Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 21 070
Advancing Group A Streptococcus Vaccine Discovery (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed), funding opportunity number RFA-AI-21-070, is an NIH discretionary research grant intended to accelerate the early-stage pipeline for new vaccines against Group A Streptococcus (GAS). GAS is responsible for a wide spectrum of diseases, ranging from common infections like strep throat and impetigo to severe invasive disease, and it can also contribute to major post-infectious complications. This FOA is focused on moving beyond incremental improvements by supporting the discovery and rational design of novel vaccine candidates and then pushing the most promising concepts into preclinical evaluation, with the overarching goal of achieving broad protection against GAS infections across diverse strains and settings.
The scientific scope emphasizes vaccine discovery and design work that results in tangible candidate concepts suitable for preclinical testing. In practice, this typically includes activities like identifying and prioritizing protective antigens, engineering immunogens, developing or optimizing vaccine constructs, and generating the kinds of early evidence needed to justify further development. The FOA explicitly targets advancement into preclinical evaluation, meaning applicants should be prepared to propose studies that begin to assess candidate performance in relevant laboratory and animal-based systems, such as initial immunogenicity and proof-of-concept protection studies, along with other foundational preclinical work that helps de-risk progression to later-stage development.
The mechanism is an R01 research project grant, and the "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" designation is important: the supported work must remain preclinical and cannot include human clinical trials. Applicants should frame their aims accordingly, keeping the project within discovery, design, and preclinical evaluation boundaries rather than proposing interventions in human participants. The funding activity category is Health and the associated CFDA number is 93.855, consistent with NIH infectious disease research programs.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and several categories of non-U.S. participants. Eligible applicants listed for this opportunity include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility is designed to pull in strong teams wherever the best vaccine discovery capabilities exist, including institutions serving underrepresented communities and organizations outside the United States.
Key administrative details from the source data include that NIH is the sponsoring agency, the FOA was created on 2021-10-15, and the original closing date was 2022-02-18. The listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided fields, so those specifics would normally be confirmed in the full FOA text or associated NIH funding announcement pages.
Overall, this opportunity is aimed at researchers and organizations with ideas and platforms that can generate new GAS vaccine candidates and provide rigorous preclinical evidence to support broad, strain-spanning protection, while staying clearly on the non-clinical side of the development pathway under an R01 grant structure.Apply for RFA AI 21 070
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing Group A Streptococcus Vaccine Discovery (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 2021-10-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-02-18. (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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Advancing Group A Streptococcus Vaccine Discovery (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is RFA-AI-21-070.
Who is the sponsoring agency?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What type of grant mechanism is used?
This opportunity uses the R01 research project grant mechanism.
What is the overall purpose of this FOA?
The purpose is to accelerate early-stage discovery and rational design of new vaccine candidates for Group A Streptococcus (GAS), and to move the most promising concepts into preclinical evaluation, with the aim of achieving broad protection across diverse GAS strains and settings.
What is Group A Streptococcus (GAS), and why is it important?
GAS is a bacterial pathogen responsible for a wide range of diseases, including common infections like strep throat and impetigo, as well as severe invasive disease. GAS can also contribute to major post-infectious complications.
What kinds of projects are in scope for this FOA?
The FOA emphasizes vaccine discovery and design efforts that produce tangible candidate concepts suitable for preclinical testing. Examples of in-scope activities described include:
- Identifying and prioritizing protective antigens
- Engineering immunogens
- Developing or optimizing vaccine constructs
- Generating early evidence needed to justify further development
- Beginning preclinical evaluation such as initial immunogenicity and proof-of-concept protection studies in relevant laboratory and animal-based systems
- Other foundational preclinical work that helps de-risk progression to later-stage development
Is this FOA focused on incremental improvements to existing vaccines?
No. The FOA is focused on moving beyond incremental improvements by supporting novel vaccine candidate discovery and rational design, and then advancing the best concepts into preclinical evaluation.
Does this FOA support clinical trials in humans?
No. The designation "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" means the supported work must remain preclinical and cannot include human clinical trials.
What does "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" mean for how applicants should write their aims?
Applicants should keep the proposed work within discovery, design, and preclinical evaluation boundaries, and should avoid proposing studies that involve interventions in human participants.
What is meant by "advancement into preclinical evaluation" in this FOA?
It means applicants should be prepared to propose studies that begin assessing candidate performance in relevant laboratory and animal-based systems, including early immunogenicity testing and proof-of-concept protection studies, along with other foundational work that supports later development decisions.
What is the desired end goal of the research supported by this opportunity?
