digestive, liver, pancreas, kidney, urological, and hematologic tissues and diseases.
Deadline: December 16, 2020 Details
NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for COVID-19 Research (July 2020)
The NIH-wide COVID-19 Strategic Plan provides a framework for accelerating the development of therapeutic interventions, vaccines, and diagnostics. NIH will implement five cross-cutting strategies:
- Invest in NIH and NIH-funded researchers to increase fundamental and foundational knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.
- Speed innovation in COVID-19 testing technologies through NIH’s recently launched Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative which aims to deliver rapid, widely accessible testing strategies to the public.
- Participate in public-private partnerships, such as NIH’s Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) partnership, and federal partnerships such as Operation Warp Speed, to forge groundbreaking approaches that speed identification, development, evaluation, and manufacturing of promising candidate therapeutics and vaccines.
- Support studies on preventative treatments and behavioral and community prevention practices to identify and implement effective approaches for promoting individual and community safety.
- Ensure that diagnosis, treaItment, and prevention options are accessible and available for underserved and vulnerable populations which have been at greatest risk for the most severe threats of the disease.
Across all these research strategies, NIH will emphasize:
- Partnering to promote collaborative science
- Supporting the research workforce and infrastructure
- Investing in data science
These investments will support development of diagnostic tools, survey instruments, risk assessment models, public health surveillance tools, and portals to share data, among others (e.g., NIH Repository of COVID-19 Research Tools, OpenData Portal, PhenX, SHIELD [Systemic Harmonization and Interoperability Enhancement for Laboratory Data Collaborative], and SPHERES [SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing for Public Health Emergency Response, Epidemiology, and Surveillance])
Notice of Intent to Publish Funding Opportunity Announcements for the RADx-rad Initiative
The Office of the Director (OD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a notice of intent to publish multiple funding opportunity announcements for the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics for Radical (RADx-rad) program. The RADx-rad program was created to support innovative and non-traditional approaches to rapid diagnostics and home-based testing technologies.
NIH anticipates publishing several RFAs and Notices of Special Interest (NOSIs) between July 17-31, 2020 relating to the following topics:
- Wastewater detection of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19
- Exosome-based non-traditional technologies toward multi-parametric and integrated approaches for SARS-CoV-2
- Chemosensory testing as a COVID-19 screening tool
- Predicting Viral-Associated Inflammatory Disease Severity in Children with Laboratory Diagnostics and Artificial Intelligence (PreVAIL kIds)
- Multimodal COVID-19 surveillance methods for High Risk Populations in densely populated facilities
- Novel Biosensing for Screening, Diagnosis and Monitoring of COVID-19 from Skin and The Oral Cavity
- Automatic detection and tracing of SARS-CoV-2
NIH Repository of COVID-19 Research Tools
This website provides access to COVID-19 related data collection tools (CRFs, DCFs, instruments, surveys, questionnaires) that are currently in use. It is hoped that investigators will consider choosing from these tools rather than developing new ones. The source of each instrument has been verified and contact information is provided in case additional information is needed. Efforts are also being made to provide access to study protocols/study designs and data dictionaries to enhance timeliness for end use, as well as data interoperability and harmonization. Details
Roundup of New COVID-19 Resources for NIH Applicants and Recipients: Part 3
NIH continues to add new resources to its COVID-19: Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients of NIH Funding webpage. Here is a summary of what’s new in the past month:
- Updated infographic describing the peer review process during COVID-19 highlights policies in effect for the upcoming round of due dates
- Guidance for Applicants Preparing Applications for the Fall 2020 Due Dates During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Link to new dedicated page for funding opportunities specific to COVID-19 provides visibility into expiration dates and separates active vs expired FOAs
- New section on Funded Grants provides the ability to view COVID-19 related grant funding. Explore funding further using the COVID-19 Response search filters in RePORTER (under “Additional Filters”)
- All FAQs revised to align with NIH implementation of OMB memo M-20-26
- Updated animal welfare FAQs
- Updated overview presentation and talking points, for quick summaries of flexibilities
Changes to the website are noted in the page update history and are tweeted from @NIHgrants as things get posted. Details
Emergency Awards: Automatic Detection and Tracing of SARS-CoV-2 (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This RFA will support the early stage development of an innovative platform that integrates biosensing with touchscreen or other digital devices to achieve detection and tracing of SARS-CoV-2 in real-time. Projects are expected to demonstrate proof-of-concept of SARS-CoV-2 detection with high sensitivity and specificity, sensor functionality, and automatic detection by touchscreen or other digital devices. To achieve the goal of this FOA, the proposed project needs to be milestone driven and carried out by a multidisciplinary team with complementary expertise.
Deadline: September 15, 2020 Details
Emergency Awards: Chemosensory Testing as a COVID-19 Screening Tool (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)
This emergency FOA provides an expedited funding mechanism as part of the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics-Radical (RADx-rad) initiative. The goal of the RADx-rad initiative is to encourage the development of novel, non-traditional approaches to identify the current SARS-CoV-2 virus or other markers of the COVID-19 disease that can be used in future outbreaks of COVID-19 and that could be applicable to other, as yet unknown, viruses. Specifically, the goal of this FOA is to solicit applicationsto enhance the utility of chemosensory testing as a COVID-19 screening tool by using objective tests to examine the onset and prognostic value of chemosensory loss and to encourage the development and/or deployment of home-based and on-site chemosensory tests.
Deadline: September 15, 2020 Details
Emergency Awards: RADx-rad Wastewater Detection of SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) (U01 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
As one of the programs within the NIH Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics-Radical (RADx-rad) program this FOA will support wastewater-based testing (WBT) surveillance which can provide detailed mapping of the extent and spread of COVID-19. Wastewater testing has been shown to be orders of magnitude cheaper and faster than clinical screening, albeit serving as a complementary approach rather than substituting individual-level testing and screening. The purpose of this FOA is to solicit cooperative agreements both for field studies and for small business research and development projects in the field of WBT, to address topics such as: investigation and demonstration of specific approaches aiming to increase sensitivity and to inform and optimize sample collection; implementation and development of optimized approaches to extrapolate estimation of population-level data within the community; development of optimized intervention strategies, and incorporation of computational, statistical, and mathematical models.
Deadline: September 15, 2020 Details
Emergency Awards: RADx-RAD Multimodal COVID-19 surveillance methods for high risk clustered populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
This FOA invites applicants to pursue development and validation studies of COVID-19 surveillance methods in settings and institutions, including residential, with a high density of people who are together for prolonged periods. This FOA does not support studies focused on direct viral testing of individuals. Specific areas of research interest for the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) are the development of computational, statistical, and mathematical models and the use of artificial intelligence/machine learning for COVID-19 surveillance.
Deadline: September 30, 2020 Details
Extending the Special Exception to the NIH/AHRQ/NIOSH Post-Submission Material Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The ability to submit preliminary data as post-submission materials for applications submitted for the January 2021 council has been extended to apply to the May 2021 council. This is a temporary flexibility due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A few items to note:
- Preliminary data update is limited to one-page for a single component application or one page for each component of a multi-component application.
- The FOA must allow preliminary data.
- The deadline for submitting all post-submission materials, including preliminary data, will be 30 days before the study section meeting.
Extending the Special Exception to the NIH/AHRQ/NIOSH Post-Submission Material Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: August/October 2021 Councils
This Notice extends the special exception for post-submission material to applications submitted for the August/October 2021 Council round.
For applications submitted for the August/October 2021 council (beginning with applications submitted for the January 25, 2020 due date for Summer 2021 review meetings), the NIH, AHRQ, and NIOSH will accept a one-page update with preliminary data as post-submission materials for applications submitted under all activity codes, ONLY if the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) used for submission allowed preliminary data in the application.
One page of preliminary data will be accepted for single component applications or for each component of a multi-component application.
All other materials listed in NOT-OD-19-083 as acceptable post-submission materials will continue to be accepted if submitted 30 days before the study section meeting.
The deadline for submitting all post-submission materials, including preliminary data, will be 30 days before the study section meeting. Details
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) – Research on Rehabilitation Needs Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) has issued a Notice of Special Interest to encourage applications in three areas related to the intersection of COVID-19, the associated mitigation actions, and rehabilitation:
- Encourage research to address the rehabilitation needs of survivors of COVID-19
- Understand the impact of disruptions to rehabilitation services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated mitigation actions
- Understand the social, behavioral, economic, and health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated mitigation actions on people with physical disabilities
Research applications addressing these topics are considered responsive; not all topics are expected within the same application. Applications will be directed to the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) at NICHD.
Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) or any reissues of these announcement through the expiration date of this notice.
- PA-20-185 NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PA-18-480 NICHD Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required)
- PA-20-200 NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PA-20-194 NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required
Deadlines: Due dates on or after February 5, 2021 and subsequent receipt dates through May 8, 2023
Details
Fogarty International Center: Coronavirus News, Funding and Resources for Global Health Researchers
This comprehensive site includes information of interest to those doing COVID-19 research in the US as well as those working globally.
Links are provided to resources in the topic areas of:
- NIH Initiatives
- Latest Research News,
- Research Projects and Clinical Trials
- Scientific Publications
- Research Data and Tools
- Mapping and Modeling
- Fogarty Community Responds to COVID
- Training Resources for Researchers
- Bioethics Resources and News
- News for Low- and Middle-income Countries (LMICs)
- Other NIH, US government, and global health resources
Review Process during COVID-19 Pandemic
NIH has provided an infographic to visualize the peer review process and timelines during COVID-19. It incorporates all relevant information about deadline extensions and modification of policy re: submission of preliminary data, with links to the cognizant notices. Details
Continued Impact of COVID-19 on Biomedical Research
Dr. Michael Lauer, NIH's Deputy Director for Extramural Research, provides an update on NIH and other federal efforts to measure and mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on biomedical and behavioral research. Details
Request for Information (RFI): Inviting Comments and Suggestions on the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for COVID-19 Research
Scientific research to improve basic understanding of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, and to develop the necessary tools and approaches to better prevent, diagnose, and treat this disease is of paramount importance. The NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for COVID-19 Research, released on July 13, 2020, provides a framework for achieving this goal. It describes how NIH is rapidly mobilizing diverse stakeholders, including the biomedical research community, industry, and philanthropic organizations, through new programs and existing resources, to lead a swift, coordinated research response to this global pandemic.
Because of the urgency and evolving nature of the pandemic, this plan is intended to be a living document, which will be continually updated to reflect new challenges presented by COVID-19. To ensure that it remains in step with public needs, this RFI invites stakeholders throughout the scientific research, advocacy, and clinical practice communities, as well as the general public to comment on the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for COVID-19 Research.
The NIH seeks comments on any or all of, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Significant research gaps or barriers not identified in the existing framework above
- Resources required or lacking or existing leverageable resources (e.g., existing partnerships, collaborations, or infrastructure) that could advance the strategic priorities
- Emerging scientific advances or techniques in basic, diagnostic, therapeutic, or vaccine research that may accelerate the research priorities detailed in the framework above
- Additional ideas for bold, innovative research initiatives, processes, or data-driven approaches that could advance the response to COVID-19
All comments must be submitted electronically on the submission website.
Deadline: December 7, 2020 11:59:59 pm ET Details
Extended Guidance for Applicants Preparing Applications During the COVID-19 Pandemic
NIH grant applications should NOT include contingency plans that would outline steps needed to recover from temporary, emergency situations, or institutional return-to-the-workplace plans, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Contingency plans will not be considered in peer review but, if needed, COVID-19 contingency plans will be requested and carefully considered by NIH staff before funding.
Reviewers will continue to receive instruction to assume that temporary, emergency problems arising from the COVID-19 pandemic will be resolved and complications related to COVID-19 should not affect their scores. Reviewers will be instructed to disregard situations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, e.g., temporary declines in productivity, availability of key personnel, proposed patient populations, animal facility shutdowns, etc. Details
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) – Promoting Research on COVID-19 and Rheumatic, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
NIAMS would like to promote basic, translational, pre-clinical and clinical observational research focused on COVID-19 infection and its intersection with rheumatic, musculoskeletal, and skin diseases and conditions. This NOSI encourages, but is not limited to, research applications focused on:
- Susceptibility to, prevalence, risk assessment, and clinical management of COVID-19 among patients with underlying rheumatic, musculoskeletal, and/or skin diseases
- The impacts of drugs or other targeted therapies that are used to treat diseases within the mission of NIAMS on susceptibility, severity, and management of COVID-19
- Health disparities and social/behavioral factors that contribute to risk of infection, organ injury and adverse outcomes in COVID-19 patients with underlying rheumatic, musculoskeletal, and/or skin diseases
- Impact of COVID-19 vaccination of patients with underlying rheumatic, musculoskeletal, and/or skin diseas
- Characterization of long-term post-acute sequelae occurring in recovered COVID-19 patients with co-existing rheumatic, musculoskeletal, and/or skin diseases
- Characterization of NIAMS-mission related long-term post-acute sequelae (e.g., muscle pain, joint pain, biobehavioral changes, skin rash, arthritis, etc.) occurring in recovered COVID-19 patients
Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) or any reissues of these announcement through the expiration date of this notice.
