The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has announced the Halting Tuberculosis (TB) Transmission (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-AI-24-049), aimed at improving the understanding of the critical drivers of TB transmission at both individual and population levels in high-burden settings. The goal is to develop new methods to measure transmission rates and assess potential interventions, including low-cost and low-tech options to prevent and detect TB. This initiative seeks to advance knowledge in TB transmission dynamics, with particular focus on subclinical and asymptomatic cases, environmental impacts, and host/pathogen interactions.

The total funding allocated for this opportunity is $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, with NIAID planning to award 4-5 grants. The application budget should not exceed $750,000 in direct costs per year, and the project period may last up to 5 years, depending on the scope of the research. Applicants may propose clinical trials, but any such trials should focus on understanding the drivers of TB transmission rather than testing interventions like vaccines or chemoprophylaxis.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, government entities, and foreign organizations. Researchers are encouraged to apply early, with the earliest submission date being November 4, 2024, and applications due by December 4, 2024. Letters of intent, while not required, should be submitted 30 days prior to the application due date to help NIAID estimate the review workload.

The research scope includes studying various factors affecting TB transmission, such as environmental conditions, host-pathogen interactions, and non-traditional transmission routes. Researchers may explore aerobiology, community transmission without symptoms, or co-morbidities like HIV and diabetes that influence TB spread. Proposed projects should align with the broader goals of reducing TB incidence through better detection and prevention strategies.

The review process will assess the significance of the research, the qualifications of the investigators, innovation, approach, and overall environment. Key areas of interest include the use of new tools for measuring transmission, high-risk group studies, and leveraging insights from COVID-19 to improve TB control measures.

For more information, applicants may contact NIAID representatives listed in the announcement.