Development of Software for Data Science in Infectious and Immune-Mediated Diseases Research (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AI 23 038

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 23 038

The Development of Software for Data Science in Infectious and Immune-Mediated Diseases Research funding opportunity (RFA AI 23 038) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement (U01) focused on creating or improving software that helps researchers work with data related to infectious and immune-mediated diseases (IID). The overarching goal is to strengthen the tools used to acquire, manage, analyze, visualize, and share data and knowledge in ways that directly support data science research aligned with the mission of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement, so applications should stay centered on software development rather than running interventional human studies.

Projects can target a wide range of IID data science needs, including computational approaches that improve understanding of disease mechanisms, support risk prediction, advance epidemiology, enhance detection and diagnosis, and contribute to treatment and vaccine-related research. The emphasis is on practical software deliverables that make it easier for the research community to apply computational methods to real IID problems, whether those methods are new algorithms or improved ways of working with complex datasets.

A notable feature of this NOFO is that it supports software across different maturity levels. Teams may propose early-stage prototyping, where the main objective is to translate innovative computational ideas into usable software so other scientists can actually run, test, and adopt new methods. It also supports later-stage "hardening" of existing tools, meaning efforts that make software more robust, reliable, usable, and scalable, often by improving documentation, interfaces, performance, testing, interoperability, and overall user experience to reach a broader user base. Regardless of the starting point, the expected outcome is a re-usable software product that the IID research community can readily adopt.

The opportunity also places importance on discoverability and reuse through FAIR principles. Applicants are expected to ensure the resulting software can be easily found and used by others, including being described with FAIR-compliant metadata (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable). In practice, this signals a strong preference for clear metadata, sensible packaging and distribution practices, and design choices that allow the tool to integrate with other systems and workflows common in biomedical data science.

Administrative details included in the source information indicate this is a discretionary health funding program (CFDA 93.855) offered by NIH, using a cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically means substantial programmatic involvement from NIH staff during the project. The listed award ceiling is $300,000, and the original closing date was October 11, 2023. A wide range of applicant organizations are eligible, including federal, state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible groups such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, AANAPISI institutions, faith-based and community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. (foreign) entities and regional organizations, indicating an intentionally broad eligibility scope to encourage diverse participation and adoption across the community.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development of Software for Data Science in Infectious and Immune-Mediated Diseases Research (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-06-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-10-11. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

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