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The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is continuing the Regional Centers of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research (RCE) Program. The overall goal of the RCE Program is to establish and maintain strong infrastructure and multifaceted research and development activities to provide scientific information and translational research capacity that will facilitate the next generation of therapeutics, diagnostics, and vaccines against the NIAID Category A-C Priority Pathogens and emerging infectious disease (EID) agents. To realize this goal, the centers will be provided with support to - develop and conduct programs of investigator-directed research; - train researchers and other personnel for biodefense and emerging infectious diseases research activities; - develop and maintain core facilities that support the research and training activities of the RCE; - make available these core facilities to qualified investigators from academia, biotechnology companies, the pharmaceutical industry, and other appropriate entities in the geographic region; - develop translational research capacity for testing and validating vaccine, diagnostic, and therapeutic concepts for biodefense and emerging infectious diseases; and - be prepared and available to provide facilities and scientific support to first-line responders in the event of a national biodefense or EID emergency. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites research institutions and groups of investigators to form consortia to develop and submit new or renewal applications for programs that address fundamental research and development questions that are expected to yield the information required to counter the threat of bioterrorism and EID. Diverse research and development approaches are encouraged, as long as they include a research focus on the NIAID Category A-C Priority Pathogens and EID agents. Applications may focus solely on biodefense or may include a mix of biodefense and EID. Examples of relevant research areas include, but are not limited to, the following areas: 1. Basic biology of less well studied NIAID Category A-C Priority Pathogens and EID agents 2. Mechanisms of pathogenesis, with emphasis on the less well studied agents 3. Basic aspects of the innate and adaptive immune responses 4. Rapid, sensitive, and specific approaches for detection and identification for use in a clinical setting 5. Target identification for diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, including assay development 6. Development of new animal models for pathogenesis studies, for therapeutics and vaccine evaluation, and for rapid diagnostic studies 7. Preclinical studies to facilitate translation of research findings into clinical interventions 8. Testing through small phase 1 clinical trials of potential therapeutics, diagnostics, and vaccines At this time, studies on Bacillus anthracis, orthopox viruses, and influenza are well represented within the NIAID research portfolio. Investigators are encouraged to focus on other Category A, B, and C Priority Pathogens and EID agents, unless presenting exceptionally novel and unique concepts relating to these agents. In addition, research on zoonotic diseases may be supported if it is relevant to the biology, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease in humans.

For more information, visit
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-08-002.html