Emergency Awards: Automatic Detection and Tracing of SARS-CoV-2 (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA OD 20 014

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OD 20 014

Emergency Awards: Automatic Detection and Tracing of SARS-CoV-2 (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is an NIH emergency funding opportunity created in direct response to the HHS-declared COVID-19 public health emergency. Issued under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-OD-20-014, it sits within the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics-Radical (RADx-rad) initiative and is designed to move quickly, using an expedited review and award pathway compared with typical NIH timelines. The central purpose is to push forward novel, non-traditional diagnostic concepts that can detect the current SARS-CoV-2 virus or other measurable markers of COVID-19 in ways that could still be useful if future outbreaks occur, and ideally in ways that could be adapted to emerging, currently unknown viral threats.

The scientific and technical focus is narrow and very specific: NIH is looking for early-stage development of an innovative platform that combines aptamer-based biosensing with a touchscreen or other digital device to enable real-time detection and tracing. In practice, this means applicants are expected to propose a system where an aptamer sensor (a binding molecule selected to recognize a viral target or disease-related marker) is integrated into a format that can interface with consumer or dedicated electronics, so that detection is not just biochemical but automatically translated into a readable digital signal. The work is expected to reach proof-of-concept demonstrating (1) high sensitivity and specificity for SARS-CoV-2 detection, (2) a working immobilized sensor (not just a solution-phase assay concept), and (3) automatic signal transduction and readout on a digital device, supporting the idea of rapid, potentially scalable detection and tracing workflows.

Awards are made as a cooperative agreement (U01), which signals substantial NIH involvement during the project rather than a hands-off grant. Projects funded through this FOA are expected to actively coordinate, collaborate, and share data with the RADx-rad Data Coordinating Center (DCC), to the extent allowable. The notice also flags that data sharing and coordination should account for tribal Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes when applicable, reflecting the need to respect governance and oversight requirements when research activities intersect with tribal communities or data.

The opportunity is broadly open in terms of applicant type. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, public housing/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), small businesses, and other entities as further clarified in the FOA. This wide eligibility aligns with the program goal of quickly surfacing workable technology concepts from academia, industry, and public-sector innovators.

From a funding and program scale standpoint, the award ceiling is listed as $300,000, with an expectation of about 10 awards. The funding source is the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act of 2020, reflecting the emergency appropriations that supported rapid COVID-19 diagnostic development. The FOA was created on August 6, 2020, with an original closing date of September 15, 2020. It is categorized as a discretionary opportunity and falls under broad federal activity categories spanning education, health, and social services, with multiple CFDA listings indicating the cross-institute NIH structure supporting the program.

Finally, the “Clinical Trial Not Allowed” designation means applicants should not propose a clinical trial within this mechanism. The emphasis is on technology development and demonstration of proof-of-concept performance and device integration rather than clinical efficacy testing in a trial framework. The overall message of the FOA is straightforward: deliver a credible, early-stage but functional aptamer-to-digital-device detection platform for SARS-CoV-2 that can support real-time detection and tracing, and be prepared to work in a coordinated RADx-rad ecosystem with strong data sharing and collaboration expectations.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Emergency Awards: Automatic Detection and Tracing of SARS-CoV-2 (U01 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): 93.213, 93.233, 93.273, 93.310, 93.393, 93.394, 93.396, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.865, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 06, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 15, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for RFA OD 20 014

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