NOT-AI-23-073: Upcoming NIH Funding for Systems Modeling of Infection and Immunity

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced its intent to publish a funding opportunity under the number NOT-AI-23-073. This future announcement will call for applications for a Center of Excellence (CoE) for Systems Modeling of Infection and Immunity across Biological Scales. The NIH, particularly through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), aims to foster innovative computational multi-scale modeling research addressing key biomedical questions, including those related to HIV/AIDS. This initiative is a cooperative agreement, focusing on the health sector and offering up to $5,000,000 in funding.

Eligible applicants for this opportunity encompass a wide range of entities, including educational institutions, government bodies, non-profits, and private organizations. The core objectives of this CoE include the development and coordination of the NIAID and broader modeling community engaged in research on infectious and immune-mediated diseases. This will involve model and data sharing, educational activities, and community-organizing activities. Additionally, the CoE is expected to foster a diverse community of investigators dedicated to infectious and immune-mediated disease modeling and enhance collaboration between experimental and computational scientists. This funding opportunity is also designed to pivot research activities swiftly in response to emerging needs, such as outbreaks or pandemics. Applicants are encouraged to use the time leading up to the announcement to develop strong leadership teams and project plans. The application due date is projected to be June 05, 2024, with an estimated project start date of February 01, 2025, marking a crucial step in advancing the field of infection and immunity modeling.