- PA-20-185: NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PA-20-195: NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PAR-21-055: Mechanistic Ancillary Studies to Ongoing Clinical Projects (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PAR-21-054: Mechanistic Ancillary Studies to Ongoing Clinical Projects (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PAR-21-053: Clinical Observational (CO) Studies in Musculoskeletal, Rheumatic, and Skin Diseases (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This notice applies to due dates on or after February 5, 2021 and subsequent receipt dates through November 18, 2021. Details
New NIH COVID-19 Research Website
NIH has launched a new website that provides a central location for trusted, up-to-date, accurate information about NIH research and NIH's strategic role in COVID-19 research. The site complements information made available on the COVID-19: Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients of NIH Funding webpage. The new site includes information about key programs such as the Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines public-private partnership and the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics initiative to develop state-of-the-science diagnostic tests for COVID-19. Users are also able to search information on funded research by state, institution, Congressional district, and more. Details
Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) Initiative - Funded Projects
Projects funded under the RADx Underserved Populations (RADx-UP), RADx Advanced Technology Platforms (RADx-ATP), and RADx Radical (RADx-rad) funding opportunities are summarized. Details
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Extramural Scientific Workforce – Outcomes from an NIH-Led Survey
NIH has recognized the many ways the COVID-19 pandemic could adversely affect the biomedical workforce, particularly members of underrepresented groups and vulnerable populations. In October 2020, NIH fielded two online surveys to objectively document COVID-19’s impact on extramural research. One survey assessed the perspective of individual research administration leaders at extramural institutions, and the other survey assessed the perspective of the researchers themselves. In this post, NIH offers a high-level overview of general trends noted within both surveys. This infographic summarizes the outcomes from the surveys. Details
Extending the Special Exception to the NIH/AHRQ/NIOSH Post-Submission Material Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: January 2022 Council
This Notice extends the special exception for post-submission material to applications submitted for the January 2022 Council round.
For applications submitted for the January 2022 Council (beginning with applications submitted for the May 25, 2021 due date for Fall 2021 review meetings), the NIH, AHRQ, and NIOSH will accept a one-page update with preliminary data as post-submission materials for applications submitted under all activity codes, ONLY if the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) used for submission allowed preliminary data in the application.
One page of preliminary data will be accepted for single component applications or for each component of a multi-component application.
The deadline for submitting all post-submission materials, including preliminary data, will be 30 days before the study section meeting or as stipulated in the FOA.
Because applications for emergency competitive revisions and urgent competitive revisions undergo expedited review, post-submission materials will not be accepted for those applications.
All other materials listed in NOT-OD-19-083 as acceptable post-submission materials will continue to be accepted if submitted 30 days before the study section meeting or as stipulated in the FOA. Instructions for submission are included in NOT-OD-19-083. Details
Emergency Award: Social, Behavioral, and Economic Research on COVID-19 Consortium (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
The purpose of this FOA is to advance research on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 and associated mitigation efforts on individual, family, and community behavior and on how subsequent economic disruption affects health-related outcomes, with close attention to underserved and vulnerable populations.
To address these questions, this FOA aims to form a research consortium to access, extract, integrate, share, and analyze existing data from various sources with broad population coverage including underserved and vulnerable populations. Examples of existing data include public health data; personal digital data; economic, labor, and commerce data; electronic health records (EHRs); claims data; and ongoing health, demographic, and social surveys.
This FOA solicits applications for individual population research projects that will be linked to a Social, Behavioral, and Economic Research on COVID-19 Consortium Coordination Center (SBECCC) to foster collaboration and synergies across consortium member projects. Investigators will work with the SBECCC to enhance as well as share data resources used in proposed research both within the consortium as well as with others for health research purposes.
Deadlines: June 9, 2021; November 8, 2021 Details
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): COVID-19 Related School Disruptions Impact on Mental Health, Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Development of Children
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) have issued a 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, they 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. Each institute outlines specific areas of interest in this NOSI.
NICHD has particular interest in COVID-19-related research on vulnerable populations falling within the NICHD scientific mission area, including toddlers, children, and young adolescents (e.g., ages 3-12) with physical and/or intellectual disabilities; children who are homeless or in foster care, or children who have been involved in the welfare or justice systems; and children living in disadvantaged communities or attending high-poverty schools (as measured by indicators such as distance to nearest public library, neighborhood segregation index, Title I designation, etc.).
Submit applications for this initiative using the following funding opportunity announcement (FOA) or any reissues of this announcement through the expiration date of this notice:
PA-20-185 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
This notice applies to due dates on or after June 5, 2021 and subsequent receipt dates through September 8, 2022 Details
Emergency Awards: Community-engaged COVID-19 Testing Interventions among Underserved and Vulnerable Populations – RADx-UP Phase II (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)
This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) uses an emergency U01 mechanism to support Phase II of the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics – Underserved Populations (RADxSM-UP) initiative. These two-year Testing Research Projects will (1) expand the scope and reach of RADxSM-UP testing interventions to reduce COVID-19 disparities among underserved and vulnerable populations and (2) address scientific questions on interventions to increase access and uptake of COVID-19 testing given the increasing availability of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
Due Date: July 7, 2021 Details
Emergency Award: RADx-UP - Social, Ethical, and Behavioral Implications (SEBI) Research on Disparities in COVID-19 Testing among Underserved and Vulnerable Populations (U01 Clinical Trials Optional)
The overarching goal of the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics for Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) initiative is to understand and ameliorate factors that have placed a disproportionate burden of the pandemic on underserved and/or vulnerable populations, specifically by implementing programs that expand the scope and reach of COVID-19 testing interventions to reduce these disparities. To address barriers to testing and vaccination, social, ethical, and behavioral research is urgently needed to inform related mitigation efforts.
This Phase II RADx-UP Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed to expand research to understand and address the social, ethical, and behavioral implications (SEBI) of COVID-19 testing interventions among underserved and vulnerable populations. Desirable studies for Phase II will move beyond descriptive health disparities research to focus on developing interventions and other actionable solutions in collaboration with community partners and stakeholders.
Due Date: July 7, 2021 Details
Updated NIH-wide Strategic Plan for COVID-19 Research
NIH has released its updated Strategic Plan for COVID-19 Research. Responses to a Request for Information helped inform this iteration, building on progress since the 2020 plan.
The updated strategic plan highlights progress made in the development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, along with developing strategies on how to effectively provide these resources. It also directs NIH-supported research into:
- Investigating and treating the long-term health consequences of COVID-19
- Understanding and responding to new SARS-CoV-2 variants
- Understanding and engaging disproportionately impacted populations
Clarification and Guidance for Applicants Preparing Applications for the Fall 2021 Due Dates During the COVID-19 Pandemic
NIH recently issued a clarification (NOT- OD-21-180) indicating that while grant applications should not include contingency or recovery plans for problems resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, investigators may address effects due to the pandemic on productivity or other scoreable issues in the personal statement of the biosketch. Reviewers will be instructed to take these pandemic-related circumstances into account when assessing applicants’ productivity and other score-driving factors. If needed, NIH staff will request and assess plans to resolve specific problems arising from the COVID-19 pandemic prior to funding. Details
Extending the Special Exception to the NIH/AHRQ/NIOSH Post-Submission Material Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: May 2022 Council
Applicants should know that NIH will allow the submission of a one-page update with preliminary data as post-submission materials for applications submitted for the May 2022 council (applications submitted beginning with September 25, 2021 due dates for spring 2022 review meetings), provided that the funding opportunity announcement allows preliminary data. As with other type of post submission materials, information must be submitted no later than 30 days before the study section meeting unless specified otherwise in the FOA. One page of preliminary data will be accepted for single component applications or for each component of a multi-component application. Details
Reminder of COVID19-Related Flexibilities for NIH Grants
When the public health emergency was first declared, NIH, working with OMB and HHS, quickly identified a long list of flexibilities to support the research community. The list has evolved since the pandemic began, so we would like to take this opportunity to remind the community of many of the current flexibilities we have in place. The full list is available on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients page of the NIH Funding website. Please note: if you are planning on taking advantage of any of these flexibilities, it is important to read the associated policy notices carefully and consult with your funding Institute or Center to ensure you fully understand the details. Details
Clarification and Guidance for Applicants Preparing Applications for the Spring 2022 Due Dates During the COVID-19 Pandemic
This Notice extends the guidance provided earlier (NOT-OD-21-180) for applicants preparing applications for the August/October 2022 Council round, beginning with the January 25, 2022 due date. Reviewers will continue to receive instructions to assume that constraints arising from the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., lab occupancy restrictions, declines in patient accrual, etc.) will be resolved during the project period and thus should not affect their scores.
Therefore, NIH grant applications should NOT include contingency or recovery plans for problems resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, applicants may address effects due to the pandemic on productivity or other scoreable issues in their Personal Statement in the NIH Biosketch. Reviewers will be instructed to take these pandemic-related circumstances into account when assessing applicants' productivity and other score-driving factors.
As with previous instructions, if needed, NIH staff will request and assess plans to resolve specific problems arising from the COVID-19 pandemic prior to funding.
Extending the Special Exception to the NIH/AHRQ/NIOSH Post-Submission Material Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: August/October 2022 Councils
This Notice extends the special exception for post-submission material to applications submitted for the August/October 2022 Council rounds.
For applications submitted for the August/October 2022 Council rounds (beginning with applications submitted for the January 25, 2022 due date), the NIH, AHRQ, and NIOSH will accept a one-page update with preliminary data as post-submission materials for applications submitted under all activity codes, ONLY if the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) used for submission allowed preliminary data in the application. One page of preliminary data will be accepted for single component applications or for each component of a multi-component application.
The deadline for submitting all post-submission materials, including preliminary data, will be 30 days before the study section meeting, unless specified otherwise in the FOA.
Notice of Special Interest: Promoting Research on COVID-19 and Rheumatic, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
This Notice to announces to potential applicants to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) an interest in research on the impact of COVID-19 as related to diseases and conditions within the NIAMS mission.
Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) or any reissues of these announcements through the expiration date of this notice.
- PA-20-185: NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PA-20-195: NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PAR-21-055: Mechanistic Ancillary Studies to Ongoing Clinical Projects (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PAR-21-054: Mechanistic Ancillary Studies to Ongoing Clinical Projects (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PAR-21-053: Clinical Observational (CO) Studies in Musculoskeletal, Rheumatic, and Skin Diseases (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-AR-22-012” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.
This NOSI applies to due dates through January 7, 2023. Details
Notice of Intent to Publish Funding Opportunity Announcements for the RADx®-UP Initiative (Phase III)
The goal of RADx®-UP is to reduce COVID-19 associated morbidity and mortality disparities for those vulnerable and underserved populations who are disproportionately affected by, have the highest infection rates of, and/or are most at risk for adverse outcomes from contracting the virus. The first two phases of RADx-UP established?and expanded a consortium of community-engaged research projects focused primarily on increasing access to and uptake of COVID-19 diagnostic testing among underserved and vulnerable populations across the U.S., with one facet of RADx-UP, the Return to School Diagnostic Testing Initiative, focusing specifically on school settings. Additional projects funded in the first two phases sought to understand the social, ethical, and behavioral implications (SEBI) of testing. To date, RADx-UP has funded over 100 projects and a Coordination and Data Collection Center (CDCC).
Phase III of RADx-UP will encourage novel ideas that have not been examined adequately in the first two phases and are responsive to the dynamics of the pandemic. Specifically, applicants will be encouraged to explore novel interventions to increase access to and uptake of rapid SARS-CoV-2 testing (e.g., rapid antigen testing) in an environment of widespread vaccine availability; the social, ethical, and behavioral implications associated with testing; and specific strategies for scalable and sustainable testing programs to enable safe in-person school instruction.
This Notice encourages researchers to leverage partnerships with key stakeholders to conduct community-engaged research to understand COVID-19 disparities and implement testing interventions to reduce differences in the context of testing among underserved and vulnerable populations. Applicants will be encouraged to develop partnerships with the Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities awardees within the same geographical region, where appropriate.
