Halting TB Transmission in HIV-Endemic and Other High-Transmission Settings (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AI 18 037

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 18 037

This NIH grant opportunity, titled "Halting TB Transmission in HIV-Endemic and Other High-Transmission Settings (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AI-18-037; CFDA 93.855), supports research aimed at reducing the spread of tuberculosis (TB) in places where transmission is high, with a particular emphasis on settings where HIV is common and contributes to elevated TB incidence. It uses the R01 grant mechanism and is explicitly not intended for clinical trials, meaning applicants should focus on observational, mechanistic, epidemiologic, laboratory, modeling, implementation-oriented, or intervention-development work that does not meet the definition of a clinical trial.

The first major goal is to deepen scientific understanding of what actually drives TB transmission at both the individual and population levels in high-burden environments. The announcement highlights that TB spread is shaped by more than just who is infected; it can depend on the biology of infectiousness (for example, characteristics of exhaled or aerosolized particles and how long they remain airborne), the conditions that influence exposure (such as ventilation, crowding, and time spent indoors), and broader population dynamics (including contact patterns and mobility). In HIV-endemic settings, the interaction between TB and HIV adds urgency and complexity: HIV can increase susceptibility to TB disease and alter clinical presentation, which can affect how quickly TB is recognized and treated and, by extension, how long transmission continues unchecked. Projects responsive to this goal would typically try to pinpoint where transmission is happening, who is most likely to transmit or be exposed, and what biological, environmental, and social factors make certain contexts especially hazardous.

The second major goal is to use that improved understanding to develop and assess promising approaches to prevent TB transmission, and to measure transmission rates in a rigorous way. In practice, this encourages studies that move beyond describing the problem and start building the evidence base for solutions that can work in HIV-endemic and other high-transmission settings. The intent is not simply to propose generic control measures, but to design interventions or intervention packages grounded in the biomedical basis of transmission and in clearly defined risk factors. Depending on the approach, this could include developing or refining tools, strategies, or delivery models that reduce exposure or infectiousness, coupled with methods to quantify changes in transmission. Measurement could involve epidemiologic and molecular approaches that help infer recent transmission, environmental or aerobiologic sampling strategies, or analytical frameworks that link interventions to changes in transmission dynamics, as long as the work stays within the "clinical trial not allowed" boundary.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other applicant types. The announcement also explicitly notes additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and foreign (non-U.S.) entities. This wide eligibility aligns with the reality that TB transmission research often requires partnerships across universities, public health agencies, community organizations, and international research sites in high-burden regions.

Key administrative details included in the posting are that the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, the opportunity category is discretionary, and the activity category is health. The original closing date listed is December 5, 2018, and the opportunity was created on July 3, 2018. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source text, so applicants would typically need to consult the full FOA or NIH program contacts for budget expectations and competitiveness factors.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Halting TB Transmission in HIV-Endemic and Other High-Transmission Settings (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-07-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-12-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

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