Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 15 055
Apply for RFA AI 15 055
- The HHS-NIH11 in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "B Cell Immunology Program for HIV-1 Vaccine Development (BCIP) (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855, 93.856,.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 21, 2015 and posted on Oct 21, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 17, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The B Cell Immunology Program for HIV-1 Vaccine Development (BCIP) (R01) funding opportunity (RFA-AI-15-055) is a discretionary NIH grant solicitation from HHS/NIH (listed here as HHS-NIH11) focused on advancing HIV-1 vaccine research through a deeper, mechanistic understanding of B cell biology. Using the R01 research project grant mechanism, the program calls for hypothesis-driven and multidisciplinary studies aimed at explaining how B cells develop, adapt, and function in ways that can ultimately support the induction of strong, long-lasting (durable) adaptive immune responses against HIV-1. In practical terms, the FOA is centered on the immunological foundations needed to design vaccines that reliably trigger effective antibody responses, which hinges on understanding the complexities and developmental plasticity of B cells across different stages and contexts of immune activation.
The scientific purpose is explicitly immunology-forward rather than product-development-forward: it is looking for research that elucidates core biological and developmental processes that shape protective antibody responses relevant to HIV-1. The emphasis on "developmental plasticity" signals interest in how B cell populations can change over time in response to antigen exposure, vaccination, infection, and the broader immune environment, and how these shifts influence the quality, potency, and persistence of the resulting immune protection. The word "multidisciplinary" indicates that proposals could draw from multiple complementary approaches (for example, cellular and molecular immunology, systems biology, computational analysis, structural biology, or translational immunology) as long as the work is grounded in a clear hypothesis and aimed at explaining B cell behaviors that matter for HIV-1 vaccine efficacy.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized under Health as the funding activity area and references CFDA numbers 93.855 and 93.856, which are commonly associated with NIH programs in infectious diseases and immunology-related research portfolios. The announcement was created and posted on October 21, 2015, with an original and current closing date of March 17, 2016, meaning it was a time-bound call rather than an always-open solicitation. While the summary data provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the R01 mechanism generally supports substantial, multi-year investigator-initiated research projects, and applicants would typically be expected to propose a coherent, well-justified research plan with clear milestones and rigorous methods appropriate to the complexity of B cell immunology and HIV-1 vaccine challenges.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations that can conduct biomedical research. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as described in the full FOA eligibility text. This wide eligibility range suggests the program was intended to attract diverse research teams and institutional settings, including academic laboratories, research institutes, nonprofit research organizations, and certain commercial or hybrid research environments capable of conducting sophisticated immunology research.
Overall, BCIP (R01) is best understood as an NIH effort to push the field toward more predictive and controllable HIV-1 vaccine strategies by investing in fundamental and translational studies of B cell responses. The key deliverable is knowledge: clearer explanations of how B cell lineages, maturation pathways, and functional states contribute to generating potent and persistent immune protection against HIV-1, and how that understanding can guide rational vaccine design and evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is the B Cell Immunology Program for HIV-1 Vaccine Development (BCIP) using the R01 mechanism. It is identified as RFA-AI-15-055.
Which agency is offering this grant?
This is a discretionary NIH grant solicitation from HHS/NIH (listed as HHS-NIH11).
What is the main focus of BCIP (R01)?
The program focuses on advancing HIV-1 vaccine research by developing a deeper, mechanistic understanding of B cell biology and how B cells develop, adapt, and function in ways that can support durable (long-lasting) adaptive immune responses against HIV-1.
Is this opportunity focused on developing an HIV-1 vaccine product?
No. The stated purpose is immunology-forward rather than product-development-forward. It prioritizes research that elucidates core biological and developmental processes shaping protective antibody responses relevant to HIV-1.
What kinds of studies does the FOA call for?
The FOA calls for hypothesis-driven and multidisciplinary studies aimed at explaining how B cells develop, adapt, and function, particularly in ways that inform the induction of strong, durable antibody-mediated immunity against HIV-1.
What does "hypothesis-driven" mean in this context?
Based on the description, applications are expected to be grounded in a clear hypothesis and designed to test or explain specific aspects of B cell behavior that matter for HIV-1 vaccine efficacy.
What does "multidisciplinary" mean for this program?
The FOA indicates that proposals may combine multiple complementary approaches. Examples mentioned include cellular and molecular immunology, systems biology, computational analysis, structural biology, or translational immunology, as long as the research remains hypothesis-based and centered on B cell behaviors relevant to HIV-1 vaccine development.
What is meant by "developmental plasticity" of B cells?
In the description provided, "developmental plasticity" refers to how B cell populations can change over time in response to antigen exposure, vaccination, infection, and the broader immune environment, and how those changes influence the quality, potency, and persistence of immune protection.
What outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
The key deliverable is knowledge. The opportunity emphasizes generating clearer explanations of how B cell lineages, maturation pathways, and functional states contribute to potent and persistent immune protection against HIV-1, and how that understanding can guide rational vaccine design and evaluation.
How does this research connect to antibody responses?
The FOA centers on immunological foundations needed to design vaccines that reliably trigger effective antibody responses, emphasizing that this depends on understanding the complexities of B cell development and function across stages and immune contexts.
What grant mechanism is used?
The program uses the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism.
What does using an R01 mechanism imply about the project type?
As described, R01s generally support substantial, multi-year investigator-initiated research projects, and applicants would typically propose a coherent and well-justified research plan with clear milestones and rigorous methods aligned to the complexity of B cell immunology and HIV-1 vaccine challenges.
What is the funding activity area for this opportunity?
The funding activity area is categorized under Health.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity references CFDA numbers 93.855 and 93.856.
When was the announcement created and posted?
The announcement was created and posted on October 21, 2015.
What is the closing date for applications?
The original and current closing date listed is March 17, 2016.
Is this an always-open solicitation?
No. The description indicates it was a time-bound call with a defined closing date rather than an always-open solicitation.
Does the summary provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards?
No. The information provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations capable of conducting biomedical research. Eligible applicants listed include various levels of government (state, county, city or township, and special district); independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as described in the full FOA eligibility text.
Are universities and colleges eligible?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are explicitly listed as eligible.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible (with the note that the nonprofit categories referenced exclude higher education institutions within those nonprofit classifications).
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. Both for-profit organizations other than small businesses and small businesses are listed as eligible applicants.
Are government entities eligible?
Yes. State, county, city or township, and special district governments are listed, along with independent school districts and certain housing authorities.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included in the eligible applicant types.
What types of institutions does NIH seem to be trying to attract for this program?
Based on the broad eligibility described, the program appears intended to attract diverse research teams and institutional settings, including academic labs, research institutes, nonprofit research organizations, and certain commercial or hybrid research environments capable of sophisticated immunology research.
What scientific theme ties the FOA together?
The unifying theme is understanding B cell biology in a way that supports more predictive and controllable HIV-1 vaccine strategies, particularly by explaining how protective and durable antibody responses arise and can be guided.
What aspect of immunity is emphasized?
The FOA emphasizes durable adaptive immune responses and the induction of effective antibody responses, focusing on the B cell processes that shape those outcomes.
Is the program limited to one type of scientific approach?
No. The FOA explicitly signals interest in multidisciplinary work. The key constraint described is that the work should be hypothesis-driven and aimed at explaining B cell behaviors relevant to HIV-1 vaccine efficacy.
Where can applicants find additional eligibility details?
The description notes that additional eligible entities may apply "as described in the full FOA eligibility text," indicating the full funding opportunity announcement contains further specifics beyond the summary provided.
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