NIH plans to publish two RFAs and one ROA:
- To seek community-engaged and partnership-driven research to implement and evaluate SARS-CoV-2 rapid testing (e.g., antigen testing) among underserved and vulnerable populations (RFA)
- To seek research to understand the social, ethical, and behavioral implications (SEBI) of COVID-19 testing in these populations. (RFA)
- For administrative supplements to expand the RADx-UP Return to School testing projects to generate evidence for scalable and sustainable approaches to safely maintain students in schools serving underserved and vulnerable populations. (ROA)
The NIH intends for the awardees of the two FOAs and one ROA to participate in RADx-UP as part of the consortium of interlinked, community-engaged, intervention projects across the United States to improve the reach, acceptance, uptake, and sustainability of testing and ultimately mitigate COVID-19 health disparities. Awardees will be expected to partner and align with the RADx-UP Coordination and Data Collection Center (CDCC) at Duke University/University of North Carolina, conforming to CDCC guidance and requirements from NIH on data collection and common data elements (https://dr2.nlm.nih.gov/radx-up), benchmarking, and data harmonization and sharing. Details
Notice of NIMH Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcements and Notice of Special Interest for COVID-19 and Mental Health Research
This Notice encourages investigators to acquire and review pilot data to support accelerated research project grants to address the ongoing challenges that SARS-CoV-2 and the secondary impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic pose to mental health.
- Research areas supported under this program include basic, translational, and services and intervention research to provide an evidence base to understand how mental illness contributes to COVID-19 risk and mortality, how incident mental illness develops with COVID-19, and the development of scalable interventions to meet the public mental health needs of the pandemic among those who survive infection from the SARS-CoV-2 virus and broader populations impacted by stress, disruptions, and loss of lives in the pandemic.
- Research addressing the intersection of COVID-19, mental health, and HIV treatment and prevention are also relevant.
- Given the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on populations who experience health disparities as well as preexisting mental health disparities, NIMH is particularly interested in projects that focus on those populations most in need.
- Proposed research should reflect the highest impact and feature rigorous methods including sufficient power, and consideration of urgent public health needs.
Funding Opportunity Announcements are expected to be published in early March. In addition, a Notice of Special Interest is expected to be published in January 2022 and applications will be accepted through 2024. Details
Evaluating the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic-related Food and Housing Policies and Programs on Health Outcomes in Health Disparity Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
The purpose of this FOA is to identify and evaluate the ongoing and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing specifically on governmental (local, state, tribal, federal) policy and programmatic actions that address two specific social determinants of health: food/nutrition security and housing security. Applications are requested to examine how these food/nutrition and housing policies and programs aimed at lessening the effects of the pandemic impacted health and health equity in individuals, families, and communities from health disparity populations.
Health disparity populations include Blacks/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, underserved rural populations, and sexual and gender minorities.
Deadline: April 7, 2022 Details
Urgent Award: COVID-19 Mental Health Research (R01 Clinical Trial Required) [PAR-22-112]
Urgent Award: COVID-19 Mental Health Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) [PAR-22-113]
These Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) aim to address urgent, time-sensitive mental health research questions related to COVID-19, including broader secondary impacts of the pandemic as well as research on the intersection of mental health, COVID-19, and HIV. Research supported will improve public health in the near term by informing responses to the current pandemic through rapid acceleration of research to address access, reach, delivery, effectiveness, scalability and sustainability of health assessments and interventions to respond to new and worsening mental illness and HIV-related outcomes among those who experience COVID-19 as well as the broader population impacted by the pandemic. All research is anticipated to focus on particularly vulnerable populations based on existing evidence of increased mental health symptoms and illness and preexisting health disparities.
Deadlines: April 25, 2022; August 25, 2022; December 23, 2022 Details: PAR-22-112 PAR-22-113
Emergency Award: RADx-UP Community-Engaged Research on Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Testing among Underserved and Vulnerable Populations (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)
The goals of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) are to implement and rigorously evaluate SARS-CoV-2 rapid testing strategies in communities experiencing COVID-19 health disparities. These two-year Rapid Testing Research Projects will evaluate (1) rapid testing interventions to prevent and control COVID-19 transmission among underserved and vulnerable populations and (2) partnership-driven research to implement and evaluate rapid testing and reduce COVID-19 disparities.
Deadline: May 2, 2022 Details
Emergency Awards: RADx®-UP - Social, Ethical, and Behavioral Implications (SEBI) Research on Disparities in COVID-19 Testing among Underserved and Vulnerable Populations (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)
The goal of this RADx®-UP Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to conduct social, ethical, and behavioral implications (SEBI) research to understand and reduce barriers to COVID-19 testing, as well as COVID-19 disparities that arise from barriers to testing among underserved and vulnerable populations.
Deadline: May 2, 2022 Details
Request for Information (RFI): Inviting comments to inform the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on the intersection of the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic and the health of women
NIH seeks public comments/input on research gaps, clinical practice needs, and research opportunities to inform research priority setting at the intersection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)/coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and/or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), aka long COVID, and the health of women. Responses are welcome from the scientific community, clinicians, academic institutions, professional societies, health care organizations, patients, community organizations, patient advocacy groups, and the general public.
Deadline: May 6, 2022 Details
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) - Emerging and Existing Issues of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Research Related to the Health and Well-Being of Women, Children and Individuals with Physical and/or Intellectual Disabilities
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to provide an avenue for researchers to pursue funding to conduct research addressing these and other emerging and existing COVID-related issues among pregnant and lactating people, infants, children and adolescents, and individuals with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. The goal of this NOSI is to not replace or compete with the various COVID-related funding opportunities currently available. Instead, the purpose is to complement them by offering a funding opportunity to address key issues in a most timely manner not currently covered by available COVID-related funding announcements among these populations.
This NOSI applies to due dates through June 4, 2024. Details
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) - Administrative Supplements for Research of Emerging and Existing Issues of COVID-19 Related to the Health and Well-Being of Women, Children and Individuals with Physical and/or Intellectual Disabilities
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to provide an opportunity for funded researchers in these various fields to pursue supplemental funding to conduct research addressing these emerging and other existing COVID-related issues among pregnant and lactating people, infants, children and adolescents, and individuals with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. The goal of this NOSI is to not replace or to compete with the various COVID-related funding opportunities currently available. Instead, the purpose is to complement them by offering a funding opportunity for currently funded investigators to address key issues not currently covered by available COVID-related funding announcements among these populations.
This NOSI applies to due dates through June 6, 2024. Details
Notice of Special Interest: Research on Alcohol and Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) within the Mission of NIAAA
This Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) solicits grant applications that advance understanding of critical interactions between alcohol use, SARS-CoV-2, and COVID-19. A central focus is research that can improve public health by informing responses to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences.
This NOSI applies to due dates through March 5, 2024. Details
Extending the Special Exception to the NIH/AHRQ/NIOSH Post-Submission Material Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: January 2023 Councils
This Notice extends the special exception for post-submission material to applications submitted for the January 2023 Council rounds.
For applications submitted for the January 2023 Council rounds (beginning with applications submitted for the May 25, 2022 due date), the NIH, AHRQ, and NIOSH will accept a one-page update with preliminary data as post-submission materials for applications submitted under all activity codes, ONLY if the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) used for submission allowed preliminary data in the application. One page of preliminary data will be accepted for single component applications or for each component of a multi-component application.
The deadline for submitting all post-submission materials, including preliminary data, will be 30 days before the study section meeting, unless specified otherwise in the FOA. Because applications for emergency competitive revisions and urgent competitive revisions undergo expedited review, post-submission materials will not be accepted for those applications.
Clarification and Guidance for Applicants Preparing Applications for the Summer 2022 Due Dates During the COVID-19 Pandemic
This Notice extends the guidance provided earlier (NOT-OD-22-046) for applicants preparing applications for the January 2023 Council round, beginning with the May 25, 2022 due date. Reviewers will continue to receive instructions to assume that constraints arising from the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., lab occupancy restrictions, declines in patient accrual, etc.) will be resolved during the project period and thus should not affect their scores.
Therefore, NIH grant applications should NOT include contingency or recovery plans for problems resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, applicants may address effects due to the pandemic on productivity or other scoreable issues in their Personal Statement in the NIH Biosketch. Reviewers will be instructed to take these pandemic-related circumstances into account when assessing applicants' productivity and other score-driving factors.
As with previous instructions, if needed, NIH staff will request and assess plans to resolve specific problems arising from the COVID-19 pandemic prior to funding.
A Reflection on Impact -- How did NIH make fast and meaningful contributions to respond to the pandemic?
"It’s worth reflecting that it has been more than two years since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Let’s look back to the months of early to mid-2020 when the nation (and the rest of the world) faced a “novel” coronavirus, one which we knew could be fatal and for which there was little knowledge about how it spreads and no known effective treatment, limited diagnostic tests, and no vaccine. How did NIH make fast and meaningful contributions to respond to the pandemic?" Details
Clarification and Guidance for Applicants Preparing Applications for the FALL 2022 Due Dates During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The NIH remains firmly committed to supporting the biomedical research enterprise as the nation implements the President's Guidelines for Re-Opening America Again. The purpose of this Notice is to extend the guidance provided earlier (NOT-OD-22-112) for applicants preparing applications for the May 2023 Council round, beginning with the September 25, 2022 due date.
Reviewers will continue to receive instructions to assume that constraints arising from the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., lab occupancy restrictions, declines in patient accrual, etc.) will be resolved during the project period and thus should not affect their scores.
Therefore, NIH grant applications should NOT include contingency or recovery plans for problems resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, applicants may address effects due to the pandemic on productivity or other scoreable issues in their Personal Statement in the NIH Biosketch. Reviewers will be instructed to take these pandemic-related circumstances into account when assessing applicants' productivity and other score-driving factors.
As with previous instructions, if needed, NIH staff will request and assess plans to resolve specific problems arising from the COVID-19 pandemic prior to funding.
Extending the Special Exception to the NIH/AHRQ/NIOSH Post-Submission Material Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: May 2023 Councils|
This Notice extends the special exception for post-submission material to applications submitted for the May 2023 Council rounds.
For applications submitted for the May 2023 Council rounds (beginning with applications submitted for the September 25, 2022 due date), the NIH, AHRQ, and NIOSH will accept a one-page update with preliminary data as post-submission materials for applications submitted under all activity codes, ONLY if the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) used for submission allowed preliminary data in the application. One page of preliminary data will be accepted for single component applications or for each component of a multi-component application.
The deadline for submitting all post-submission materials, including preliminary data, will be 30 days before the study section meeting, unless specified otherwise in the FOA. Because applications for emergency competitive revisions and urgent competitive revisions undergo expedited review, post-submission materials will not be accepted for those applications.
All other materials listed in NOT-OD-19-083 as acceptable post-submission materials will continue to be accepted if submitted 30 days before the study section meeting. Instructions for submission are included in NOT-OD-19-083.
Clarification and Guidance for Applicants Preparing Applications for the Spring 2023 Due Dates During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The purpose of this Notice is to extend the guidance provided earlier (NOT-OD-23-008) for applicants preparing applications for the August/October 2023 Council round, beginning with the January 25, 2023 due date. Reviewers will continue to receive instructions to assume that constraints arising from the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., lab occupancy restrictions, declines in patient accrual, etc.) will be resolved during the project period and thus should not affect their scores.
Therefore, NIH grant applications should NOT include contingency or recovery plans for problems resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, applicants may address effects due to the pandemic on productivity or other scoreable issues in their Personal Statement in the NIH Biosketch. Reviewers will be instructed to take these pandemic-related circumstances into account when assessing applicants' productivity and other score-driving factors.
As with previous instructions, if needed, NIH staff will request and assess plans to resolve specific problems arising from the COVID-19 pandemic prior to funding.
Extending the Special Exception to the NIH/AHRQ/NIOSH Post-Submission Material Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: August/October 2023 Councils
This Notice extends the special exception for post-submission material (see NOT-OD-20-123; NOT-OD-20-163; NOT-OD-20-179; NOT-OD-21-095; NOT-OD-21-179; NOT-OD-22-047, NOT-OD-22-113) to applications submitted for the August/October 2023 Council rounds.
For applications submitted for the August/October 2023 Council rounds (beginning with applications submitted for the January 25, 2023 due date), the NIH, AHRQ, and NIOSH will accept a one-page update with preliminary data as post-submission materials for applications submitted under all activity codes, ONLY if the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) used for submission allowed preliminary data in the application. One page of preliminary data will be accepted for single component applications or for each component of a multi-component application.
The deadline for submitting all post-submission materials, including preliminary data, will be 30 days before the study section meeting, unless specified otherwise in the FOA. Because applications for emergency competitive revisions and urgent competitive revisions undergo expedited review, post-submission materials will not be accepted for those applications.
All other materials listed in NOT-OD-19-083 as acceptable post-submission materials will continue to be accepted if submitted 30 days before the study section meeting. Instructions for submission are included in NOT-OD-19-083.
