Tuberculosis Research Units (U19) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Tuberculosis Research Units (TBRU) (U19) - RFA-AI-12-045

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the Tuberculosis Research Units (TBRU) (U19) program under Funding Opportunity Number (FON) RFA-AI-12-045. It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement intended to establish a small network of large, team-based research units focused on tuberculosis (TB) latency and persistence.

2) What is the main scientific focus of the TBRU program?

The program focuses on one of the hardest TB problems: why TB can remain latent or persistent for long periods and how those states relate to progression into active TB disease. The goal is to generate insights that improve understanding of how active disease develops from latent or persistent infection.

3) What kind of award mechanism is used?

The mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U19). This is a discretionary federal funding opportunity in the health category.

4) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

In practice, a cooperative agreement means awardees are expected to work closely with NIH program staff. It also signals an expectation of coordinated collaboration among funded units across the network, rather than operating as isolated, single-investigator projects.

5) How many awards does the program expect to make?

The program aims to fund two to three multinational, multidisciplinary TB Research Units that operate as a coordinated, collaborative network.

6) Is collaboration across sites an expectation?

Yes. The opportunity emphasizes a network structure where collaboration, alignment of scientific aims, and sharing of data and resources across sites are central expectations.

7) What types of studies are expected within each research unit?

Projects are expected to integrate studies in humans and animal models so discoveries about TB latency and persistence can be compared across systems and translated into a better understanding of active TB disease.

8) What is the total estimated funding level for this announcement?

The total estimated funding level listed is $10,000,000.

9) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

10) What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The funding is associated with CFDA 93.855 (Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research) and CFDA 93.856 (Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research).

11) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types capable of supporting complex, multidisciplinary TB research programs. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and multiple levels of government.

12) Which government entities are eligible?

Eligible government entities include state governments, county governments, city/township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts. The eligibility list also includes eligible federal agencies.

13) Are tribal entities and tribally controlled institutions eligible?

Yes. The eligibility list includes Native American tribal governments and organizations (both federally recognized and other than federally recognized) and tribally controlled colleges and universities.

14) Are public housing authorities eligible to apply?

Yes. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities are included in the eligibility list.

15) Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations are explicitly included among eligible applicants.

16) Are institutions serving specific populations included in eligibility?

Yes. The eligibility information highlights inclusion of institutions such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and AANAPISI institutions.

17) Are U.S. territories or possessions included?

Yes. The eligibility information includes U.S. territories or possessions.

18) Is international participation allowed?

Yes. The opportunity is open to international participation consistent with its multinational design. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are eligible to apply.

19) Can non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations participate?

Yes. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are eligible.

20) Are foreign components allowed under NIH policy?

Yes. Foreign components (as defined in NIH policy) are allowed under this opportunity.

21) When was the opportunity originally posted?

The announcement was originally posted on November 6, 2012.

22) What were the closing and archive dates listed?

The information provided shows an original closing date of February 13, 2013, later reflecting a current closing date of July 1, 2013, and an archive date of August 1, 2013.

23) Where was the full announcement made available?

The full announcement was made available through NIH's grants guide site.

24) Who is listed for administrative help with accessing or linking to the announcement?

Administrative help for accessing or linking to the announcement is provided through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts.

25) What is the overall program structure NIH is trying to build?

The program is designed to build a small network of large, team-based, multinational and multidisciplinary research units that work in a coordinated way on TB latency and persistence, with integration across human and animal studies to support translation to understanding active TB disease.