Promoting Innovative Research in Treponema pallidum Pathogenesis (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AI 24 045

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 24 045

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Promoting Innovative Research in Treponema pallidum Pathogenesis (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AI-24-045 (CFDA 93.855). This program uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is designed to support early-stage, exploratory, and potentially high-impact research projects rather than large, fully developed programs. As indicated by "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," proposed work must be non-clinical in nature, meaning it cannot include prospective assignment of human participants to interventions to evaluate health-related biomedical or behavioral outcomes. The central goal is to stimulate basic and exploratory studies that push forward what is known about Treponema pallidum, the bacterium that causes syphilis, with a focus on understanding how it causes disease (pathogenesis).

The scientific emphasis of the NOFO is on advancing fundamental knowledge of T. pallidum biology and host-pathogen interactions. In practical terms, this means supporting innovative laboratory and preclinical research that can clarify how the organism infects, survives, disseminates, evades immune responses, and produces tissue damage, as well as identifying bacterial factors or host pathways that drive these processes. Because T. pallidum has historically been difficult to culture and manipulate compared to many other bacteria, exploratory work that develops or applies new tools, assays, models, or experimental approaches to study its pathogenesis is typically aligned with the intent of an R21. While the NOFO summary provided does not list specific topic areas, the stated purpose clearly points to mechanistic and discovery-oriented studies that can open up new directions for the field.

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of U.S.-based organizations and certain non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and 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; and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. The opportunity is also open to public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) IRS status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education, since universities fall under the higher-education categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. In addition, the NOFO explicitly highlights other eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), 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 scope signals an interest in drawing in diverse institutions and perspectives, including international expertise where relevant.

Key administrative details from the listing include an original closing date of July 19, 2024, and a creation date of July 8, 2024. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is health. 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 NOFO text or related NIH documentation. Overall, this opportunity is aimed at enabling creative, foundational research that can generate new insights, methods, and hypotheses about T. pallidum pathogenesis, helping build the scientific base that could later inform translational efforts such as diagnostics, therapeutics, or vaccines, even though clinical trial work itself is not permitted under this announcement.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Promoting Innovative Research in Treponema pallidum Pathogenesis (R21 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 2024-07-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-19. (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.

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