The NIH-led Research Response to COVID-19
Drawing on our experience leading US-driven elements of this global biomedical research effort, we review here major cross-sector initiatives led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its partners. We outline key milestones and crucial lessons learned, with the goal of informing and guiding the research community’s response to future pandemics. Details
Evaluating the Impact of Pandemic Era related Food and Housing Policies and Programs on Health Outcomes in Health Disparity Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to identify and evaluate the ongoing and long-term health impacts of disruptions in food and housing security experienced during the pandemic era and the role of targeted policy and programmatic actions in mitigating those impacts.
For the purposes of this FOA, the pandemic era is defined as the period from 2020 to present, which includes ongoing widespread adverse social, behavioral, and economic disruptions. This FOA requests applications that propose examinations of how governmental (local, state, tribal, federal) food/nutrition and housing policies and programs aimed at reducing disruptive impacts of the pandemic era, influence health and health equity in individuals, families, and communities from health disparity populations.
Health disparity populations include racial and ethnic minority populations (as defined in OMB directive 15), less privileged socioeconomic status (SES) populations, underserved rural populations, sexual and gender minorities (SGM), and any subpopulations that can be characterized by two or more of these descriptions.
Deadline: May 1, 2023 Details
Expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
The purpose of this notice is to alert the extramural research community that the HHS declared public health emergency for COVID-19 will be terminated on May 11, 2023.
Therefore, effective May 12, 2023, NIH will no longer issue Emergency Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) related to COVID-19.
Ongoing emergency awards will not be impacted and will retain all existing emergency flexibilities for the remainder of the current competitive segment. Details
Revising the NIH/AHRQ/NIOSH Post-Submission Material Policy
For applications submitted for the May 25, 2023 receipt date and beyond, the Special Exception to the NIH/AHRQ/NIOSH Post-Submission Material Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic is ended and is replaced by the following policy: For applications submitted for the May 25, 2023 receipt date and beyond, NIH, AHRQ, and NIOSH will accept a one-page update with preliminary data as post-submission material for Type 1 R01, R21, or R03 applications, including resubmissions, if the NOFO used for submission allows preliminary data in the application. Details
NOTE: Emergency Notices of Funding Opportunities may be published for less than 30 days, allowing for quick turnaround and reviews.
Research & Data on Economic Slowdown Due to COVID-19
Several NOAA Research laboratories are examining atmospheric measurements and changes in economic activity to evaluate the impacts on greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and methane, and common air pollutants over time. This research will provide new and important evaluations of the scientific understanding underpinning air quality, weather forecasting and climate projections, which will improve the quality of forecasts and provide valuable information to decision makers going forward. Details
Environmental Datasets for Infectious Disease Modeling
NOAA has created a webpage for epidemiological researchrs who are investigating the possible links between weather and climate variables and the transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The webpage provides a one-stop online location for NOAA’s extensive weather and climate data sets. This information can be used by the Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, and other researchers in their COVID-19 research and modeling efforts. Details
Webinar: Addressing Attitudes and Science Mistrust During the COVID-19 Pandemic
A webinar will be presented on Jan 28, 2021 12:30 -2:30 PM ET with the following program and presenters:
- Welcome and Introductions, Dr. Jamboor K. Vishwanatha, Principal Investigator of Texas CEAL and NRMN, University of North Texas Health Science Center
- "History of Medical Mistrust in the African American Community" by Dr. Torrence Stepteau, Physician and Co-owner at Precision Pain Solutions, a division of APW
- "Learning Vaccine Hesitancy from the 30,000 Subjects of the HowWeFeel Project" by Dr. Xihong Lin, Professor of Biostatistics Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
- "Effect of Covid-19 Pandemic on Underrepresented Mentees, a Mentee’s perspective" by Dr. Amanda Roberts, NRMN Mentee
- "NIH Initiatives and CEAL" by Dr. George A. Mensah, Division Director for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- "COVID-19 Pandemic and its Effect on Trainees in NIGMS Programs" by Dr. Alison Gammie, Director, Training, Workforce Development and Diversity, NIGMS, National Institutes of Health
- "NNLM Community Partnerships" by Dr. Patricia Flatley Brennan, Director, National Library of Medicine’s (NLM)
- "Effect of Covid-19 Pandemic on Underrepresented Mentees, a Mentor’s perspective" by Dr. Stephen Thomas, Director, Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland, School of Public Health
- Questions and Answers, Moderator, Anna Kuchment, The Dallas Morning News
Cross-cutting
Proposals for 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 may be submitted through existing funding opportunities and via the Rapid Response Research (RAPID) funding mechanism.
Dear Colleague Letter on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Revised April 3, 2020; Archived May 29, 2020
Following thousands of inquiries to NSF staff on COVID-19 related research ideas, NSF has made over 500 RAPID awards.
Given the short-term focus of the RAPID mechanism, “NSF now seeks to enable broader-scope projects that build on the knowledge already acquired, and that sustain greater collaboration and coordination activities.” NSF encourages new COVID-19 research proposals to be submitted through existing funding opportunities. Interested researchers are advised to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a proposal. Details
Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC)
RAPID proposals and supplemental funding requests to existing awards that address COVID-19 challenges through data and/or software infrastructure development activities.
SBIR/STTR Phase I Proposals Addressing COVID-19
U.S.-based businesses were invited to submit Phase I SBIR/STTR proposals focused on “the development and deployment of new technologies, products, processes, and services” that have the potential to help respond to COVID-19. The following areas of research were highlighted: artificial intelligence, digital health, diagnostics, distributed ledger, environmental technologies, medical devices, pharmaceutical technologies, disinfection and sterilization, and filtration and separations.
Dear Colleague Letter: Request for SBIR/STTR Phase I Proposals Addressing COVID-19 (Archived)
Research Experiences for Undergraduates Supplemental Funding in Computer and Information Science and Engineering
The Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) issued a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) restating the opportunity to apply for funding supplements to active CISE awards for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU). These supplements are intended to address the disruption to undergraduates caused by the pandemic and states, “In light of COVID-19, and to enable the CISE research community to provide additional opportunities to engage undergraduates who are US citizens and permanent residents in research pathways, CISE reiterates this interest via this DCL.”
COVID Information Commons
Funded by an NSF RAPID award, researchers at Columbia University will create a COVID Information Commons (CIC) website to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration across various COVID research efforts, especially focusing on all the NSF-funded COVID Rapid Response Research (RAPID) projects. The CIC will serve as a resource for researchers as well as decision-makers from government, academia, not-for-profit and industry to leverage each other's findings, and invest in and accelerate the most promising research to mitigate the broad societal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also serve as a model for integrated knowledge sharing and collaboration on other public health challenges, in benefit to society.
Projects will be able to enter and publish information about their efforts in ways that are most relevant and user-friendly for a variety of potential stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and non-profit sectors. Information will be organized in multiple ways, for example, by research topics areas and by geography. In addition to information from NSF COVID-19 RAPID projects, the COVID Information Commons will incorporate coronavirus-related information from NSF Open Knowledge Network projects, as well as from other NSF research projects in general. Details See update -- 4 items below
Impact on Existing Deadline Dates -- June 24, 2020 Update
NSF has extended the deadline dates for a number of solicitations or Dear Colleague Letters (DCLs) spanning the summer, fall, and winter. NSF will be modifying each solicitation or DCL to reflect the new deadline date. This includes extending the deadline for the Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) to August 11, 2020. CAREER eligibility requirements specified in the solicitation remain unchanged, however, and proposers must meet all of the eligibility requirements as of the original deadline of July 27, 2020.
Additional solicitations or DCLs may be added to the list, so proposers are strongly encouraged to check NSF’s website regularly. (The list has been updated 3 times between June 17th and June 24th.)
Deadlines for published program descriptions, announcements, solicitations and DCLs that do not appear on the list remain unchanged.
Dear Colleague Letter: Supporting Research on Pandemics within the Civic Innovation Challenge and Broadened NSF Support for the Challenge
"With this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), the National Science Foundation (NSF) wishes to notify the community that research projects focused on pandemics are considered appropriate for the Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC; NSF 20-562), a research and action competition in the smart and connected communities (S&CC) domain.
Additionally, NSF wishes to notify the community of broadened NSF support for CIVIC. Together with the NSF directorates and federal partners listed in the solicitation – NSF's directorates for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE), the U.S. Department of Energy's Vehicles Technologies Program, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate – NSF's division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) within its directorate for Engineering (ENG) is now also supporting CIVIC.” Details
Dear Colleague Letter: Sentinel Cells for Surveillance and Response to Emergent Infectious Diseases (Sentinels)
This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) highlights the interest of existing programs in the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) and the Directorate for Engineering (ENG) in interdisciplinary research for the development of novel biological platforms that are capable of sensing and responding to emerging infectious agents.
- The mechanism of sensing should be adaptable and or evolvable such that the sentinel cells, or other appropriate biotechnology solutions, are robust to a range of emergent threats, and/or can easily be reprogrammed and deployed once a new threat is identified.
- The platform's response should be one or more of the following: alert the user, destroy the threat, protect the host, initiate an immune response or other strategies that would ensure mitigation of the threat.
- Sentinel cells and organisms that detect and respond to infectious agents with expanding footprints in a host population or expanding host ranges are of particular interest, as the early detection of these infectious agents might have value in preventing future pandemics.
- Fundamental science and technology that would lead to the development of the envisioned sentinel cells and organisms is also of interest.
- Investigators are encouraged not to be limited in their approach, but to think broadly about innovations leveraging biology and engineering to advance adaptable detection of emerging biological threats.
Proposals responsive to this DCL should be submitted to the program most closely related to the research.
DCL for background, relevant programs, and points of contact. Details
COVID Information Commons
The COVID Information Commons (CIC) is an open website to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration across various COVID research efforts, initiated by the NSF Convergence Accelerator. The initial focus of the CIC website is on NSF-funded COVID Rapid Response Research (RAPID) projects. The CIC serves as a resource for researchers, students and decision-makers from academia, government, not-for-profits and industry to identify collaboration opportunities, to leverage each other's research findings, and to accelerate the most promising research to mitigate the broad societal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to providing quick access to the RAPID project award abstracts, the CIC has links to databases, organizations and networks, and events related to COVID-19 research. Details
Division of Chemistry Extends Submission Windows for Disciplinary Research Programs
An updated version of program soliciation NSF 20-577, Division of Chemistry: Disciplinary Research Programs (CHE-DRP) has been released to announce that the submission windows for unsolicited proposals to the Division of Chemistry's Disciplinary Research programs have been extended by about 2 weeks for the current proposal cycle. The new windows:
| September 01, 2020 - October 15, 2020 |
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| October 01, 2020 - November 16, 2020 |
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Details
A continuously updated list of changes to NSF program deadlines can be found here.
Dear Colleague Letter: Future of International Research Collaboration Post COVID-19
The NSF Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) seeks to understand the nature and scope of COVID-19 impacts on international collaboration in research and education. OISE further seeks to encourage creative efforts to leverage the unique moment to enable more robust, resilient and sustainable collaborations. OISE anticipates that documenting and sharing lessons will strengthen future international collaboration efforts. This letter invites Rapid Response Research (RAPID) and EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) proposals for research to clarify lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic for international collaboration and research to strengthen international collaboration in the future. Proposals must focus on research topics unique to international engagement.
Proposals should be submitted by institutions eligible to submit proposals to NSF and must include international collaboration as an integral part of the work. NSF encourages proposals from diverse teams. Proposals from early career investigators are especially welcome.
Research topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Type I: Research to Clarify Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic for International Collaboration
- Analyzing and synthesizing data from U.S. and international sources on the nature and scope of COVID-19 impacts to illuminate trends in international collaboration;
- Evaluating the effectiveness of interventions to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic environment;
- Addressing the unique challenges of field work and other site-specific research.
- Type II: Research to Strengthen International Collaboration for the Future
- Reimagining international collaboration to enhance research productivity and accelerate progress in science and engineering;
- Improving preparedness to make international collaboration more resilient, moving beyond traditional approaches centered on travel and remote access;
- Leveraging lessons of COVID-19 experience in the U.S. and abroad to broaden participation in international collaborations.
Deadline: Ongoing until March 31, 2021, or until funds are fully obligated, whichever comes first Details
COVID-19 Response and Guidance Update from NSF/OCE
This message from the Director of NSF's Ocean Sciences Directorate (OCE) is to remind PIs of project management latitude and actions they can take regarding pandemic impacts on their projects. It also address Programs’ response to pandemic impacts, including the possibility of supplemental funding. Details
Message from the NSF Division of Earth Sciences to the Research Community
This message from the Director of NSF's Earth Sciences Directorate (EAR) describes some steps that EAR is taking to support researchers, and provides additional guidance regarding approaches that investigators working with Program Directors can take to reduce impacts on existing projects. Details
COVID Information Commons Student Paper Challenge
The COVID Information Commons (CIC) is an NSF-funded research collaboration and knowledge hub designed to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration across various COVID research efforts. The CIC Student Paper Challenge is an opportunity for undergraduate students to leverage the CIC NSF Award search tools and the global COVID-19 resources the CIC offers to learn how the scientific research community is working to address the widespread impacts of the pandemic and offer their own insights on the next steps for COVID-19 research.
