Emergency Awards: Rapid Investigation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 20 178

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 178

The grant opportunity titled "Emergency Awards: Rapid Investigation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement designed to move quickly. Its central aim is to provide an expedited, rapid funding path for research projects that address urgent scientific questions about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. The mechanism is an R01 research project grant, but it explicitly does not allow clinical trials under this specific announcement, meaning proposed work needs to be structured as non-clinical-trial research even if it relates to human health, disease mechanisms, public health, or medical countermeasures.

This opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the grant funding instrument type. It falls under the health funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.855. The funding opportunity number is PAR-20-178, and it was created on April 30, 2020, reflecting its role as an emergency-response research vehicle during the early phases of the pandemic. The original application closing date listed for the opportunity is August 14, 2020. The source data does not provide an award ceiling or an expected number of awards, which suggests applicants would need to refer to the full FOA text (outside the excerpt provided) or NIH program contacts for specifics on budget expectations, typical award sizes, and how many projects NIH anticipated supporting.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, spanning multiple sectors that can contribute to rapid COVID-19 research. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Higher education institutions are eligible as well, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Tribal participation is supported through eligibility for federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. The announcement also allows nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), as well as for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses. In addition to these standard categories, the FOA highlights a set of "other eligible applicants" to emphasize outreach and inclusion: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); eligible federal agencies; faith-based or community-based organizations; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; tribal governments that are not federally recognized; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations can apply.

In practical terms, the overall takeaway is that NIH used this FOA to accelerate research proposals that could quickly improve understanding of the virus and the disease, generate data needed for a public health response, or address immediate scientific gaps created by the evolving emergency, while keeping the scope within the boundaries of an R01 that is not a clinical trial. The structure and eligibility signals that NIH wanted to lower barriers to participation across academia, government, community-based organizations, tribal entities, and international partners, reflecting the reality that impactful COVID-19 research could come from many different kinds of institutions and communities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Emergency Awards: Rapid Investigation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (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 2020-04-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-08-14. (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.

Apply for PAR 20 178

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