Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 09 017
Apply for RFA AI 09 017
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research (U19)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.856 Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 8, 2009 and posted on Apr 8, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 29, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $13,800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research (ICEMR) opportunity (RFA-AI-09-017) is a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement designed to build and support major, coordinated research centers focused on malaria in places where malaria is actually endemic. The central idea is to strengthen malaria control and prevention by tying together clinical research (what happens in patients and health systems) with field research (what happens in communities, vectors, and transmission environments). Rather than funding isolated studies, the program is structured to generate practical knowledge, tools, and evidence-based strategies that local governments, public health agencies, and health care institutions can use to make real-world decisions about malaria control.
A defining feature of this program is that each proposed center must be multidisciplinary and built around an integrated set of research projects rather than a single study. Every application is required to include a Research Component with at least three individual research projects. Within those projects, at least one must focus on epidemiology, and at least two must address topics in malaria transmission and/or malaria pathogenesis and diagnosis. This required mix signals that NIAID wanted centers that can connect population-level patterns of malaria (who gets infected, where, when, and why) with the biological and operational drivers of transmission, disease progression, and the performance of diagnostic approaches. In practice, that kind of structure encourages applicants to design research portfolios that can move from surveillance and risk factor identification to transmission dynamics and clinical or diagnostic questions, and then translate the combined findings into actionable guidance.
Beyond the research projects, the FOA makes it clear that ICEMRs are expected to build durable capacity in-country, not just produce publications. For that reason, each application must include a Training and Career Development Program Component aimed at developing local and collaborating scientists and strengthening the malaria research workforce. The announcement also requires a Special Projects Component, which is typically used in large center grants to provide flexibility for time-sensitive, high-priority, or emerging needs that may arise during the award period, such as responding to a changing epidemiologic situation, testing a newly relevant tool, or addressing an unexpected gap identified by ongoing work.
To ensure the center functions as a coordinated program rather than a loose collection of labs and studies, the FOA requires two major supporting cores: an Administrative Core and a Data Management/Biostatistics Core. The Administrative Core is meant to handle leadership, coordination across projects, governance, communication among partners, and the operational backbone needed for international research programs. The Data Management/Biostatistics Core emphasizes that NIAID expected strong data quality systems and rigorous analysis, including harmonized data collection across projects, appropriate statistical design, and the ability to compare findings within and among different ICEMR sites. Because the centers are intended to function as a program, these cores are also meant to support collaboration and data-driven synthesis across the broader ICEMR network.
The mechanism used is a U19 cooperative agreement, which matters because it is not a standard investigator-initiated grant in which NIH has a relatively hands-off role. A cooperative agreement generally implies substantial programmatic involvement by NIH staff, often including coordination expectations, participation in network activities, shared policies for data or materials, and milestone-driven management. The announcement also explicitly states that the program is not intended to support research that could be conducted primarily at U.S. institutions. The emphasis is on research grounded in malaria-endemic settings, meaning the science should be driven by on-the-ground malaria realities and should strengthen local infrastructure and expertise.
In terms of funding scale, NIAID indicated an intention to commit about $13.8 million in total costs in fiscal year 2010, with an anticipated 7 to 12 new awards. The opportunity falls under the health category and is tied to CFDA 93.856 (Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which lowers barriers for institutions that may not have large discretionary funds to contribute.
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants listed include small businesses, for-profit entities, nonprofit organizations (including those without 501(c)(3) status), public and private institutions of higher education, and a range of other entities spelled out in the announcement. Importantly, foreign organizations are eligible to apply, aligning with the program goal of establishing centers in malaria-endemic regions. The eligibility list also explicitly mentions categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal governments (other than federally recognized), tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, faith-based and community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and eligible federal agencies, signaling an intent to encourage diverse institutional participation and partnerships.
Key dates in the posted record show it was published on April 8, 2009, with an original and current closing date of September 29, 2009, and an archive date of October 30, 2009. The sponsoring agency is NIH (specifically NIAID), and the full announcement was made available through the NIH grants site under the RFA link provided in the source information.
International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research (ICEMR) (RFA-AI-09-017): FAQs
What is the ICEMR funding opportunity (RFA-AI-09-017)?
The International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research (ICEMR) opportunity (RFA-AI-09-017) is a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement intended to build and support major, coordinated research centers focused on malaria in malaria-endemic settings.