The overarching goal is to develop vaccine candidates that can provide broad, strain-spanning protection against GAS infections across diverse strains and settings, supported by rigorous preclinical evidence.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Health.
What is the associated CFDA number?
The associated CFDA number is 93.855.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S. organization types and several categories of non-U.S. participants. Eligible applicants listed include:
- State, county, and city or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA indicates that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are included among eligible applicant types.
Are institutions serving underrepresented communities explicitly included in the eligible applicant types?
Yes. The FOA highlights additional eligible applicant types that include:
- 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)
- Faith-based or community-based organizations
Are U.S. territories, possessions, and regional organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. The FOA includes regional organizations and U.S. territories or possessions as eligible applicant types.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA lists eligible federal agencies among the additional eligible applicant types.
When was this FOA created?
The FOA was created on 2021-10-15.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date listed is 2022-02-18.
Does the provided listing include the award ceiling or expected number of awards?
No. Based on the provided fields, the listing does not include an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
What should applicants do if they need award amount details or expected award counts?
Because those specifics are not included in the provided listing fields, they would normally be confirmed in the full FOA text or associated NIH funding announcement pages.
What stage of vaccine development is this FOA aimed at supporting?
This FOA is aimed at the early-stage pipeline, focusing on discovery, rational design, and preclinical evaluation rather than clinical testing in humans.
What is a central theme of the scientific scope described?
A central theme is producing candidate concepts that are suitable for preclinical testing and generating early evidence to support further development toward broad protection against GAS.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Health
Next opportunity: Coordinating Center for the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (OAICs) (U24 Clinical Trial Optional)
Previous opportunity: Pancreatic Cancer Detection Consortium: Research Units (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA AI 21 070
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA AI 21 070) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Expanding Differentiated Care Approaches for Adolescents Living with HIV (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA MH 22 105 Funding Number: RFA MH 22 105 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Digital Health Strengthening in Eswatini Apply for RFI67421ESWATINIHEALTHINFORMATIONSYSTEM Funding Number: RFI67421ESWATINIHEALTHINFORMATIONSYSTEM Agency: South Africa USAID-Pretoria Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Enhanced Interpersonal Focused Strategies for Suicide Prevention Interventions (R34 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA MH 22 125 Funding Number: RFA MH 22 125 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| Identification and Characterization of Persistence Mechanisms of Select Protozoan Pathogens (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA AI 21 075 Funding Number: RFA AI 21 075 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Expanding Differentiated Care Approaches for Adolescents Living with HIV (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA MH 22 106 Funding Number: RFA MH 22 106 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Understanding the Role of Bilingualism in Cognitive Reserve/Resilience in Aging and AD/ADRD (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA AG 23 001 Funding Number: RFA AG 23 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cellular Senescence Network: Murine Tissue Mapping Centers (U54 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA RM 22 003 Funding Number: RFA RM 22 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Potential New Care and Treatment (C&T) Health Activity. Apply for 72051722RFICT00001 Funding Number: 72051722RFICT00001 Agency: Dominican Republic USAID-Santo Domingo Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cellular Senescence Network: Technology Development and Application in Murine Systems (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA RM 22 005 Funding Number: RFA RM 22 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cell-Specific Impact of Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Aging and AD/ADRD (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA AG 23 002 Funding Number: RFA AG 23 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| Cellular Senescence Network: Technology Development and Application in Human Systems (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA RM 22 004 Funding Number: RFA RM 22 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Clinical Trial Readiness for Functional Neurological Disorders (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 22 053 Funding Number: PAR 22 053 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Discovery of the Genetic Basis of Childhood Cancers and of Structural Birth Defects: Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 22 054 Funding Number: PAR 22 054 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Prodromal Synaptic and Circuit Changes that Contribute to AD/ADRD Onset and Progression (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 22 059 Funding Number: PAR 22 059 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| RePORT International Coordinating Center (RICC) (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA AI 21 078 Funding Number: RFA AI 21 078 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Transition to Aging Research for Predoctoral Students (F99/K00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA AG 22 026 Funding Number: RFA AG 22 026 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Translational Efforts to Advance Gene-based Therapies for Ultra-Rare Neurological and Neuromuscular Disorders (U01 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 22 030 Funding Number: PAR 22 030 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ultra-Rare Gene-based Therapy (URGenT) Network Resource Access (X01, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 22 028 Funding Number: PAR 22 028 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NEI Regenerative Medicine Clinical Trial Planning Grant (R34 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 22 070 Funding Number: PAR 22 070 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Data Harmonization, Curation and Secondary Analysis of Existing Clinical Datasets (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 22 055 Funding Number: PAR 22 055 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA AI 21 070", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.