Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 15 023
Apply for RFA AI 15 023
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mucosal Immunology Studies Team (MIST) (U01)" 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 26, 2015 and posted on May 26, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 20, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,200,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Special district governments Private institutions of higher education City or township governments State governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities 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 Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
- 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Mucosal Immunology Studies Team (MIST) (U01) opportunity, Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AI-15-023, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to build a coordinated research group focused on the immune system at mucosal surfaces. These surfaces include the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and urogenital tract, which are major entry points for pathogens and are also sites where the immune system has to balance protection with tolerance to harmless environmental exposures, food antigens, and commensal microbes. The central goal of the program is to push the field forward by tackling fundamental, unresolved questions in mucosal immunology using genuinely new ideas, modern technologies, and creative experimental approaches. In other words, the FOA is not just looking for incremental work, but for projects that can break new ground in understanding how mucosal immune defense and immune regulation actually function.
Because the funding mechanism is a U01 cooperative agreement, awardees are expected to operate as part of a cooperative research effort rather than as completely independent, stand-alone projects. In practical terms, this typically means there is substantial programmatic involvement from NIH staff and an emphasis on collaboration, coordination, and shared goals across the group. The announcement frames MIST as a cooperative research group, which signals that investigators would likely be expected to interact with one another, align on common scientific priorities, and contribute to a broader team-based agenda aimed at accelerating progress in the field.
The scientific scope centers on both immune defense mechanisms (how mucosal tissues prevent, control, or clear infections) and immune regulation (how mucosal tissues avoid excessive inflammation and maintain tissue health while still being ready to respond to threats). This focus covers the unique immunology of barrier tissues, including how immune cells, epithelial cells, mucus layers, local lymphoid structures, and resident microbiota shape protection and tolerance. By naming the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts explicitly, the FOA signals interest in insights that may be specific to each site as well as principles that might unify mucosal immunity across different organs.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and falls under the health activity category. It is associated with CFDA numbers 93.855 (Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research) and 93.856 (Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research), placing it squarely within NIAID-aligned research priorities. The FOA was posted on May 26, 2015, with an application closing date of October 20, 2015, and an archive date of November 20, 2015. The estimated total funding listed is $5,200,000, and the FOA states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were not required to provide matching funds as a condition of eligibility.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic and non-domestic organizations. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities outside of universities), for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits), and multiple layers of government (state, county, city/township, special district governments), as well as independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The FOA also explicitly includes a wide set of mission-driven and capacity-building institution types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). It further allows applications from federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, faith-based or community-based organizations, and eligible federal agencies. Importantly, foreign organizations are also listed as eligible (non-U.S. entities), indicating NIH was open to international participation where appropriate.
For applicants and interested parties, the FOA provides an NIH grants guide link for full details and includes contact directions primarily through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster for technical access or linking issues (FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV). Overall, this opportunity is best understood as NIH investing in a coordinated, collaborative set of research efforts meant to produce foundational advances in how mucosal immune systems defend the body while maintaining the tight regulatory control needed at sensitive barrier sites.
FAQs: Mucosal Immunology Studies Team (MIST) (U01) - RFA-AI-15-023
What is the Mucosal Immunology Studies Team (MIST) (U01) opportunity?
The Mucosal Immunology Studies Team (MIST) (U01) is an NIH cooperative agreement funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AI-15-023) intended to build a coordinated research group focused on the immune system at mucosal surfaces.
Which agency is offering this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is offered through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is aligned with National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) research areas based on the listed CFDA numbers.
What does the U01 cooperative agreement mechanism mean for applicants?
A U01 is a cooperative agreement, which means awardees are expected to participate in a cooperative research effort rather than operate as completely independent, stand-alone projects. The opportunity indicates substantial programmatic involvement from NIH staff and an emphasis on collaboration, coordination, and shared goals across the research group.
What is the central goal of the MIST program?
The central goal is to push the field forward by addressing fundamental, unresolved questions in mucosal immunology using genuinely new ideas, modern technologies, and creative experimental approaches. The opportunity emphasizes work that can break new ground rather than incremental advances.
What scientific areas does this opportunity focus on?
The scope centers on two broad themes: immune defense mechanisms at mucosal tissues (how infections are prevented, controlled, or cleared) and immune regulation at mucosal tissues (how excessive inflammation is avoided and tissue health is maintained while remaining responsive to threats).
Which mucosal sites are specifically highlighted?
The opportunity explicitly highlights the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and urogenital tract as key mucosal surfaces of interest.
Why are mucosal surfaces emphasized in this program?
Mucosal surfaces are major entry points for pathogens and are also sites where the immune system must balance protection with tolerance to harmless environmental exposures, food antigens, and commensal microbes.
What kinds of mucosal immunology features are included in the scope described?
The description references barrier-tissue immunology features such as immune cells, epithelial cells, mucus layers, local lymphoid structures, and resident microbiota, and how these shape protection and tolerance.
Is the program looking for organ-specific findings or broader principles across tissues?
Both are implied. By naming specific sites (respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital), the opportunity signals interest in insights that may be specific to each site as well as principles that might unify mucosal immunity across different organs.
How collaborative is this funding opportunity expected to be?
The announcement frames MIST as a cooperative research group, suggesting investigators would likely be expected to interact with one another, align on common scientific priorities, and contribute to a broader team-based agenda aimed at accelerating progress in the field.
How is this opportunity categorized in terms of funding and activity area?
It is categorized as discretionary funding and falls under the health activity category.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 93.855 (Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research) and 93.856 (Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research).
When was the funding opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 26, 2015.
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date listed is October 20, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed is November 20, 2015.
How much total funding was estimated for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding listed is $5,200,000.
Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits outside of universities); for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits); and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special district governments), as well as independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
Are institutions that serve specific communities explicitly included?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are explicitly listed as eligible.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are listed as eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are listed as eligible.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Foreign organizations (non-U.S. entities) are listed as eligible, indicating NIH openness to international participation where appropriate.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are included among the listed eligible applicants.
Where can applicants find full official details for this opportunity?
The opportunity references an NIH grants guide link for full details.
Who should be contacted for technical access or linking issues related to the opportunity information?
The FOA directs technical access or linking issues to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
In plain terms, what is NIH trying to achieve with this program?
NIH is investing in a coordinated, collaborative set of research efforts designed to produce foundational advances in how mucosal immune systems defend the body while maintaining tight regulatory control at sensitive barrier sites.
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