Undergraduate students of all backgrounds and interests are encouraged to participate in this Challenge. Winning papers will be published on the CIC website and shared widely through the Northeast Big DAt Innovation Hub network, and authors will have the opportunity to present their insights at a future CIC community event.
Faculty are invited to share their COVID-19 research expertise as a mentor and/or judge. Mentors will hold virtual sessions in January, February, and March to coach students on their paper ideas. Judges will review submissions in April.
- Mentor participation form due: January 8, 2021
- Student participation form due: February 1, 2021
- Judge participation form due: March 15, 2021
BIO-wide Virtual Office Hours: COVID-19 Response Update
The Directorate for Biological Sciences will host a BIO-wide virtual office hour on Tuesday, March 2 from 11AM to 12PM Eastern to answer any questions the community may have about BIO's efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or the support available to the wider community. Details and Registration
COVID-19 Impacts: A message from the NSF Division of Earth Sciences to the research community
Dr. Steven Goldstein has written a letter to the Earth Sciences community pertaining to his vision for the Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) in the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) in the coming years, including dealing with the lasting impacts of COVID-19. Details
UPDATE: COVID-19 Impacts on Arctic Fieldwork
"The Arctic Sciences Section remains firmly committed to protecting the health of program participants and to preventing the spread of COVID-19 to Arctic communities and research stations. At the same time, the Arctic Sciences Section is striving to ensure that researchers meet their proposed project goals to the extent possible in light of COVID-19 impacts on fieldwork. The Arctic Sciences Section will continue to plan and implement COVID-19 strategies according to the science-based public health guidelines issued by the CDC and World Health Organization. We must also respect state, local, and tribal concerns about researcher travel in and near communities in the Arctic." Information is provided re: responsible cConduct of fieldwork furing the COVID-19 pandemic and the logistics for the limited fieldwork that can be supported in 2021. Details
Trans-Atlantic Platform Recovery, Renewal, and Resilience in a Post-Pandemic World (T-AP RRR)
The Trans-Atlantic Platform Recovery, Renewal, and Resilience in a Post-Pandemic World (T-AP RRR) opportunity supports international, collaborative research projects that address key gaps in our understanding of the complex societal effects of COVID-19. Specifically, T-AP RRR supports research that addresses one or more of the following challenges: reducing inequalities and vulnerabilities; building a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable society; fostering democratic governance and participation; advancing responsible and inclusive digital innovation; and/or ensuring effective and accurate communication and media.
Proposals requesting NSF funding must fit within the scientific purview of the NSF Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE). Proposers are strongly encouraged to consult SBE’s programs and contact the cognizant program director to discuss their proposals’ fit within NSF/SBE’s purview prior to submission of the international team proposal to the T-AP RRR call. Proposers should review the requirements for International Team Composition and Proposal Preparation and Submission.
Deadline: July 12, 2021 Details
Dear Colleague Letter: NSF/SBE Participating in the Trans-Atlantic Platform Recovery, Renewal and Resilience in a Post-Pandemic World Call for Proposals Details
WEBINAR -- International funding opportunity: Recovery, Renewal and Resilience in a Post-Pandemic World
Learn more about the Trans-Atlantic Platform’s new funding opportunity at this informational webinar. Featured speakers include NSF Assistant Director Arthur Lupia, head of the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate, NSF senior advisor Deborah Olster and NSF program director Kwabena Gyimah-Brempong. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A session.
May 27, 2021 12:00 - 2:00 PM Details
Upates on COVID Procedures for the U.S. Academic Research Fleet and NSF Supported Costs
NSF's Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) has issued a notice about changes in guidance by UNOLS, the ship operators of the U.S Academic Research Fleet (ARF) related to COVID-19 safety protocols. NSF has also modified its guidance on reimbursing costs associated with mitigating the risk of COVID-19 aboard the ARF. Details
Taking Action: COVID-19 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Challenge
The National Science Foundation (NSF) solicited entries describing the evidence-based steps that Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) have taken, or will take, to mitigate the long-term negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diversity, equity, and inclusion of undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty in STEM higher education programs and institutions. The goals of this competition were to identify actions that IHEs can take to ensure DEI in STEM despite the long-term challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and to share these strategies broadly, including via social media and other means, thereby highlighting the importance of these actions, and providing information for others to implement these actions if applicable to their institutional context.
Winning challenge participants shared interventions, such as launching a graduate student well-being program, providing accessible and free Wi-Fi connectivity on and near campus and shifting institutional policies to automatically grant tenure clock extensions to faculty. The full list of winners and honorable mentions can be found on the website.
NSF Taking Action: COVID-19 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Challenge Winners Showcases will be held July 14 to 19 Register
Following the showcase, an open access repository of winning entries and honorable mentions will be shared broadly for the benefit of all institutions facing similar challenges.
COVID Information Commons Webinars: Accessibility & Transcriptions Update
Since July 2020, the COVID Information Commons (CIC) has coordinated a monthly webinar featuring researchers studying wide-ranging aspects of the current pandemic. Together, these researchers share their recent work and answer questions from the community. All past CIC webinars, including 92 individual researchers' lightning talks, can be found on the Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub's YouTube Channel.
The Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub's Accessibility Team has now transcribed all 92 past CIC lightning talks into written English. Each of these transcripts is now available on the Meet the Researchers page on the CIC website. In the coming weeks, NEBD will continue to make this content accessible by translating these talks into written Spanish. Details
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Update on COVID-19 Protocols for the Office of Polar Programs (OPP)
Throughout the pandemic, OPP operational decision-making has been informed by medical expertise from across government, as well as from international partners and programs. OPP's goal has been and will remain to place the safety of our deployers as paramount and collaborate with other station operators, national governments, and state, local and tribal policies on COVID-19 mitigation. These FAQs address continued operations in the current and developing COVID-19 environment. Details
COVID-19 White Paper Series on Pandemic Response and Preparedness
The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence as an independent Commission established by Congress “to consider the methods and means necessary to advance the development of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and associated technologies to comprehensively address the national security and defense needs of the United States.”
The NSCAI has issued white papers related to the role of AI in the COVID-19 pandemic response:
- Privacy and Ethics Recommendations for Computing Applications Developed to Mitigate COVID-19 (May 6, 2020)
- Mitigating Economic Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Preserving U.S. Strategic Competitiveness in AI (May19, 2020)
- The Role of AI Technology in Pandemic Response and Preparedness: Recommended Investments and Initiatives (June 25, 2020)
5 Questions With COVID Researchers
Hear from researchers across the Northeast United States about how they are working to mitigate the widespread impacts of COVID-19, and learn about opportunities for cross-disciplinary and cross-sector collaboration that could enable further progress in the fight against the pandemic. Details
Resources for COVID-19
In the wake of the pandemic, Open Geospatial Consortium members from across the globe have been publishing resources to inform their customers, their governments, and the public at large. A list of geospatial / location data and services is provided to foster better understanding of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 - aka the coronavirus. Details
Statistics and Research: Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)
COVID-19 pandemic data are collated, visualized and interpreted by country, deaths, cases, tests, mortality risk, and policy responses. Country profiles include interactive visualizations, explanations of the presented metrics, and the details on the sources of the data.A Data Explorer brings together the global data on testing for COVID-19, and the counts of confirmed cases and deaths, with each metric presented in a straightforward line chart or in a trajectory charts, which align all countries at the start of the outbreak).Detailed pages present the latest data together with detailed explanations of what we can learn from this data: where does the data come from? What are the limitations that we need to be aware of? And what does the data tell us about the coronavirus pandemic?
The dataset is updated daily and can be downloaded. Details
COVID-19 Targeted PFA
This program with an accelerated timeline will support innovative, high-impact studies that fit clearly within PCORI's core mission of patient-engaged and patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research. Its objectives are to (1) strengthen the understanding of different approaches to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on individuals, communities, healthcare providers, and healthcare systems; and (2) provide evidence to inform clinical and public health responses, decision making, and planning.
PCORI encourages the use of diverse methods, including interventional studies and the use of natural experiments, to conduct research on an accelerated timeline. Applicants are encouraged to complete primary outcomes collection and provide actionable findings in no longer than 12 months. Hybrid designs, which can provide insight into implementation approaches in the context of evidence generation, will also be welcome.
This funding announcement has three targeted priority areas. The research questions articulated in each of the priority areas below are not the only questions of interest; other relevant questions within these priority areas will also be considered. The priority areas are:
- Adaptations to healthcare delivery: What has been the impact on patient-centered outcomes of alternative healthcare delivery models (e.g., telehealth, hospital at home) that are being implemented in response to COVID-19? What has been learned about barriers and facilitators to their effective implementation?
- Impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations: What are effective clinical pathways to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable and higher risk patients? What are effective system- or organizational-level responses to prevent or mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in low-income and low-resource settings that serve vulnerable populations? Vulnerable populations include but are not limited to Native Americans or Alaskan Natives, African Americans, and other racial, ethnic, or sexual and gender minorities; rural communities; incarcerated populations; people who are homeless or unstably housed; individuals with intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities; individuals with chronic conditions; and individuals facing increased exposure because they are unable to work remotely.
- Impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workforce well-being, management, and training: What policies, practices, or programs are effective in helping health systems quickly shift human resources, redeploy healthcare workers, and train current and new healthcare workers to fill certain healthcare delivery needs? What are effective strategies to protect the physical and/or mental well-being of the healthcare workforce?
Deadline: May 26, 2020 Details
This PFA may be re-issued if funds are available.
RDA COVID-19 Working Group
The overarching objectives of this Working Group (WG) are:
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to clearly define detailed guidelines on data sharing under the present COVID-19 circumstances to help stakeholders follow best practices to maximize the efficiency of their work
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to develop guidelines for policymakers to maximise timely data sharing and appropriate responses in such health emergencies
- to address the interests of researchers, policy makers, funders, publishers, and providers of data sharing infrastructures
The group will address the development of such detailed guidelines on the deposit of different data sources in any common data hub or platform. The guidelines aim at developing a system for data sharing in public health emergencies that supports scientific research and policy making, including an overarching framework, common tools and processes, and principles that can be embedded in research practice. The guidelines to be developed will address general aspects related to the principles the data should adhere to (FAIR and other principles), as well as specificities related to five thematic and two overarching areas. Details
Pioneering Ideas: Exploring the Future to Build a Culture of Health
Pioneering Ideas: Exploring the Future to Build a Culture of Health seeks proposals that are primed to influence health equity in the future. RWJF 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. Additionally, it welcomes ideas that might fall outside of these four focus areas, but which offer unique approaches to advancing health equity and progress toward a Culture of Health.
Applications are welcomed from scientists, anthropologists, artists, urban planners, community leaders—anyone, anywhere who has a new or unconventional idea that could alter the trajectory of health, and improve health equity and well-being for generations to come. The changes sought require diverse perspectives and cannot be accomplished by any one person, organization or sector.
While this call for proposals is focused on broader and longer-term societal trends and shifts that were evolving prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, RWJF 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.
Deadline: Open Details
If you plan to submit, please contact Suellen Peluso for guidance.
Systems for Action: Supplemental Research on COVID-19 Response and Recovery
The need to identify successful system alignment strategies has become increasingly urgent in the wake of the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic that causes COVID-19. This pandemic places people with unmet health and social needs at heightened risk of infection and complications, while propagating unmet needs through job losses, school and business closures, occupational risks, and social distancing policies.
This call for proposals (CFP) will provide supplemental research funding to teams that are already engaged in the study of a promising system alignment mechanism, with the objective of learning how this mechanism performs in addressing health and social needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deadline: July 20, 2020, 3 p.m. ET (One-page Letter of Intent); August 5, 2020, 3 p.m. ET (Full Proposal) Details
Research in Transforming Health and Health Care Systems
The purpose of this 2021 RTHS call for proposals is to fund research studies that evaluate or predict how enrollees are effected by Medicaid policy changes enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on communities of color, we are requesting studies that examine the impact of Medicaid policies on communities of color and/or explore how current or proposed policies may alleviate or exacerbate racial inequity and structural racism in the context of Medicaid. The goal of this funding opportunity is to generate rigorous evidence on the effects of recent Medicaid policy changes on enrollees, states, and others, and to inform and advance equitable policies and racial equity in Medicaid.
