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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Ecology of Infectious Diseases (EID) (NSF 08-601)

What is the NSF Ecology of Infectious Diseases (EID) grant opportunity?

The NSF Ecology of Infectious Diseases (EID) opportunity (NSF Publication 08-601; Funding Opportunity Number 08-601) is a discretionary research grant program in the Science and Technology/Research and Development category. It supports studies aimed at explaining and predicting how infectious diseases spread, with a strong emphasis on understanding transmission dynamics in real ecological and social settings.

What is the central goal of the EID program?

The central goal is to support research that builds predictive models and uncovers general principles that govern infectious disease transmission. The program especially emphasizes situations where infection patterns are shaped by interactions among organisms, environments, and human systems, rather than being driven only by clinical or laboratory factors.

What kinds of research topics does the solicitation expect projects to focus on?

Projects are expected to focus on ecological and socio-ecological drivers of disease transmission. This includes how biological processes and environmental conditions interact with human systems to shape disease spread and risk.

Does the program support research on vector-borne transmission?

Yes. The solicitation explicitly includes transmission by vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and other arthropods as an eligible and expected area of emphasis.

Does the program support research on non-vector (abiotic) transmission pathways?

Yes. The program includes abiotic pathways, such as waterborne, foodborne, or environmentally mediated routes of transmission.

Are reservoir species and their population dynamics within scope?

Yes. The solicitation includes the population dynamics of reservoir species that maintain pathogens in nature, and it welcomes research that traces how pathogens move from reservoirs into humans or other hosts.

How important are human dimensions (social and economic factors) in this opportunity?

They are explicitly highlighted as important. The opportunity calls attention to cultural, social, behavioral, and economic factors that influence disease transmission and communication. Competitive proposals often connect biological drivers with human dimensions such as behavior, livelihoods, movement patterns, risk perception, health access, and decision-making.

What types of diseases and systems are considered under this solicitation?

The solicitation is broad. It supports research on zoonotic diseases, vector-borne diseases, and enteric diseases across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments.

Can the EID program fund research on diseases that affect animals or plants (not humans)?

Yes. The opportunity allows research on diseases affecting non-human animals and plants, reflecting an ecosystem-wide view of infectious disease ecology.

Does the program require a particular scale of analysis (single pathogen vs. complex systems)?

No. The scale of analysis can range from studies centered on a specific pathogen or host-vector system to more integrated investigations that consider entire environmental systems and multiple interacting drivers.

Are projects focused on public health in developing countries encouraged?

Yes. The solicitation places notable emphasis on diseases of public health concern to developing countries, and proposals in these areas are described as strongly encouraged.

Is interdisciplinary collaboration encouraged?

Yes. The program encourages applicants to build meaningful ties to the public health research community and signals interest in interdisciplinary teams that connect ecological theory and field observations with public health data, surveillance realities, and intervention contexts.

What kinds of collaborators are mentioned as relevant to this program?

The solicitation notes that ties to the public health research community may include collaboration with epidemiologists, physicians, veterinarians, medical social scientists, medical entomologists, virologists, and parasitologists.

How many awards did NSF anticipate making, and what was the estimated total funding?

NSF anticipated making about 7 awards with an estimated total program funding level of about $8.5 million.

What is the expected size of an individual award?

Individual awards were expected to range up to a ceiling of $2.5 million. The solicitation does not state a minimum award floor in the information provided.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. Cost sharing or matching was not required.

Which disciplines or NSF program areas does this opportunity connect to?

The solicitation lists multiple CFDA program associations spanning geosciences, biological sciences, social/behavioral/economic sciences, and international research and training, reflecting its cross-disciplinary scope.

When are proposals due?

The deadline structure is described as an annual cycle, with full proposals due on the second Wednesday in December each year. The materials reference dates such as December 10, 2008 and December 8, 2010, consistent with that pattern.

Is eligibility broad, and where are the specifics found?

Eligibility is described broadly, with additional details indicated as being available in the full announcement.

What is the special eligibility note for U.S.-U.K. Collaborative Projects?

For proposals submitted under the designated U.S.-U.K. Collaborative Projects subcategory, U.K. researchers must meet UK ESRC eligibility requirements and apply through an ESRC-eligible institution. Applications with non-eligible U.K. partners would not be considered for funding within that subcategory.

Where should applicants go for technical or access issues during submission?

For access issues, NSF directed applicants to Grants.gov support and to NSF contacts listed in the full solicitation.

What kind of outcomes is NSF aiming for through this program?

The opportunity is designed to support rigorous, interdisciplinary studies that explain why and when infectious diseases emerge or spread in ecological and social settings, and that translate those insights into predictive understanding useful for anticipating transmission risk across changing environments and human contexts.