What is the main purpose of the ICEMR program?
The program aims to strengthen malaria control and prevention by linking clinical research (patients and health systems) with field research (communities, vectors, and transmission environments) to produce practical knowledge, tools, and evidence-based strategies for real-world malaria control decision-making.
Why does the program emphasize coordinated centers instead of individual studies?
Rather than funding isolated studies, ICEMR is designed to support multidisciplinary centers built around an integrated set of research projects. The intent is to generate connected findings that can be translated into actionable guidance for malaria control and prevention.
What kind of research setting does ICEMR prioritize?
The announcement emphasizes research grounded in malaria-endemic settings. It explicitly states that the program is not intended to support research that could be conducted primarily at U.S. institutions.
What grant mechanism is used for ICEMR awards?
ICEMR uses a U19 cooperative agreement mechanism.
What does it mean that this is a U19 cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement implies substantial programmatic involvement by NIH staff compared to a more hands-off, investigator-initiated grant. This often includes coordination expectations, participation in network activities, shared policies for data or materials, and milestone-driven management.
What is required in the Research Component?
Each application must include a Research Component with at least three individual research projects.
How many research projects must be included at minimum?
At least three individual research projects are required.
Are there required topic areas across the research projects?
Yes. Within the required research projects, at least one must focus on epidemiology, and at least two must address topics in malaria transmission and/or malaria pathogenesis and diagnosis.
What is the required epidemiology focus meant to support?
The required epidemiology project reflects a focus on population-level malaria patterns (who gets infected, where, when, and why) and helps connect those patterns to other research areas within the center.
What is meant by malaria transmission and/or malaria pathogenesis and diagnosis in the required mix?
The funding announcement requires that at least two projects address malaria transmission and/or malaria pathogenesis and diagnosis, signaling an expectation that centers connect transmission dynamics and disease/diagnostic performance to broader public health needs.
Besides research projects, what other major components are required?
In addition to the research projects, each application must include a Training and Career Development Program Component and a Special Projects Component.
What is the Training and Career Development Program Component for?
This required component is aimed at developing local and collaborating scientists and strengthening the malaria research workforce, reflecting an expectation of durable in-country capacity building.
What is the Special Projects Component?
The announcement requires a Special Projects Component, typically used to provide flexibility for time-sensitive, high-priority, or emerging needs during the award period (for example, responding to changing epidemiologic situations, testing a newly relevant tool, or addressing unexpected gaps identified by ongoing work).
What cores are required to support the center structure?
The FOA requires two major supporting cores: an Administrative Core and a Data Management/Biostatistics Core.
What is the role of the Administrative Core?
The Administrative Core is intended to provide leadership and coordination across projects, governance, communication among partners, and the operational backbone needed for an international research program.
What is the role of the Data Management/Biostatistics Core?
The Data Management/Biostatistics Core emphasizes strong data quality systems and rigorous analysis, including harmonized data collection across projects, appropriate statistical design, and the ability to compare findings within and among different ICEMR sites.
Does the FOA emphasize collaboration beyond a single center?
Yes. The cores and overall center structure are meant to support collaboration and data-driven synthesis across the broader ICEMR network, not just within one center.
What is the expected funding scale for this opportunity?
NIAID indicated an intention to commit about $13.8 million in total costs in fiscal year 2010.
How many awards were anticipated?
The announcement anticipated 7 to 12 new awards.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is the sponsoring agency for this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is NIH, specifically the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is tied to CFDA 93.856 (Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research).
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. and non-U.S. organizations, including small businesses, for-profit entities, nonprofit organizations (including those without 501(c)(3) status), public and private institutions of higher education, and other entity types identified in the announcement.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Foreign organizations are explicitly eligible, aligning with the goal of establishing research centers in malaria-endemic regions.
Does the eligibility language encourage diverse institutions and partnerships?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly mentions categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal governments (other than federally recognized), tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, faith-based and community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and eligible federal agencies.
When was this funding announcement published?
The posted record lists a publication date of April 8, 2009.
What was the application closing date?
The original and current closing date shown in the posted record is September 29, 2009.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date shown is October 30, 2009.
Where was the full announcement made available?
The full announcement was made available through the NIH grants site under the RFA link provided in the source information.
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