Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 12 056
Apply for RFA AI 12 056
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Functional Glycomics in HIV Vaccine Design (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855 Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research 93.856 Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 9, 2013 and posted on May 9, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 2, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: County governments City or township governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Independent school districts Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) For profit organizations other than small businesses Special district governments Small businesses Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH grant opportunity "Functional Glycomics in HIV Vaccine Design (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AI-12-056) is an investigator-initiated research funding announcement focused on how glycans (sugar molecules attached to proteins) shape HIV biology and immune recognition, and how that knowledge can be used to improve HIV vaccine design. The central premise is that HIV-1 envelope (Env) glycosylation is not just decorative chemistry on the virus surface; it strongly influences viral transmission, the way the immune system "sees" the virus (antigenicity), and the kinds of immune responses a vaccine can generate (immunogenicity). Because Env is heavily glycosylated and these glycans can form a kind of shield while also creating antibody targets, understanding glycan structure and function is treated as a key pathway toward vaccines that can drive broadly neutralizing antibodies and other protective immune functions.
The FOA is aimed at stimulating multidisciplinary, collaborative projects that bring together expertise such as glycobiology, structural biology, immunology, virology, computational modeling, and vaccine design. It highlights two main research directions. First, it seeks studies that define the structural and conformational features of HIV glycosylation that could open up new vaccine design approaches. This includes work that clarifies how particular glycan patterns and Env conformations influence epitope exposure, antibody binding, and the stability or presentation of candidate immunogens. Second, it encourages projects that explain how differences in glycosylation (for example, changes in glycan type, position, density, processing state, or host-cell dependent variation) affect the quality of the immune response to HIV. In practice, that can include how glycosylation shapes B cell activation pathways, antibody maturation trajectories, Fc-mediated effector functions, and interactions with innate immune lectins that influence antigen handling and immune polarization.
The longer-term public health goal behind the announcement is to accelerate progress toward a safe and effective prophylactic HIV vaccine that provides durable protection. The FOA emphasizes that breakthroughs may require vaccine concepts that explicitly incorporate glycan-focused knowledge, especially given the role of glycans in the elicitation and maturation of broadly neutralizing antibodies and in generating effective effector immune responses beyond neutralization alone. In other words, rather than treating glycans only as obstacles (a shield), the FOA is also pushing the field to treat glycans as design variables and, in some cases, as actionable targets.
Administratively, this is a discretionary NIH grant using the R01 mechanism, falling under health-related funding activity categories and associated CFDA numbers 93.855 (Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research) and 93.856 (Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research). The estimated total funding listed for the announcement is $2,800,000. Cost sharing or matching is not required. The opportunity was posted May 9, 2013, with an original and current closing date of December 2, 2013, and it was archived January 2, 2014.
Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic U.S. entity types such as state and local governments, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), independent school districts, special district governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and tribal governments and organizations. The FOA also explicitly allows non-U.S. participation: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions may apply, foreign components (as defined in NIH policy) are allowed, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are eligible. It also calls out additional eligible applicant categories, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, as well as faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies.
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the full announcement was hosted on the NIH grants site (link provided in the source). Contact support in the provided text points to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster for access or linking issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NIH funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Functional Glycomics in HIV Vaccine Design (R01)".
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-AI-12-056.
What grant mechanism is being used?
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism and is described as an investigator-initiated research funding announcement.
Which agency is sponsoring this grant?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What scientific topic does this FOA focus on?
This FOA focuses on functional glycomics in HIV vaccine design, specifically how glycans (sugar molecules attached to proteins) on the HIV-1 envelope (Env) influence HIV biology, immune recognition, and how that knowledge can be used to improve HIV vaccine design.
Why are glycans considered important for HIV vaccine design in this announcement?
The FOA emphasizes that HIV-1 Env glycosylation is not just a surface feature. It can influence viral transmission, antigenicity (how the immune system "sees" the virus), and immunogenicity (the immune responses a vaccine can generate). The announcement also treats glycans as both a shield and a potential set of antibody targets, positioning glycan knowledge as a route toward improved vaccine concepts.
What is the central premise behind the research encouraged by this FOA?
The central premise is that HIV-1 Env glycosylation strongly shapes how the virus is recognized by the immune system and, therefore, how vaccines might be designed to induce protective immunity, including the potential to drive broadly neutralizing antibodies and other protective immune functions.
What kinds of projects is the FOA trying to stimulate?
The FOA aims to stimulate multidisciplinary, collaborative projects that combine expertise across fields such as glycobiology, structural biology, immunology, virology, computational modeling, and vaccine design.
What are the main research directions highlighted in the FOA?
The FOA highlights two main directions:
- Define structural and conformational features of HIV glycosylation that could enable new vaccine design approaches, including how specific glycan patterns and Env conformations affect epitope exposure, antibody binding, and immunogen stability/presentation.
- Explain how differences in glycosylation affect immune response quality, including the effects of glycan type, position, density, processing state, and host-cell dependent variation on downstream immune outcomes.
What specific aspects of Env glycosylation does the FOA mention as important variables?
The FOA points to differences in glycosylation such as glycan type, glycan position, glycan density, glycan processing state, and host-cell dependent variation.
What immune outcomes does the FOA mention in relation to glycosylation?
The FOA mentions immune outcomes including how glycosylation can shape B cell activation pathways, antibody maturation trajectories, Fc-mediated effector functions, and interactions with innate immune lectins that influence antigen handling and immune polarization.
Does the FOA treat glycans only as obstacles to immunity?
No. The FOA explicitly frames glycans not only as a shielding feature but also as design variables and, in some cases, actionable targets for vaccine strategies.
What is the longer-term public health goal behind this FOA?
The longer-term goal is to accelerate progress toward a safe and effective prophylactic HIV vaccine that provides durable protection.
What is the estimated total funding listed for the announcement?
The estimated total funding listed is $2,800,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states that cost sharing or matching is not required.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.855 (Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research) and 93.856 (Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research).
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 9, 2013.
What was the closing date for applications?
The FOA lists an original and current closing date of December 2, 2013.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The announcement was archived on January 2, 2014, and the listed closing date was December 2, 2013.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic U.S. entity types such as:
- State and local governments
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses)
- Independent school districts
- Special district governments
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Tribal governments and tribal organizations
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations allowed to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly allows non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions to apply.
Are foreign components allowed under NIH policy?
Yes. The FOA states that foreign components (as defined in NIH policy) are allowed.
Can a U.S. organization include non-U.S. components?
Yes. The FOA indicates that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are eligible.
Does the FOA specifically mention minority-serving institutions or other special categories?
Yes. The FOA calls out additional eligible applicant categories, including:
- HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
- Hispanic-serving institutions
- Tribally controlled colleges and universities
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions
- Faith-based or community-based organizations
- Eligible federal agencies
What type of support contact is mentioned for this FOA?
The provided text points to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster for access or linking issues related to the announcement hosted on the NIH grants site.
Where was the full announcement hosted?
The full announcement was hosted on the NIH grants site (a link was provided in the source text).
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