Emergency Awards: Rapid Investigation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 20 177

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Emergency Awards: Rapid Investigation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)."

2) Which agency is offering this grant?

This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity.

3) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is PAR-20-177.

4) What is the main purpose of this FOA?

The stated purpose is to provide a rapid funding mechanism for research on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 that addresses urgent scientific questions during the public health emergency.

5) What makes this opportunity "rapid" compared to typical research grants?

The announcement is designed to move quickly using an expedited review and funding pathway to support timely COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 research.

6) What grant mechanism does this FOA use?

This FOA is built around the NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically used for exploratory and developmental projects.

7) What types of projects are generally a good fit for an R21 under this FOA?

The R21 mechanism is commonly used for projects that can generate early findings, proof-of-concept data, or rapidly generated insights that may lead to larger follow-on studies.

8) Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?

No. A key restriction is that clinical trials are not allowed under this FOA.

9) If clinical trials are not allowed, what kinds of research activities are acceptable?

Applicants must propose non-clinical-trial research activities. Examples mentioned include laboratory studies, observational analyses that do not meet the definition of a clinical trial, computational modeling, method development, and other rapid research approaches that do not involve assigning human participants to an intervention.

10) What does "clinical trial not allowed" mean in practical terms for study design?

Based on the information provided, projects should avoid designs that involve assigning human participants to an intervention. The FOA emphasizes non-trial approaches such as lab-based work, non-trial observational analyses, and computational or methods-focused work.

11) What scientific topic area is this FOA focused on?

The FOA focuses on research related to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, specifically research that addresses urgent scientific questions.

12) How is this opportunity categorized in terms of funding type and activity area?

It is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health funding activity area.

13) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 93.855.

14) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants 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; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.

15) Are minority-serving institutions specifically listed as eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights eligibility for 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), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

16) Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly highlighted as eligible applicant categories.

17) Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly listed among the additional eligible applicant categories.

18) Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The FOA indicates that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are eligible.

19) Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligible federal agencies are explicitly highlighted among additional eligible applicant categories.

20) Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed separately as eligible.

21) Does the provided information include the award ceiling or expected number of awards?

No. The source information does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.

22) Where should applicants look for budget limits or project period expectations?

The information provided indicates that applicants typically need to consult the full FOA text for budget limits, project period expectations, and any institute-specific priorities or constraints.

23) What is the application closing date listed in the provided information?

The original closing date listed for applications was August 14, 2020.

24) What kinds of teams are well suited for this rapid award?

The FOA is aimed at research teams that can define a focused COVID-19-related question, propose a feasible approach that can produce results quickly, and do so without running a clinical trial.

25) What capabilities or disciplines are mentioned as good fits for pivoting quickly into this work?

Examples mentioned include virology, immunology, epidemiology, data science, diagnostics-related validation not involving clinical trial designs, and health systems research that remains non-trial in nature.

26) Can a project be observational and still be eligible?

Yes, as long as the observational analysis does not meet the definition of a clinical trial, based on the examples provided.

27) Can computational modeling or method development be funded under this FOA?

Yes. Computational modeling and method development are explicitly listed as examples of acceptable non-clinical-trial research activities.

28) Does this FOA encourage exploratory or proof-of-concept work?

Yes. Because it uses the NIH R21 mechanism, it is intended to support exploratory and developmental projects that can produce early findings or proof-of-concept data.

29) Is this opportunity specifically tied to an emergency or public health context?

Yes. The FOA is framed as an emergency award and explicitly reflects the public health emergency context and the need for faster-than-normal support.

30) What is the overall takeaway for applicants deciding whether to apply?

This opportunity is best suited for eligible organizations that can move quickly on an urgent SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 research question, generate timely results using an R21-style exploratory approach, and avoid any study design that would be considered a clinical trial.