Deadline: June 28, 2021 Details
If you plan to submit, please contact Suellen Peluso for guidance.
New COVID-19 Focused Funding Guidelines for May 21 Deadline for Research Grants
For this deadline, RSF will only consider Letters of Intent (LOIs) that satisfy at least one of the following criteria:
- the research is so timely and time-sensitive that the project must start before April 1, 2021
- the research analyzes social, political, economic, or psychological disruptions resulting from the coronavirus crisis that affect social and living conditions in the United States
All LOIs must focus on issues related to the foundation’s core program areas and special initiatives:
- Behavioral Economics
- Decision-Making and Human Behavior in Context
- Future of Work
- Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration
- Social, Political, and Economic Inequality
Deadline: May 21, 2020 Details
If you plan to submit, please contact Suellen Peluso for guidance.
New Funding Guidelines for August 5 Deadline
For its August 5, 2020 deadline, Russel Sage Foundation will only accept letters of inquiry relevant to one of RSF’s core programs that address at least one of the following issues:
- Research on the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting recession in the U.S.
Specifically, research that assesses the social, political, economic, and psychological causes and consequences of the pandemic, especially its effects on marginalized individuals and groups and on trust in government and other institutions. Our priorities do not include analyses of health outcomes or health behavior.
- Research focused on systemic racial inequality and/or the recent mass protests in the U.S.
Specifically, research that investigates the prevalence of racial disparities in policing and criminal justice and their social, political, economic, and psychological causes and consequences; the effects of the current social protest movement and mass mobilization against systemic discrimination; the nature of public attitudes and public policies regarding policing, criminal justice, and social welfare; and the effects of those attitudes in the current political environment.
For its subsequent November 11, 2020 letter of inquiry deadline, RSF will return to accepting letters of inquiry in its three core programs that have and will continue to focus on many of the causes and consequences of the crises of 2020.
Deadline: August 5, 2020 Details
If you plan to submit, please contact Suellen Peluso for guidance.
New Funding Guidelines for November 11, 2020 Deadline
For the November 11, 2020 deadline, RSF will return to accepting letters of inquiry under the following core programs and special initiatives: Future of Work; Immigration and Immigrant Integration; Race, Ethnicity and Immigration; and Social, Political and Economic Inequality.
RSF will continue to accept letters of inquiry relevant to any of RSF’s core programs that address at least one of the following issues:
- Research on the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting recession in the U.S.
Specifically, research that assesses the social, political, economic, and psychological causes and consequences of the pandemic, especially its effects on marginalized individuals and groups and on trust in government and other institutions. Our priorities do not include analyses of health outcomes or health behavior. - Research focused on systemic racial inequality and/or the recent mass protests in the U.S.
Specifically, research that investigates the prevalence of racial disparities in policing and criminal justice and their social, political, economic, and psychological causes and consequences; the effects of the current social protest movement and mass mobilization against systemic discrimination; the nature of public attitudes and public policies regarding policing, criminal justice, and social welfare; and the effects of those attitudes in the current political environment.
Deadline: November 11, 2020 Details
Social, Political, Economic, and Psychological Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Russell Sage Foundation will give high priority over the next several years to rigorous social science research that investigates the immediate and long-term social, political, economic, and psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. RSF is particularly interested in research on the effects of the crisis on vulnerable populations and how they were shaped by both the increased inequalities of the last several decades and the differential effects of federal, state, and local policies implemented in response to the pandemic. They are also interested in how the resulting circumstances and outcomes might influence governments to better anticipate and respond to future crises.
In addition, RSF will accept research proposals related to the effects of the pandemic in all programs and special initiatives: Behavioral Economics; Decision Making and Human Behavior in Context; Future of Work; Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration; Social, Political, and Economic Inequality.
Deadline (Letter of Intent): November 11, 2021 Details
If you plan to submit, please contact Laura Chisholm for guidance.
SafeGraph COVID-19 Data Consortium
SafeGraph is providing free access to its various datasets to help researchers, non-profits, and governments around the world with response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). So far, 1,000+ organizations such as the CDC are already in the consortium and are using SafeGraph and partner company datasets at no-cost. The data includes aggregated and anonymized datasets on social distancing and foot traffic to businesses. Details
Resources and Connections
This website was created by some “Big Science” (particle physics and related fields) researchers, research software engineers and computational science researchers to:
(1) Make connections to enable (non-medical) researchers to contribute to understanding and combating this global problem and/or its economic and societal impacts. How can researchers with significant data analytics, machine learning, simulation, software, computing, hardware development and organizational skills contribute? Are there places where marshaling large “Big Science”-style distributed teams to tackle problems can be useful?
(2) Explore how all types of research activities can adapt and be effective in an era in which face-to-face meetings and travel are greatly reduced and conferences are being canceled. What are the lessons being learned and new ideas for how to approach this?
The website provides links to various information sources on COVID-19 related research, resources and research projects. The group is curating information about, and promoting, various COVID-19 related projects done by this larger scientific community. They are also actively engaged through discussion in the Slack channel and periodic meetings in building further connections and enabling related discussions. Details
Rapid-Response Grants on Covid-19 and the Social Sciences
In partnership with the Henry Luce Foundation, The Social Science Research Council (SSRC), as part of its Covid-19 Initiative, seeks proposals from across the social sciences and related fields that address the social, economic, cultural, psychological, and political impact of Covid-19 in the United States and globally, as well as responses to the pandemic’s wide-ranging effects.
The SSRC’s Covid-19 Rapid-Response Grants thus support innovative research projects that deploy remote research methods to shed light on both the short- and potential long-term effects of Covid-19 across a range of issues. These include:
- “Social distancing” and virtual social interaction
- Governance and democracy
- Public trust and (dis)information
- Social inequality and the pandemic’s disproportionate effects by race and ethnicity
- The lessons of past disasters, and responses to them, for the present
- The role of religious ideas, practices, and institutions in responding to the pandemic
- The workplace and labor markets
- Technology, surveillance, and ethics
- The uses of, and the limits to, modeling in responses to the pandemic’s effects and in scenario planning
These topics are illustrative. Applicants are welcome to propose others. Projects focused on groups most affected by the pandemic are especially encouraged, as are those that can constructively inform responses across communities, public actors and institutions, and others.
Deadline: June 1, 2020 Details
Covid-19 and the Social Sciences
"Covid-19 has upended societies and dramatically altered everyday life across the globe. Our present circumstances, while unprecedented, have been profoundly shaped by persistent societal realities—such as entrenched racial and economic inequality, the proliferation of misinformation, and anxieties about the ability of the world’s democracies to confront major crises. In-depth social understanding will be vital to apprehending the crisis and charting a path forward."
In response, the SSRC has embarked on a series of initiatives devoted to understanding the pandemic’s immediate impact, as well as its lasting consequences:
- Rapid-response research grants for innovative and ethically informed projects using remote methods on key issues impacted by Covid-19, including elections, democracy, and the role of religious ideas, practices, and organizations in responding to the pandemic
- Agenda-setting working groups on “social distancing,” remote research methods and ethics, disaster studies, and racial inequality, among others
- A digital time capsule for future researchers of Covid-19, in which prominent scholars select a visual artifact to help future researchers understand the Covid-19 crisis, beginning with leading stratification economist Darrick Hamilton of The Ohio State University
- A Covid-19 essay forum that will include reflections on democracy and pandemics, “slow disaster,” field research in insecure times and places, social science modeling, gun culture, and racial inequality, forthcoming from Scott Knowles, Julia Lynch, Admire Mare, Kim Fortun, Jonathan Metzl, Jamila Michener, and others
- A special section of our MediaWell platform dedicated to intersections among misinformation, science, and public health
- A partnership on a Global Registry for Covid-19 Public Health and Social Science Research with CONVERGE, the National Science Foundation–funded initiative at the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder
- The #coronavirussyllabus, a crowdsourced list of resources on public health, disease outbreaks, pandemics, and other social shocks that helps to orient the Covid-19 crisis and sheds light on its multifaceted implications and effects as conveyed in scholarship, media, and the arts
More about these initiatives can be found on NNRC's Covid-19 and the Social Sciences webpage. Details
Just Tech Covid-19 Rapid-Response Grants
As part of its Just Tech program, SSRC seeks proposals from across the social sciences and related fields that address the risks, opportunities, and challenges posed by public health surveillance stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic. It specifically encourages proposals that interrogate the role the public and private sectors may play in mitigating or exacerbating the health crisis, the effects of which are already unevenly distributed.
The Just Tech Rapid-Response Grants will support innovative research projects that deploy remote research methods to shed light on both the short- and potential long-term implications of public health interventions for a range of rights, liberties, and public goods.
Subjects may include, but are not limited to:
- Contact tracing and public health surveillance
- Voting access and rights amid “lockdowns” and widespread social distancing
- Disparities in the collection, representation, and use of health data
- The digital divide in remote work and learning, education, and public health
- Precarity of labor and work in the tech industry or gig economy
- Remote organizing, campaigning, and social movements
- The impact of predictive algorithms on the provision of social welfare and policing
Projects illuminating the experiences of historically marginalized people are especially encouraged, as are those that can constructively inform policy responses across communities and institutions.
The grants offer up to six months of support toward research-related expenses. These include, but are not limited to: access to datasets, archives, and relevant publications; costs related to conducting online research of various kinds; and research assistance.
Awards will range from USD $5,000 to $10,000, with larger amounts directed to projects committed to research partnerships grounded in principles of ethical collaboration and equity, composed of partners who might not otherwise work together.
In this regard, strong teams will not simply be interdisciplinary, but multi-method or cross-sector, joining, for example:
- humanists and social scientists
- social and natural scientists
- qualitative and quantitative methodologists
- academic researchers and practitioners
- researchers from different parts of the world
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with the first period of review beginning on August 31, 2020.
Deadline: Closed Details
COVID Decision Modeling Initiative (CDMI)
With support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, researchers from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JHSON), Duke University Margolis Center for Health Policy, University of Michigan Medical School and the Society for Medical Decision Making (SMDM) have partnered to catalyze innovative COVID-19 decision models for rapid uptake and impact. The COVID Decision Modeling Initiative (CDMI) will support the development of decision models to inform the urgent needs of decision makers responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.
CDMI has several specific goals to facilitate responsive decision modeling research:
- Determine key priorities and critical questions where decision modeling can support better decisions and outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Implement grant making program to fund 6-10 projects with rapid impact potential
- Leverage Society for Medical Decision Making (SMDM) repository of models and network of decision modelers addressing COVID-19
To optimize success of decision modeling projects funded for rapid impact, the research team will coordinate efforts from their institutions along with the SMDM COVID-19 Modeling Special Committee to provide connectivity between decision makers and decision modelers and disseminate the combined CDMI results to the public at large.
Johns Hopkins University will administer 6-10 agreements for high impact decision modeling projects with anticipated impact within 4-6 months from start date.
Deadline: Rolling until June 30, 2020 Details
Applications will reviewed as they are received.
Solutions that can Contribute to a More Equitable and Resilient Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Resulting Economic Crisis
The Sorenson Impact Foundation (SIF) is inviting potential grant recipients to propose solutions that can contribute to a more equitable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis. SIF is specifically targeting solutions that enable recovery through developing and growing businesses as well as the communities they’re in to equitably rebuild coming out of the current social, health and economic crisis. Proposals are sought across the following three focus ares:
- Equitable Access to Wealth Creation Through Entrepreneurship: Solutions that enable and empower successful entrepreneurship for underserved or underrepresented communities such as people of color, women and entrepreneurs in rural areas.
- Democratized Access to Capital and Community Investment: Solutions that enable more equitable access to capital for entrepreneurs in underserved or underrepresented communities. This focus area includes empowering and expanding community investment activity.
- Workforce Development: Solutions to help communities develop the skills and training required for the jobs of the future in a post-pandemic world.
Proposals must be focused on the United States and target underserved and underrepresented communities. SIF is especially interested in solutions that enable recovery through the creation and growth of local businesses and the underserved communities in which they are embedded. Awards will range between $25,000 and $250,000.
Deadline: August 30, 2020 Details
Research Grants on Education: COVID-19 Related Special Grant Cycle
These grant will support rigorous, intellectually ambitious, and technically sound education research projects that will contribute to understanding the rapid shifts in education in this time of crisis and change. We are especially interested in supporting two primary categories of projects:
- Studies that aim to understand and disrupt the reproduction and deepening of educational inequality caused by the COVID-19 crisis
- Research projects that are working to reimagine educational opportunities in these times, particularly to remake and imagine anew forms of equitable education
Awards will be made for up to $50,000 for projects ranging from one to three years.
