Effectiveness of Empiric Antiviral Treatment for Hospitalized Community Acquired Pneumonia during the Influenza Season | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Effectiveness of Empiric Antiviral Treatment for Hospitalized Community Acquired Pneumonia during the Influenza Season."

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with assistance routed through the CDC Procurement and Grants Office (PGO).

What is the purpose of this funding announcement?

The purpose is to extend an existing research effort (rather than start a new one) by continuing the objectives established under the earlier Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) IP10-007. The continued work evaluates whether adding empiric influenza antiviral treatment to standard empiric antibiotic therapy improves outcomes for patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) during periods when influenza viruses are circulating locally.

Is this grant for a new project or a continuation of an existing project?

This is a continuation of an existing project. The CDC describes it as continuation funding for the prior grantee to support a third year of patient enrollment needed to reach the required sample size and meet the study's scientific objectives.

What research question is the study trying to answer?

The central question is whether empiric influenza antiviral treatment, when added to standard empiric antibiotic therapy, improves outcomes for hospitalized patients with CAP during influenza circulation, particularly in real-world settings where treatment decisions are made early in admission before laboratory confirmation is available.

What does "empiric antiviral treatment" mean in this context?

In this context, "empiric" refers to starting influenza antiviral treatment based on clinical judgment and local influenza circulation (often early in hospitalization), rather than waiting for laboratory confirmation of influenza infection.

What patient populations are included in the project scope?

The project focuses on patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) during influenza season and also includes other hospitalized patients with lower respiratory tract illness (LRTI), not only classic CAP cases.

Why is an additional year of enrollment needed?

An additional year is needed because unusually low influenza activity during the 2011-2012 season resulted in fewer identified influenza infections among enrolled patients, along with fewer LRTI hospitalizations than in prior years. Since the primary analysis depends on having enough influenza-positive cases, low community influenza levels can reduce statistical power and make it harder to reach interpretable results without extending enrollment.

What assumptions does the CDC mention about reaching the target sample size?

The CDC indicates that if enrollment continues at the established pace and the influenza season yields roughly 10-15% influenza positivity, the target sample size should be attainable with the additional year of enrollment.

How does this work relate to clinical decision-making in hospitals?

The work is designed around real-world hospital care decisions made early in an admission, when clinicians often need to treat before laboratory confirmation is available. It evaluates whether early (empiric) use of influenza antivirals alongside antibiotics affects patient outcomes during influenza circulation.

What funding mechanism is being used?

The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that this award is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement generally means the CDC expects to have substantial programmatic involvement in the funded activities, compared with a more hands-off grant mechanism.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is tied to CFDA 93.185 (Immunization Research, Demonstration, Public Information and Education; Training and Clinical Skills Improvement Projects).

What is the broad activity category for this opportunity?

The broad activity category is Health.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement states that no cost sharing or matching is required.

How much total funding is estimated for this action?

The total estimated funding listed for this action is $846,000.

Is there a stated minimum or maximum award amount per awardee?

In the posted summary, the award ceiling and floor are shown as $0. This typically indicates the exact award amount is not expressed as a fixed per-award cap in the summary and may instead be governed by the continuation budget and the negotiated scope for the existing grantee.

Is this opportunity open to the public or to new applicants?

No. This is not an open competition. Eligibility is limited to the organization(s) already funded under the original FOA IP10-007 (U18).

Why is eligibility restricted?

Eligibility is restricted because the CDC frames this as a targeted continuation of funds for the existing grantee so the ongoing study can complete a third year of enrollment and reach the sample size required for its scientific objectives.

How does this opportunity align with broader public health priorities?

The work is aligned with Healthy People 2020 priorities in Immunization and Infectious Diseases, reflecting an emphasis on reducing illness and complications tied to influenza and other respiratory infections.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted and created on July 30, 2012. The original and current closing date was August 10, 2012.

Has the opportunity been archived?

Yes. The opportunity was archived on September 9, 2012.

Who can be contacted for help accessing the full announcement?

For help accessing the full announcement, the provided contact is the CDC PGO TIMS office at 770-488-2700 or by email at PGOTIM@cdc.gov.

What is the main outcome the CDC expects from extending this project?

By extending enrollment into an additional influenza season, the CDC aims to ensure the study includes enough influenza cases to produce interpretable results that can inform clinical practice and public health recommendations about when empiric antivirals should be used alongside antibiotics for hospitalized CAP and related lower respiratory tract presentations.