The Role of the Human Virome in Heart, Lung, and Blood Health and Resilience (R61/R33) | RFA HL 17 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HL 17 002

The funding opportunity titled "The Role of the Human Virome in Heart, Lung, and Blood Health and Resilience (R61/R33)" (Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-HL-17-002) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant program designed to push forward research on how the human virome affects health in ways that go beyond traditional, obvious viral infections. In this context, the "human virome" is defined broadly. It includes viruses that infect human cells, virus-derived genetic elements that have become part of human chromosomes over evolutionary time, and viruses that infect other organisms living in and on the human body (for example, viruses that infect bacteria and other microbes that make up the microbiome). The core idea behind the announcement is that the virome may shape human biology and disease risk through subtle molecular and physiological pathways, not just by causing recognizable viral illnesses.

The scientific goal of the FOA is to support studies that identify and evaluate the basic mechanisms through which the virome may influence heart, lung, and blood (HLB) health and resilience. "Health and resilience" here points to both maintaining normal function and the ability to resist, adapt to, or recover from physiological stressors relevant to cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic systems. The emphasis is on underlying mechanisms, meaning projects are expected to dig into cause-and-effect biology rather than simply reporting associations. This could include work aimed at explaining how virome components interact with host immune responses, inflammatory pathways, gene regulation, tissue remodeling, vascular biology, lung function, blood cell development, or other foundational processes that ultimately affect HLB outcomes.

This opportunity uses the NIH R61/R33 funding structure, which is typically a phased approach that supports exploratory, milestone-driven early work followed by an expansion phase if predefined goals are met. In practical terms, applicants are generally expected to propose a project plan where the initial phase (R61) establishes feasibility or produces decisive mechanistic evidence, and the later phase (R33) builds on that progress to carry out deeper validation, more comprehensive mechanistic testing, or broader model and system-level evaluation. The activity category is Health, and the CFDA number listed is 93.839.

A wide range of organizations are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include various levels of U.S. government entities (state, county, and city or township governments), special district governments, and independent school districts, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Tribal eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. The FOA also allows nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education under those categories), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional 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, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Foreign eligibility is more limited and specific. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. However, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations may participate, and foreign components are allowed as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement. In other words, the main applicant must be U.S.-based and eligible, but certain parts of the work can involve foreign sites or collaborators under NIH rules if structured appropriately.

Key administrative details included in the source information are that the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, uses the grant funding instrument, and was created on 2015-10-05, with an original closing date of 2016-08-09. The provided listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the fields shown.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Role of the Human Virome in Heart, Lung, and Blood Health and Resilience (R61/R33)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.839.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2015-10-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-08-09. (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.

Apply for RFA HL 17 002

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