Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 23 056
The National Institutes of Health is soliciting applications under the Computational Models of Influenza Immunity Cooperative Agreement Program, titled "Computational Models of Influenza Immunity (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA AI 23 056; CFDA 93.855). The goal of this opportunity is to speed progress toward better influenza vaccines by combining computational modeling with immunologic research to clarify what it takes to generate stronger, broader, and longer-lasting protection against influenza. In practical terms, the program is aimed at producing insights and tools that can guide the design of universal influenza vaccines, as well as meaningfully improved seasonal flu vaccines, by explaining and predicting how the immune system responds over time and across repeated exposures.
A core emphasis of the NOFO is understanding the "immune landscape" that develops in individuals as a result of prior influenza infections and vaccinations. Because most people have some degree of pre-existing influenza immunity, and because they experience repeated exposures across their lifetime, influenza immune responses are shaped by immunologic history rather than by a single, clean baseline exposure. The program encourages projects that can disentangle and model these real-world dynamics, including how earlier exposures influence later antibody and cellular responses, how immune breadth is gained or constrained, and what factors support durability of protection. By doing so, funded projects are expected to generate a more predictive framework for how immunity is established and maintained, which is directly relevant to vaccine design strategies that aim to protect across strains and seasons.
Another major component is the use of predictive computational approaches to evaluate vaccine-related variables, especially adjuvants and vaccine formulations, coupled with experimental validation. The intent is not just to build models in isolation, but to create modeling that can generate testable predictions about how specific immunization strategies might enhance host immune responses. The experimental work supported alongside modeling is meant to confirm, refine, and improve those predictions, creating an iterative loop between data generation and computational inference. If successful, these combined efforts should point toward approaches that improve vaccine efficacy, including strategies that promote broader cross-strain protection and longer immune durability.
This funding mechanism is a Cooperative Agreement (U01), which typically indicates substantial scientific or programmatic involvement from NIH staff during the conduct of the work compared with a standard research project grant. Although the scientific scope includes immunologic studies and validation experiments, the NOFO explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applications should not propose clinical trials as defined by NIH policy. The funding opportunity sits within the NIH health research portfolio and is structured to support collaborative, model-driven research that can influence vaccine development directions.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations: state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments. It also includes public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. In addition, the NOFO explicitly calls out other eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
From a logistics standpoint, the opportunity was created on 2023-09-13 and had an original closing date of 2024-01-26. The listed award ceiling is $750,000. The NOFO also lists an "ExpectedAwards" field, though the provided source text does not include a number. Overall, the opportunity is designed to fund teams that can bridge computational and experimental immunology to produce actionable, validated models of influenza immunity that ultimately help drive the development of universal or better seasonal influenza vaccines.Apply for RFA AI 23 056
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Computational Models of Influenza Immunity (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-09-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-01-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NIH funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Computational Models of Influenza Immunity (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" under the Computational Models of Influenza Immunity Cooperative Agreement Program.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) and CFDA listing?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA AI 23 056, and the CFDA number listed is 93.855.
What is the main goal of this program?
The goal is to accelerate progress toward better influenza vaccines by combining computational modeling with immunologic research to clarify what is required to generate stronger, broader, and longer-lasting protection against influenza.
What kinds of vaccine outcomes is the program trying to enable?
The program aims to produce insights and tools that can guide the design of universal influenza vaccines and meaningfully improved seasonal influenza vaccines by explaining and predicting immune responses over time and across repeated exposures.
What does the NOFO mean by the "immune landscape"?
In this context, the "immune landscape" refers to the immune state that develops in individuals due to prior influenza infections and vaccinations. Because most people have pre-existing influenza immunity and experience repeated exposures over a lifetime, immune responses are shaped by immunologic history rather than a single baseline exposure.
Why is immunologic history important for influenza modeling and vaccine design?
The NOFO emphasizes that real-world influenza immunity is influenced by earlier infections and vaccinations, which can affect later antibody and cellular responses, the breadth of immunity, and the durability of protection. Understanding and modeling these dynamics is presented as directly relevant to strategies intended to protect across strains and seasons.
What scientific questions does the program encourage projects to address?
Based on the description provided, encouraged areas include disentangling and modeling how earlier exposures influence later immune responses, how immune breadth is gained or constrained, and what factors support durable protection, with the aim of generating a more predictive framework for how immunity is established and maintained.
Is this opportunity focused only on computational modeling, or also on lab/experimental work?
It is intended to combine predictive computational approaches with experimental validation. The program description stresses that models should generate testable predictions and that experimental work should confirm, refine, and improve those predictions in an iterative loop.
What does "predictive computational approaches" refer to in this NOFO?
It refers to modeling approaches designed to evaluate vaccine-related variables and produce testable predictions about how specific immunization strategies may enhance immune responses, rather than building models in isolation.
Which vaccine-related variables are specifically called out as a major component?
The description highlights predictive computational approaches to evaluate vaccine-related variables, especially adjuvants and vaccine formulations, coupled with experimental validation.
What is meant by an "iterative loop" between modeling and experiments?
It means the computational modeling is expected to guide experimental validation, and the resulting experimental data are expected to feed back into improving the models, refining predictions over time.
What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?
This is a Cooperative Agreement (U01).
What does a U01 Cooperative Agreement imply about NIH involvement?
A U01 typically indicates substantial scientific or programmatic involvement from NIH staff during the conduct of the work compared with a standard research project grant.
Are clinical trials allowed under this opportunity?
No. The NOFO explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applications should not propose clinical trials as defined by NIH policy.
Can an application include immunologic studies and validation experiments?
Yes. The scientific scope includes immunologic studies and validation experiments, but it must remain consistent with the "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" restriction.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations (including various government entities, higher education institutions, tribal governments and organizations, nonprofits, for-profits other than small businesses, and small businesses). The NOFO also explicitly identifies additional eligible categories including specific serving institutions (e.g., HBCUs, HSIs, TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
Are state and local government entities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include state governments and local government types such as county, city, or township governments, as well as special district governments.
Are public and private universities eligible?
Yes. Eligibility includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments are also listed as eligible.
Are nonprofits eligible, and does 501(c)(3) status matter?
Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) are included in the eligibility list.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also included as eligible applicants.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed among eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly listed as eligible.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. The NOFO explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) as eligible applicants.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $750,000.
When was this opportunity created and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on 2023-09-13, and the original closing date was 2024-01-26.
How many awards does NIH expect to make?
The NOFO includes an "ExpectedAwards" field, but the provided information does not include a number.
What is the practical impact NIH is looking for from funded projects?
Funded projects are expected to generate actionable, validated models and a more predictive framework for influenza immunity that can influence vaccine design strategies, including approaches that improve cross-strain protection and the durability of immune protection.
What does "broader" and "longer-lasting" protection mean in this program description?
As described, "broader" refers to protection that can extend across strains and seasons (supporting universal or improved seasonal vaccines), and "longer-lasting" refers to improved durability of protection over time.
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