Towards a Better Understanding of the Neurological Effects of Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses (R21 - Clinical Trial Optional)
This funding opportunity is designed to support researchers investigating the neurological and mental health impacts of chronic illnesses linked to infections, such as long COVID and other post-viral syndromes, with a focus on understanding underlying mechanisms and developing effective treatments.
Description
The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to solicit applications focused on the neurological and/or mental health-related manifestations of infection-associated chronic illnesses, including the post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (Neuro-PASC) as well as other chronic illnesses with a potential infectious trigger (post-treatment Lyme Disease, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome [ME/CFS], postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome [POTS], post-viral fatigue syndromes, etc.). Projects that investigate common neurological and/or mental health-related mechanisms across multiple infection-associated chronic illnesses would be of particular interest, although this is not a requirement (i.e., applications can focus on a single condition). Neurologically focused clinical research investigating scientifically compelling pathways that contribute to the development of infection-associated chronic illnesses - including basic experimental studies in humans (BESH) or mechanistic clinical trials that will accelerate the development of effective treatments - are within the scope of this initiative. Preclinical studies utilizing animal, cell culture, and/or human tissue models are also encouraged. All applications must propose such studies in the context of a post-infectious etiology.