Deadlines: May 4, May 18, and June 8, 2020 Details
If you plan to submit, please contact Laura Chisholm for guidance.
Coronavirus Response Fund
The Stevens Initiative is providing resources to help education, exchange, and non-profit organizations in the United States and the Middle East and North Africa conduct virtual exchange programs to engage young people and educators affected by the pandemic.The Initiative encourages proposals by consortia that include organizations with relevant and complementary experience, capacities, and networks. The maximum grant period of performance window is June 1 to August 31, 2020; awards will range from $20,000 to $100,000.
Activities must be conducted in the United States and in one or more of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, the Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Programs involving refugees from these countries who are currently in countries not listed above are also eligible.
Proposed projects are encouraged to focus on the following topics:
- Technology and computing
- World affairs and global studies
- Business and entrepreneurship
- Language learning and practice
- Public health and/or the coronavirus pandemic
Deadline: Rolling basis until June 12, 2020 Details
COVID-19 Priority Consortium
Streamlyne developed C19Priority.ai to address the very real needs of researchers and the general public as we all struggle to understand and combat COVID-19. Artificial intelligence underpins the C19Priority.ai website. All tools throughout this website are complimentary, with resources for both the general public and tbhe research community. Researchers can use the site to locate relevant research quickly and efficiently. Members of the public can use the self-assessment tool and locate resources for COVID-19 testing and related health and social services in all 50 states. Details
2021 TD Ready Challenge - Innovative solutions to address the predicted learning loss in math and reading for disproportionately impacted students in grades K-12 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
Each year, the TD Ready Challenge invites eligible organizations to submit applications that offer solutions for a problem statement that is connected to one of the four drivers of change of the TD Ready Commitment: Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. The 2021 TD Ready Challenge Problem Statement is focused on addressing predicted learning loss in math and reading for disproportionately impacted students in grades K-12 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants range from $325,000 to $1 million USD for US organizations.
Deadline: August 26, 2021 4:00 PM EDT Details
UNH is allowed 1 application to this program. Contact Laura Chisholm ASAP if interested in applying.
COVID-19 Location Data Toolkit
Location data and human mobility insights to measure COCID-19 impact, create pivot strategies, and predict recovery are provided, including a Social Distancing Scoreboard, a Retail Impact Scoreboard, a Recovery Tool, and a Origin Destination Flux Scoreboard. Details
U-FERN Seeks Participation of Ecosystem Faculty Teaching Virtually This Summer
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the urgent need for ecology and environmental science instructors and faculty to offer virtual field learning, 50+ field stations and marine laboratories are working together with RAPID funding from NSF to create cross-site virtual field experiences that help instructors teach field observation and research skills to university students.
As part of this effort, U-FERN is seeking six to ten faculty/instructors who are teaching virtually this summer to help pilot two cross-site virtual field learning resources:
- Cross-site ecosystem exploration videos that help students develop observational skills. Students watch 3-min videos comparing multiple marine, terrestrial and freshwater habitats and take field notes comparing species relationships, adaptations, habitat structure, formative processes and human-environment interactions
- A live-streaming event with researchers at 3 field sites talking with students about multi-disciplinary approaches to field research
Deadline to express interest: June 10, 2020 Details
As part of UNH’s ongoing response to COVID-19 and in the spirit of our land grant mission, CoRE is funding PRP projects directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic to improve public health and welfare at UNH, across New Hampshire, throughout the region, nationally, or globally.
UNH’s Collaborative Research Excellence (CoRE) initiative will make seed funding available by Monday, May 4, 2020 for Pilot Research Partnership (PRP) projects directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to $30,000/project will be available for one-year collaborative research projects with strong potential to garner future funding from external sources (including industrial support) and/or with outstanding commercial potential. Projects may be intra-institutional, multi-institutional, or public-private partnerships.
Applicants are encouraged to think broadly and creatively about how their expertise can address relevant areas of research, including, but not limited to:
- Impact and recovery in vulnerable communities
- Diagnostics, models, therapeutics, vaccine development
- Telemedicine and telehealth
- Distance learning
- Workforce preparedness
- Mental health and substance use disorders resulting from the pandemic
- Environmental transmission via contaminated surfaces or materials
- Economic impacts and recovery
- Public perception and behavior
- Disaster preparedness
- Resource (e.g., PPE) allocation and redistribution?
- Environmental and ecological impacts
Deadline: 9:00 A.M. on Monday, April 27, 2020 Details
CoRE COVID-19 Pilot Research Partnerships Kick-Off Event
On August 10 2020, the UNH Collaborative Research Excellence (CoRE) Initiative hosted a Zoom seminar to share information about the six recently funded CoRE COVID-19 Pilot Research Partnerships projects and provide a discussion forum about related interests.Each CoRE COVID-19-funded team gave a brief presentation about their project. The presentations are available on the CoRE website. Questions? Contact Maria Emanuel. Details
Webinars for the UNH Community
On May 13-15, UNH’s federal relations firm -- Lewis-Burke Associates (LBA) -- presented five one-hour webinars exclusively to the UNH research community on new and developing COVID-19-related funding opportunities from Federal agencies. Webinars were presented discussing the Economic Development Administration (EDA); the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA); the National Science Foundation (NSF); Health-related agencies and telehealth; and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
A significant portion of the $2T CARES Act (and subsequent stimulus packages) was allocated to research and development. Agencies worked quickly to determine how to apply these funds within their missions, goals, and programs, resulting in a patchwork approach that differs across and within the agencies. For researchers, this presented a challenge to anticipate and respond quickly to funding opportunities as they arise. The LBA webinars offered a deeper dive into the select agencies to help researchers understand and navigate the changing environment. LBA’s goal was to demystify how agencies are responding to COVID-19 and give UNH researchers the tools to more confidently move forward.
Recordings: All webinars
From COVID-19 Response to Equitable Recovery: A Call for Research and Action to Boost Workers’ Economic Security and Mobility
WorkRise, a research-to-action network for jobs, workers, and mobility, is launching a drive to rapidly develop and share actionable evidence on what works to shore up workers’ economic security during the COVID-19 crisis and promote their longer-term upward mobility as they rebuild their lives. This initiative will:
- provide up to $2 million for research on pilot or existing programs, policies, and practices to rapidly develop rigorous evidence that can inform and drive effective action toward a labor market that boosts workers’ mobility
- create a clearinghouse for innovative responses to the current labor market crisis taken by the private sector, civil society, and government
- elevate promising policies and practices to key decisionmakers, including philanthropic leaders; local, state, and federal policymakers; worker advocates; and business leaders
To achieve these objectives, WorkRise is issuing both a request for proposals (RFP) and a request for information (RFI) to identify and accelerate innovative solutions—including programs, policies, and practices—that both provide immediate economic relief to struggling workers and create pathways for long-term economic security and upward mobility.
The RFP is designed for those with research projects in need of funding, while the RFI is designed for those implementing promising practices in need of additional support and/or research and evaluation. Both the RFP and the RFI are open to all: practitioners, policymakers, researchers, advocates, employers, and others. Select RFI respondents will be offered support in developing a response to the RFP that includes a research- or data-focused outcome and, where appropriate, additional program funds.
Deadline: June 29, 2020 Details
Tracking COVID-19’s Effects by Race and Ethnicity - Weekly Updates on Americans’ Health, Housing, and Livelihoods
This tool uses the near-real-time Household Pulse Survey data to track a set of measures for US households as the pandemic and recovery unfold. It will be updated weekly in the coming months. It provides the data policymakers need to gauge how the pandemic may be affecting people’s health, housing, and livelihoods and, moving forward, to design the race-conscious policies that will help policymakers and practitioners work toward an equal recovery for all Americans by pursuing solutions that account for the pandemic’s unequal effects on communities of color. Details
The Federal Response to COVID-19
In early 2020, the U.S. Congress appropriated funds in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds were made possible through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and other supplemental legislation. In response to guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), USAspending.gov updated its data model to capture the journey of COVID-19 dollars from appropriation to obligation and outlay by federal agencies.
See who received funding, which agencies spent the funds, which programs were funded, and more. Details
COVID-19 Learning Lab
USAID and its partners continues to monitor, evaluate and learn from their programs as thye respond to the changing operating environment. This page provides USAID with a forum for sharing tools, approaches and lessons for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) during the global pandemic. Details
Household Pulse Survey: Measuring Household Experiences during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
The Household Pulse Survey is intended to provide weekly data to help understand the experiences of American households during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data provide insight on education, employment, food sufficiency and security, health, and housing. The questionnaire is a result of collaboration between the U.S. Census Bureau and the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Data collection for the Household Pulse Survey began on April 23, 2020. The Census Bureau will collect data for 90 days and release data on a weekly basis. Details
Small Business Pulse Survey (Business Pulse): Tracking Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The experimental Small Business Pulse Survey (Business Pulse) measures the changes in business conditions on our nation’s small businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Business Pulse complements existing U.S. Census Bureau data collections by providing high-frequency, detailed information on small business-specific initiatives such as the Paycheck Protection Program. Results from the survey could provide useful information to policymakers as they seek to address some of the challenges faced by small businesses. In addition, the information may aid businesses in making decisions and assist researchers studying the impact and responses to COVID-19.
Data tabulations and visualizations from the survey will be updated weekly through June, 2020. Details
Measuring Household Experiences during the Coronavirus Pandemic - Household Pulse Survey - Phase 3.1
The Household Pulse Survey measures how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting households across the country from a social and economic perspective. The survey asks questions about how childcare, education, employment, food security, health, housing, social security benefits, household spending, consumer spending associated with stimulus payments, intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, and transportation have been affected by the ongoing crisis.
The survey is currently in Phase 3.1 of data collection and includes a variety of changes from previous phases. The data collected will enable the Census Bureau to produce statistics at the national and state levels and for the 15 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (metro areas).
Data collection for Phase 3.1 of the Household Pulse Survey began on April 14, 2021 and is scheduled to continue through the beginning of July, with an initial data release of May 5, 2021. Subsequent releases will be made every two weeks through July. Details
Informational Webinar
On April 16, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) hosted a webinar for its Land Grant University and other science partners to clarify clarify answers to frequently asked questions about how the current situation caused by COVID-19 will affect NIFA programs.
A recording of the webinar, the slide deck, and the frequently asked questions(FAQ) document on, which the presentation was based, is available at https://nifa.usda.gov/coronavirus.
The FAQ document will be updated regularly.
COVID-19 Rapid Response to Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Impacts Across Food and Agricultural Systems
NIFA has added a COVID-19 Rapid Response to Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Impacts Across Food and Agricultural Systems program area to the Agricultural and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) RFA. It is described on pp. 72-75 of the updated RFA.
Two-year interdisciplinary research, extension, and/or integrated projects of up to $1 million should address one or more of four areas of priority:
- Health and Security of Livestock
- Well-being of Farm, Food Service Providers, and Rural Americans
- Economic Security
- Food Safety
Applications should:
- focus on critical and urgent research, extension, or integrated solutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on the nation’s food and agricultural system
- include strategies and knowledge that can be rapidly implemented to minimize or eliminate COVID-19 impacts on the nation’s food and agricultural system
- explicitly highlight how the activities would directly address urgent stakeholder needs relating to COVID-19
Collaborations with minority-serving institutions are encouraged.
Deadline: June 4, 2020 Details & updated RFA
NIFA will expedite application evaluation and awards review to ensure rapid project start-up.
Note that all the remaining AFRI deadlines are as published in the 2020 RFA and review will proceed according to the usual timetable.
Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program (RHSE) - FY2020
NIFA requests applications for the FY 2020 Rural Health and Safety Education (RHSE) Competitive Grant Program. $1M (of the total $4M) is set aside to support the utilization of telehealth, telemedicine, and distance learning strategies for education and training in minority rural communities related to opioids or preventing spread of SARS-CoV-2 and in mitigating infection and transmission of SARS-CoV2.
The RHSE program proposals are expected to be community-based outreach education programs, such as those conducted through Human Science extension outreach that provide individuals and families with: information as to the value of good health at any age; information to increase individual or family’s motivation to take more responsibility for their own health; information regarding rural environmental health issues that directly impact human health; information about and access to health promotion and educational activities; and training for volunteers and health services providers concerning health promotion and health care services for individuals and families in cooperation with state, local, and community partners.
Deadline: July 1, 2020 Details
FY 2020 Rapid Response to Novel Coronavirus (SARS-COV-2): Distance Learning Resource Funding Opportunity
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Education and Workforce Development RFA now includes on pages 19-21 details about a new program area priority to address the need to develop and deploy rapid, reliable, and readily-adoptable strategies in workforce preparation through formal K-14 education, as well as in youth development through non-formal education to cultivate interest and competencies in STEM and agriculture during this challenging time.
