U.S.-South Africa Program for Collaborative Biomedical Research - Phase 2 (Infectious Diseases) (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA AI 19 025

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is The U.S.-South Africa Program for Collaborative Biomedical Research - Phase 2 (Infectious Diseases), an NIH funding opportunity announcement (FOA) identified as RFA-AI-19-025. It supports joint infectious disease research projects conducted through formal collaboration between NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP) scientists and investigators based in South Africa.

Which NIH program is involved on the U.S. side?

The U.S. partner must be an NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP) investigator. The program is built around NIH intramural scientists being embedded as full scientific partners in the project.

What funding mechanism does this FOA use?

The FOA uses a cooperative agreement mechanism (U01). This indicates NIH expects to have an active scientific partnership role during the project, rather than simply providing funds with minimal involvement.

Does NIH have an active role in projects funded under a U01?

Yes. Because this is a cooperative agreement (U01), NIH anticipates an active scientific partnership role during the project period. This is different from mechanisms where the funder is generally less involved in the day-to-day scientific direction.

Are clinical trials required?

No. This FOA is described as "Clinical Trial Optional." Clinical trials are allowed but not required, so an application may propose either non-clinical or clinical research, as long as it aligns with the program goals.

What infectious disease research areas are highlighted in the FOA?

The FOA highlights high-priority infectious disease areas relevant to both the United States and South Africa, as well as global health. Specifically mentioned areas include tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, parasitic infections, arboviruses, and emerging or re-emerging viral pathogens.

Does the scope include vector biology or vector control?

Yes. The FOA explicitly includes vector biology and vector control. That means proposed work can include studies on organisms that transmit disease (such as mosquitoes and other vectors) and strategies intended to reduce transmission, not just pathogen-focused laboratory research.

What does "genuinely collaborative and balanced" mean for this program?

A central requirement is that the project must be truly collaborative and balanced across the U.S. and South African partners. The NIH intramural partner cannot be a minor consultant or peripheral contributor; the collaboration must reflect shared leadership and integrated scientific effort.

Is an NIH IRP investigator required to be part of the application?

Yes. To be eligible, the application must include at least one NIH IRP investigator serving as a Project Scientist.

What role must the NIH IRP Project Scientist play?

The NIH IRP Project Scientist must have an equal role in the conceptualization, design, and execution of the research. The FOA emphasizes that this partner must be fully engaged as a scientific collaborator, not added in a limited or token capacity.

Who is eligible to apply as the applicant organization?

The applying institution must be non-U.S. and specifically South African. While non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions can apply, only those in South Africa that qualify as National Research Foundations (as defined in the FOA) are eligible to serve as the applicant organization.

Can a U.S. institution apply as the primary applicant?

Not under the eligibility details provided. The FOA is structured so that the applicant organization is South African (non-U.S.), and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as the applicant.

Are foreign components allowed under this opportunity?

Yes. Foreign components are allowed under NIH policy, meaning a U.S. organization can have a foreign component involved in the project. However, the application must still follow the FOA's specific eligibility rules regarding the primary applicant and the U.S.-South Africa partnership structure.

What is the program trying to achieve?

The opportunity is intended to sustain and expand Phase 2 of an established U.S.-South Africa collaborative program. It aims to fund well-integrated teams that can jointly advance biomedical research on major infectious disease threats, with NIH intramural scientists participating as full partners.

What is the award ceiling?

The listed award ceiling in the provided information is $250,000.

How many awards will NIH make?

The expected number of awards is not provided in the supplied information.

What is the CFDA number and what category does this fall under?

The opportunity is listed in the health category and references CFDA 93.855.

When was this opportunity created and what was the original closing date?

The opportunity is listed as created on March 15, 2019, with an original closing date of July 26, 2019.

Is this considered a discretionary grant opportunity?

Yes. The provided details describe it as an NIH discretionary funding opportunity.

Do proposed projects need to be relevant to both countries?

The scientific scope is described as focusing on high-priority infectious disease areas relevant to both the United States and South Africa, as well as to global health. Applications should align with those priorities as described.

Is this FOA limited to pathogen-focused lab research?

No. While pathogen-focused research fits within the scope, the FOA also explicitly includes vector biology and vector control, which broadens the scope to transmission-related research involving vectors and interventions that reduce transmission.