Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 20 056
The Coccidioidomycosis Collaborative Research Centers (CCRC) funding opportunity (RFA AI 20-056) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiative designed to build a set of tightly coordinated research centers focused on coccidioidomycosis, commonly known as Valley fever. The central aim is to bring together highly collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams that can move work efficiently across the translational pipeline, connecting foundational discoveries to practical tools that improve how the disease is diagnosed, treated, and prevented. This is framed as translational and clinical research, but the announcement is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applicants should not propose studies that meet NIH’s definition of a clinical trial, even if the work is patient-oriented or clinically focused in other ways.
The mechanism for funding is a U19 cooperative agreement, which signals that NIH expects an active partnership role rather than a hands-off grant relationship. In practice, cooperative agreements typically involve substantial programmatic involvement from the funding institute, such as coordination expectations, participation in steering or advisory structures, shared milestones, and cross-center collaboration requirements. The overall concept is not simply to fund isolated projects, but to establish research centers that function as a network, aligning priorities and sharing data, resources, and expertise to accelerate progress against Valley fever.
The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations: state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities, excluding institutions of higher education when specified in the category); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The opportunity also highlights eligibility for a range of mission-driven and capacity-building institution types, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), 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, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized entities, and U.S. territories or possessions.
At the same time, there are important limits on foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic (non-U.S.) institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, "foreign components" are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This distinction generally means a U.S. applicant may include certain well-justified international elements within the project (for example, specific collaborations, sites, or specialized activities performed abroad) if they meet NIH’s criteria for a foreign component and are properly disclosed and approved, but the overall applicant organization must be domestic and the project cannot be structured as a non-U.S. applicant submission.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and sits within the health funding activity area, with CFDA number 93.855. The FOA was created on October 8, 2020, with an original closing date of February 18, 2021. The provided source data does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, which suggests those details either were not included in the snippet or were to be determined or specified elsewhere in the full announcement.
In practical terms, a strong application under this FOA would be expected to demonstrate a center-style structure with real integration across disciplines relevant to Valley fever, such as microbiology, immunology, diagnostics development, clinical infectious diseases, epidemiology, computational biology, and implementation-relevant research that can speed adoption of improved diagnostics or treatment approaches. Because the goal is improved diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, proposals would likely be most competitive when they show a clear line of sight from research activities to measurable improvements in clinical or public health practice, while still staying within the "no clinical trials" boundary. This typically pushes applicants toward activities like assay and biomarker development and validation (short of interventional trials), natural history and observational studies where permitted, preclinical evaluation of candidate therapeutics or vaccines, host-pathogen interaction studies that inform clinical strategies, and cross-institutional resource sharing such as specimen repositories, standardized protocols, and harmonized data systems that enable the network to operate as a cohesive program rather than a collection of independent projects.Apply for RFA AI 20 056
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Coccidioidomycosis Collaborative Research Centers (U19 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 2020-10-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-02-18. (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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Coccidioidomycosis Collaborative Research Centers (CCRC) funding opportunity?
The Coccidioidomycosis Collaborative Research Centers (CCRC) funding opportunity (RFA AI 20-056) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiative to establish a set of tightly coordinated research centers focused on coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever). The intent is to create a collaborative network that accelerates progress across the translational pipeline, linking foundational research to practical improvements in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
What is the main goal of this program?
The central goal is to bring together highly collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams that can move work efficiently from discovery through translation to practical tools that improve how Valley fever is diagnosed, treated, and prevented. The program is designed to function as an integrated network rather than separate, isolated projects.
Is this a translational or clinical research opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity is framed around translational and clinical research, emphasizing connections between basic discoveries and real-world tools or approaches that can improve clinical and public health outcomes for Valley fever.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. The FOA is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." Applicants should not propose studies that meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial, even if the proposed work is patient-oriented or clinically focused in other ways.
What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses a U19 cooperative agreement mechanism. This indicates NIH expects an active partnership role with awardees rather than a fully hands-off grant relationship.
What does a U19 cooperative agreement typically imply for project management and coordination?
A U19 cooperative agreement typically involves substantial programmatic involvement from the funding institute. In practice, this can include coordination expectations, participation in steering or advisory structures, shared milestones, and cross-center collaboration requirements. The emphasis is on building a coordinated network of centers that align priorities and share resources.
Is the intent to fund individual projects or coordinated research centers?
The intent is to establish research centers that operate as a coordinated network. The program is described as building a set of tightly coordinated centers, with expectations for collaboration, shared data and resources, and network-wide alignment to accelerate progress against Valley fever.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations, including:
- State, county, city or township, and special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments
- Nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education when specified in the category)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
Does the opportunity specifically include certain institution types (for example, minority-serving institutions or community-based organizations)?
Yes. The opportunity highlights eligibility for a range of institution types, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), 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, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized entities, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Can a non-U.S. (foreign) organization apply as the applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic (non-U.S.) institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization.
Can a non-U.S. component of a U.S. organization apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply as the applicant.
Are foreign components allowed in a project led by a U.S. applicant?
Yes. "Foreign components" are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This means a U.S. applicant may include certain well-justified international elements (for example, specific collaborations, sites, or specialized activities performed abroad) if they meet NIH criteria for a foreign component and are properly disclosed and approved.
How is this funding opportunity categorized?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and is within the health funding activity area. The CFDA number provided is 93.855.
What is the FOA identifier for this opportunity?
The funding opportunity is identified as RFA AI 20-056.
When was the FOA created, and what was the closing date?
The FOA was created on October 8, 2020, with an original closing date of February 18, 2021.
Is an award ceiling or expected number of awards provided in the information given?
No. The provided source data does not specify an award ceiling or an expected number of awards, suggesting those details were not included in the snippet or were provided elsewhere in the full announcement.
What kinds of scientific teams or disciplines fit this opportunity?
Applications are expected to reflect a center-style structure with real integration across disciplines relevant to Valley fever. Examples of relevant areas mentioned include microbiology, immunology, diagnostics development, clinical infectious diseases, epidemiology, computational biology, and implementation-relevant research aimed at speeding adoption of improved diagnostics or treatment approaches.
What types of activities might be considered responsive, given the focus on improved diagnosis, treatment, and prevention?
Based on the information provided, proposals may be most competitive when they show a clear line of sight from research activities to measurable improvements in clinical or public health practice, while remaining within the "no clinical trials" boundary. Examples of activities described include assay and biomarker development and validation (short of interventional trials), natural history and observational studies where permitted, preclinical evaluation of candidate therapeutics or vaccines, host-pathogen interaction studies that inform clinical strategies, and cross-institutional resource sharing.
What does "networked centers" collaboration look like in practice under this FOA?
The FOA emphasizes that centers should operate as a cohesive program rather than independent projects. Examples of network-enabling activities mentioned include specimen repositories, standardized protocols, harmonized data systems, shared milestones, and cross-center collaboration structures.
What does it mean to stay within the "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" boundary while still being clinically relevant?
It means proposals can be patient-oriented or clinically focused but should avoid proposing studies that meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial. The provided information suggests focusing on non-interventional and preclinical or translational efforts, such as diagnostics development and validation (without interventional trial designs), observational or natural history work where permitted, and other translational studies that can inform clinical practice without constituting a clinical trial.
Does the program emphasize moving research across the translational pipeline?
Yes. The program is explicitly designed to connect foundational discoveries to practical tools that improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, and to enable efficient movement of work across the translational pipeline through coordinated, multi-disciplinary centers.
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