Funded projects are expected to develop tools, techniques, and other practices that can be rapidly adopted at home or by educators and extension specialists to ensure the effective formal and non-formal education of K-14 students and other youth development opportunities. Applicants must provide evidence that training and resources developed through the proposed project will be immediately deployed. It should not take the duration of the project to have meaningful impact.
- Projects should develop and deploy rapid, reliable, and readily-adoptable formal and non-formal extension educational resources and strategies for youth and students at K-14 levels in disciplines of food and agricultural science supporting the six AFRI Farm Bill priority areas.
- Formal and non-formal education and workforce development projects may utilize technology and create new digital or non-digital learning resources that can be deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic and during the recovery from it.
- Non-formal education programs for youth development should take a “whole child” approach given the psychological stress and trauma that can be manifested as a result of physical isolation or other stressors.
- Projects should include strategies to ensure access to content by diverse participants and/or practitioners during periods of limited or no internet or technology access. • Projects should create or update, innovative, interactive learning resources that align with National and/or State Standards and are not duplicative of other existing resources.
Regional Scale Grants: Up to $1,000,000 total per project (including indirect costs) for up to 2 years
National Scale Grants: Up to $3,000,000 total per project (including indirect costs) for up to 2 years
Requested Project Types: Education, Extension, or Integrated Projects only (Eligibility is linked to the project type)
Requested Grant Type: Standard and FASE (Strengthening Standard) Grants only
This program area accepts new applications only. Projects will not be renewable.
Applications will undergo an expedited peer-review and awarding process to ensure rapid project start-up.
Interested applicants are invited to register for an informational webinar on July 28, 2020 at 12:00 pm Eastern Time.
Before preparing an application, applicants must contact Dr. Emma Moran (Program Area Priority Contact listed below) by email to inquire about the suitability of their project for submission to this program.
Program Area Contacts:
- Carlos Ortiz, (202) 445-5594 or carlos.ortiz@usda.gov
- Emma Moran, (202) 309-1731 or emma.moran@usda.gov
Deadline: August 20, 2020 Details
NIFA FAQs Relating to Flexibility for Applicants and Recipients Webinar
NIFA's FAQs website, NIFA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources For Partners, covers the most asked questions about impacts of the COVID-19 emergency on the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grants. NIFA continues to evaluate options and flexibilities related to coronavirus impacts and announced updates to this FAQ in the "NIFA FAQs Relating to Flexibility for Applicants and Recipients" webinar August 7, at 3:30 p.m. (ET).
The webinar was recorded and is available on the NIFA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources For Partners website. Webinar
COVID-19 is a Priority Focus in FY21 & FY22 AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program -- Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities (AERC) Program Area / Rural Economic Development Priority
The Rural Economic Development program area priority supports rigorous theoretical and empirical efforts to create and examine innovative approaches for advancing economic opportunities for rural entrepreneurs and communities, with an aim to promote rural prosperity and well-being. The intent of the program area priority is to improve the understanding of the factors and conditions that enhance economic opportunities for food, agricultural and rural businesses through tools and methods from the various social sciences, (i.e., sociology, demography, economics, geography, etc.). Studies that focus on women, and ethnic and/or racial minority groups are of interest.
This RFA will give priority to projects that focus on the impacts of COVID-19 on rural youth, families, communities and entrepreneurs.
Deadlines: June 17, 2021 & September 15, 2022 Details
(See RFA pp. 51+ for Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities (AERC) Program Area; pp.57+ for Rural Economic Development Priority Area)
USDA-NIFA Grants Nearly $14 Million for Rapid Response to Help U.S. Universities Find Scientific Solutions Amid Pandemic
Over the past few weeks, USDA-NIFA awarded close to $13 million across 17 grant projects through the Agricultural and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and another 14 grants for $1.3 million through the Small Business Innovation Research Program to support research and development across all areas of agricultural research, education, and small business innovation addressing the pandemic. NIFA expects to announce another round of AFRI-funded projects in October. Details
NIFA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for Partners
This site provides coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) information for NIFA partners, researchers, stakeholders, applicants, and grantees. It is updated often, particularly the NIFA Frequently Asked Questions Relating to Flexibilities for Applicants and Recipients. Details
Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program (RHSE) - FY2021
NIFA requests applications for the FY 2020 Rural Health and Safety Education (RHSE) Competitive Grant Program. $1M (of the total $4M) is set aside to support the utilization of telehealth, telemedicine, and distance learning strategies for education and training in minority rural communities related to opioids or preventing spread of SARS-CoV-2 and in mitigating infection and transmission of SARS-CoV2.
The RHSE program proposals are expected to be community-based outreach education programs, such as those conducted through Human Science extension outreach that provide individuals and families with: information as to the value of good health at any age; information to increase individual or family’s motivation to take more responsibility for their own health; information regarding rural environmental health issues that directly impact human health; information about and access to health promotion and educational activities; and training for volunteers and health services providers concerning health promotion and health care services for individuals and families in cooperation with state, local, and community partners.
Deadline: April 29, 2021 Details
Agricultural Outlook Forum: Building on Innovation: A Pathway to Resilience, February 18-19, 2021
The 97th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum will be held virtually on February 18-19, 2021. The 2021 Forum, themed “Building on Innovation: A Pathway to Resilience,” will focus on the central role science and innovation have played in helping the agricultural sector overcome challenges and build resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Details
USDA Science Strengthens U.S. Efforts to End COVID-19
This blog post highlights USDA's research response through the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), andthe Economic Research Service’s (ERS). Details
Webinar Series: Lessons from COVID-19: Positioning Regional Food Supply Chains for Future Crises
The project, “Lessons from COVID-19: Positioning Regional Food Supply Chains for Future Pandemics, Natural Disasters and Human-made Crises,” led by Hikaru Peterson, professor of applied economics at the University of Minnesota, was funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative as part of the COVID-19 Rapid Response grant program. The researchers will report their findings in series of webinars.
Webinar Dates: Jun 17, 2021; Nov 18, 2021; Apr 21, 2022 Details
COVID-19 Rapid Response Research Early Outcomes
In spring of 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced a research investment to look at the impact of COVID-19 on American agriculture. NIFA opened its request for applications for research or extension activities focused on developing and deploying rapid, reliable, and readily adoptable COVID-19 agricultural strategies across the food and agriculture enterprise. Through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative program, NIFA invested up to $9 million for research in the following areas: health and security of livestock; food and food processing; well-being of farm workforce, food service providers, and rural Americans; and economic security. Latest results of this research are presented. Details
Researchers Develop Web-based Tool that Predicts Illnesses and Absences from Work Due to COVID-19 among Workers on Produce Farms
Funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a team of Cornell University researchers, led by Dr. Renata Ivanek and partnering with food safety software company iFoodDecisionSciences (iFoodDS), has developed a mathematical model that predicts illnesses and absences from work due to COVID-19 among workers on produce farms. The model, called FInd CoV Control (Food Industry COVid-19 Control Tool) is freely available as an interactive web-based decision support tool. Through a user-friendly interface, a user enters characteristics of their specific produce farm operation into the model. Then, based on the user inputs, FInd CoV Control runs a simulation on the iFoodDS’ server. The user is provided a confidential report with model predictions to support decision making and contingency planning regarding COVID-19 mitigation in their operation. Details
APHIS Final Strategic Framework for Enhancing Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 and Other Emerging Diseases
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has released its final Strategic Framework outlining how the Agency will advance surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging zoonotic diseases as directed by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan (ARP). Early detection and response to pathogens with zoonotic potential while still in animals is essential in limiting or preventing human outbreaks. Additionally, the Agency has launched a new website to help stakeholders and the public stay up to date on the Agency’s broad array of ongoing One Health initiatives as well as SARS-CoV-2 surveillance projects and other activities funded by the $300 million provided by the American Rescue Plan Act. Details
The Road to Learning Recovery
The Institute of Education Sciences has been awarded $100 million from the American Rescue Plan to conduct research related to learning losses caused by COVID-19. IES was singled out in one of President Biden's first executive orders with a directive to administer a survey identifying how schools and instruction are changing in response to COVID. This survey work fits in well with other work IES does to understand conditions on the ground, including its support for state longitudinal data systems capable of tracking COVID-related changes.
IES currently is surveying a NAEP-based national sample of elementary and middle schools to ask how they are providing instruction (fully in-person/fully remote/hybrid), including information about specific types of students. This survey will be run every month through the rest of the school year to measure changes in school status and enrollment patterns. IEs's longer-term plan is to launch a new "School Pulse" survey in August that will include high schools. Details
Research to Accelerate Pandemic Recovery in Special Education
The purpose of the Research to Accelerate Pandemic Recovery in Special Education grants program is to address the urgent challenges faced by districts and schools in supporting students with or at risk for disabilities, their teachers, and their families in the aftermath of the pandemic. Under this program, the National Center for Special Education Research will support research that directly addresses a pandemic-related problem, issue, or intervention (program, policy, or practice); has the potential to significantly and rapidly improve outcomes for students with or at risk for disabilities; and will provide actionable and timely results to districts and schools.
On-Demand Informational Webinar Attend Virtual Office Hours on July 30, 2021, 1:00 PM ET
Deadline: September 9, 2021 Details
From the IES Director: Update on the IES Use of ARP Funds
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) received $100 million through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to respond to the overwhelming learning challenges posed by COVID-19. This is an update on how IES is using those funds to invest in research grants, gather data through the School Pulse, and make sure that the information generated about accelerating learning is translated into forms that are useful, usable, and used. Details
VA Research During the COVID-19 Pandemic
As one of the nation's leaders in health research, VA is working to find ways to prevent and treat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Find on this page an Overview, Active Research, Selected Studies of Note, Selected Scientific Articles by VA Researcher, and useful links. Details
R&D Blueprint and COVID-19
As part of WHO’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the R&D Blueprint was activated to accelerate diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics for this novel coronavirus. The Blueprint aims to improve coordination between scientists and global health professionals, accelerate the research and development process, and develop new norms and standards to learn from and improve upon the global response.
Building on the response to recent outbreaks of Ebola virus disease, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, the R&D Blueprint has facilitated a coordinated and accelerated response to COVID-19, including an unprecedented program to develop a vaccine, research into potential pharmaceutical treatments and strengthened channels for information sharing between countries. Details
Global Research on Novel Coronavirus 2019
WHO is gathering the latest international multilingual scientific findings and knowledge on COVID-19. The global literature cited in the WHO COVID-19 database is updated daily (Monday through Friday) from searches of bibliographic databases, hand searching, and the addition of other expert-referred scientific articles. This database represents a comprehensive multilingual source of current literature on the topic. While it may not be exhaustive, new research is added regularly. Details
XPRIZE Pandemic Alliance
To accelerate the world’s response to the greatest challenge we face today, XPRIZE is launching the XPRIZE Pandemic Alliance, powered by the XPRIZE Data Collaborative, a powerful platform for collaboration, combining data, AI tools, and bleeding edge insights and ideas with a community of innovators on the fringe.
Comprised of a collection of exclusive datasets and AI capabilities spanning multiple domains, the XPRIZE Data Collaborative democratizes access to data and the tools needed to develop solutions, thus enabling teams and collaborators to use these valuable assets to solve the world’s most immediate challenges. Our goal is to incentivize and capture the collective intelligence and wisdom of the global community to identify and develop solutions based on data, beginning with the global pandemic we face today and extending further within the domains of health, economy, environment, and equity for all .
Currently in the phase of Recruiting Partners/Organizing Existing Efforts, the XPRIZE Pandemic Alliance invites the world’s innovators to share solutions, learnings, and resources and allow the global community to 1) participate in the latest breakthroughs, research and solutions in development; and 2) ask the network for help in scaling the impact of promising and vetted COVID-19 solutions.
As part of this Alliance, XPRIZE will host and launch a series of rapid data challenges, which may include creating an early warning system for future pandemics, predictive modeling for public health resource allocation, and developing more efficient and affordable diagnostics, treatments, and cures that can be produced rapidly. Details
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Clearinghouse
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Computing
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Data Sharing/ analytics
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Funding Opportunity Database
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Ongoing Projects/ Literature
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Organization Response
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Research Priorities
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Scientific/ Community Expertise
Grant Opportunities Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Contact Information
Mark Milutinovich
Phone: (603) 862-5338
Email: mark.milutinovich@unh.edu
Maria Emanuel
Phone: (603) 862-4377
Email: maria.emanuel@unh.edu
Lynnette Hentges
Phone: (603) 862-2002
Email: lynnette.hentges@unh.edu
Michael Thompson
Phone: (603) 862-5255
Email: michael.thompson@unh.edu