Novel Approaches to Understanding, Preventing and Treating Lyme Disease and Tick-borne Coinfections (R21) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Novel Approaches to Understanding, Preventing and Treating Lyme Disease and Tick-borne Coinfections (R21)."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PA-16-244.

Which agency is offering this grant?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), listed as HHS-NIH11 in the source data.

What type of funding instrument is this?

The funding instrument is a grant.

What activity category does this opportunity fall under?

The activity category is health.

What does "R21" mean in this announcement?

R21 refers to an NIH research grant mechanism commonly used to support exploratory, early-stage, and potentially high-impact projects. The announcement emphasizes novel approaches that may be higher-risk and may not yet be supported by extensive preliminary data.

What is the overall purpose of this FOA?

The purpose is to spark new, early-stage research projects that move the science of Lyme disease and other Ixodes tick-transmitted infections forward, improving understanding, prevention, earlier detection, and more effective treatment, including in situations involving tick-borne coinfections.

Does the FOA focus only on Lyme disease?

No. While Lyme disease is central, the FOA also covers other infections transmitted by Ixodes ticks and specifically highlights tick-borne coinfections that may be transmitted in a single tick bite.

What are "tick-borne coinfections" in the context of this FOA?

In this FOA, coinfections refer to situations where a single tick bite transmits more than one pathogen, which can complicate disease presentation, diagnosis, and treatment.

What scientific topic areas are encouraged?

The FOA emphasizes a wide range of areas, including disease pathogenesis, host response, disease transmission, vector biology and natural history, preventive approaches (including vaccines and anti-tick strategies), diagnostics, and therapeutics.

What types of projects fit under "disease pathogenesis" as described here?

Projects may investigate the biological mechanisms by which Borrelia (the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease) and other tick-borne pathogens establish infection, spread through the body, and cause symptoms.

What types of projects fit under "host response" in this FOA?

The FOA highlights research on immune responses that help clear infection, pathogen immune-evasion strategies, inflammatory pathways that may drive tissue damage, and factors that may explain why some individuals have more severe disease or prolonged symptoms.

What does the FOA mean by "disease transmission" research?

Transmission research can cover how pathogens move between wildlife reservoirs, ticks, and humans, including ecological and behavioral factors that influence exposure and risk.

What is included under "vector biology and natural history"?

This area supports research on Ixodes ticks, including tick physiology, tick microbiome interactions, tick feeding biology, seasonal and geographic patterns, and ecological conditions that influence tick abundance and infection rates.

Are vaccine-related studies included in the scope?

Yes. The FOA encourages preventive approaches such as vaccines, including vaccines targeting Borrelia, other tick-borne agents, and anti-tick strategies intended to interrupt feeding or pathogen transmission.

Does the FOA support diagnostic test development?

Yes. Diagnostics are a highlighted area, including development or validation of improved tests to detect infection earlier, distinguish active from past infection, identify coinfections, or provide more clinically actionable information than current standard testing.

What kinds of treatment (therapeutics) projects are included?

The FOA explicitly includes therapeutics, such as antimicrobial treatment strategies, novel drug targets, host-directed therapies, approaches to reduce inflammation or tissue injury, and interventions designed for complex cases involving multiple pathogens.

Is this FOA limited to one narrow research lane?

No. The FOA is designed to be broad and welcomes diverse, innovative approaches across basic, translational, clinical, and public health-related research areas connected to Lyme disease and Ixodes-borne coinfections.

What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?

The award ceiling is listed as $200,000, indicating the maximum award amount under this announcement as provided in the listing.

Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.846, 93.855, and 93.856.

When was this opportunity created and posted?

It was created and posted on May 9, 2016.

What is the closing date for this funding opportunity?

The original and current closing date shown is September 7, 2019.

Is this opportunity time-limited based on the information provided?

Yes. The provided information indicates a closing date of September 7, 2019, meaning the opportunity was time-limited in that cycle.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, city/township, and special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. An "others" category also references additional eligibility details in the full announcement.

Are tribal entities eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed as eligible applicants.

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.

Are nonprofits required to have 501(c)(3) status to apply?

No. The eligibility list includes nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status.

Are educational institutions eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and independent school districts.

Are local governments eligible to apply?

Yes. The eligibility list includes county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments, as well as state governments.

Does the FOA encourage interdisciplinary or multi-sector teams?

Yes. The breadth of eligible applicants and the wide scope of topic areas signal interest in supporting interdisciplinary, multi-sector research efforts, including academic, clinical, public health, and other organizations positioned to study transmission and disease burden.

What kind of research maturity is this FOA aiming for?

Based on the R21 emphasis described, the FOA is aiming for innovative, early-stage, concept-advancing projects that can open new directions, including higher-risk ideas that are not yet supported by extensive preliminary data.

What outcomes does the FOA ultimately hope to improve?

The FOA aims to improve scientific understanding of how Lyme disease and Ixodes-borne infections occur and spread, and to advance prevention strategies, earlier and more informative diagnostics, and more effective treatments, particularly when coinfections complicate care.