All applications for this Program Announcement must specifically address at least one of the following Focus Areas and must be of clear scientific merit and direct relevance to military health. If the proposed research does not specifically address at least one of these Focus Areas, the Government will administratively withdraw the application. The FY20 PRMRP Focus Areas for Emerging Viral Diseases and Respiratory Health are listed below.

Emerging Viral Diseases

• On demand identification, isolation, characterization and manufacturing of antibodies (monoclonal or polyclonal) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected from patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
• Development of a wearable sensor that provides real-time diagnostics that can be used as a point of care for emerging viral diseases to predict illness before onset of symptoms. The diagnostic platform should be applicable to COVID-19. Virus-specific markers that can identify viruses at the genus level can be included, with an emphasis on SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Surveillance and predictive modeling tools that leverage artificial intelligence approaches to predict outbreaks and epidemics and support strategies for mitigating the threat of COVID-19.
• Triage of care for COVID-19 patients requiring access to resource-intensive interventions.
• Research to understand novel molecular and biological mechanisms of COVID-19 health impacts (e.g., microbiome) and identification/validation of biochemical, physiological, or combined biomarkers for evaluating short- and long-term health impacts from COVID-19.
• Research to determine direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on military readiness and unit climate; interpersonal/family dynamics; behavioral and mental health issues such as depression, suicide, anxiety, and loneliness and other key risk factors such as substance abuse and risky health-related behaviors.

The aim of such research should be to inform, develop, and test potential behavioral countermeasures (e.g., knowledge and information products, preparedness training, support resources, self-care and team-care recommendations) to mitigate negative impacts and maximize Service member and family readiness/resilience to stressors related to pandemics and disasters.

Respiratory Health

• Research on the etiology and prevention of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by host responses to coronaviruses, particularly COVID-19.
• Development of improved methods for assessing and treating lung injury due to coronaviruses, particularly COVID-19.
• Novel and/or innovative detection technologies or therapeutics to reduce the incidence and/or severity of ARDS and/or other lung injury secondary to coronaviruses, particularly COVID-19.
• Development of biomarker metrics to associate the long-term health outcomes of virus-induced ARDS with degradation of physiological and physical performance.
• Ventilation and Extracorporeal Life Support approaches and technologies to support lung function or airway management in response to COVID-19 that increase survivability and/or minimize care provider burden or exposure.
• Pharmacological and biologic interventions for COVID-19 induced complications, including ARDS and related sequelae.
• Research on the short- and long-term health impacts of COVID-19 diagnosed Service members on readiness, deployability, fitness for duty (e.g., ability to complete the Army Combat Fitness Test), and operationally relevant respiratory challenges such as challenges in fixed-wing aviation, diving, and high-altitude ground operations. Research on the prevention of COVID-19 (and other respiratory pathogens) in aircraft, ships, and submarines, specifically focused on ventilation systems and ease of transport of airborne pathogens (i.e., risk characterizations).

Applicants should select the FY20 PRMRP Program Announcement most appropriate to the stage of the proposed research. Applications for an FY20 PRMRP Topic Area other than Emerging Viral Diseases and/orRespiratory Health should be submitted to one of the other FY20 PRMRP Program Announcements available at Grants.gov.

All applications for this Program Announcement must specifically address at least one of the following Focus Areas and must be of clear scientific merit and direct relevance to military health. If the proposed research does not specifically address at least one of these Focus Areas, the Government will administratively withdraw the application. The FY20 PRMRP Focus Areas for Emerging Viral Diseases and Respiratory Health are listed below.

Emerging Viral Diseases

• On demand identification, isolation, characterization and manufacturing of antibodies (monoclonal or polyclonal) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected from patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
• Development of a wearable sensor that provides real-time diagnostics that can be used as a point of care for emerging viral diseases to predict illness before onset of symptoms. The diagnostic platform should be applicable to COVID-19. Virus-specific markers that can identify viruses at the genus level can be included, with an emphasis on SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Surveillance and predictive modeling tools that leverage artificial intelligence approaches to predict outbreaks and epidemics and support strategies for mitigating the threat of COVID-19.
• Triage of care for COVID-19 patients requiring access to resource-intensive interventions.
• Research to understand novel molecular and biological mechanisms of COVID-19 health impacts (e.g., microbiome) and identification/validation of biochemical, physiological, or combined biomarkers for evaluating short- and long-term health impacts from COVID-19.
• Research to determine direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on military readiness and unit climate; interpersonal/family dynamics; behavioral and mental health issues such as depression, suicide, anxiety, and loneliness and other key risk factors such as substance abuse and risky health-related behaviors.

The aim of such research should be to inform, develop, and test potential behavioral countermeasures (e.g., knowledge and information products, preparedness training, support resources, self-care and team-care recommendations) to mitigate negative impacts and maximize Service member and family readiness/resilience to stressors related to pandemics and disasters.

Respiratory Health

• Research on the etiology and prevention of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by host responses to coronaviruses, particularly COVID-19.
• Development of improved methods for assessing and treating lung injury due to coronaviruses, particularly COVID-19.
• Novel and/or innovative detection technologies or therapeutics to reduce the incidence and/or severity of ARDS and/or other lung injury secondary to coronaviruses, particularly COVID-19.
• Development of biomarker metrics to associate the long-term health outcomes of virus-induced ARDS with degradation of physiological and physical performance.
• Ventilation and Extracorporeal Life Support approaches and technologies to support lung function or airway management in response to COVID-19 that increase survivability and/or minimize care provider burden or exposure.
• Pharmacological and biologic interventions for COVID-19 induced complications, including ARDS and related sequelae.
• Research on the short- and long-term health impacts of COVID-19 diagnosed Service members on readiness, deployability, fitness for duty (e.g., ability to complete the Army Combat Fitness Test), and operationally relevant respiratory challenges such as challenges in fixed-wing aviation, diving, and high-altitude ground operations. Research on the prevention of COVID-19 (and other respiratory pathogens) in aircraft, ships, and submarines, specifically focused on ventilation systems and ease of transport of airborne pathogens (i.e., risk characterizations).

Applicants should select the FY20 PRMRP Program Announcement most appropriate to the stage of the proposed research. Applications for an FY20 PRMRP Topic Area other than Emerging Viral Diseases and/orRespiratory Health should be submitted to one of the other FY20 PRMRP Program Announcements available at Grants.gov.

The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to announce the availability of
supplemental funding for the organizations that were previously awarded funding under
Funding Strategy 1 of CDC-RFA-OT18-1802: Strengthening Public Health Systems and
Services through National Partnerships to Improve and Protect the Nation’s Health. The CDCRFA-OT18-1802 recipients are eligible to submit applications for new FY20 CIO Project Plans according to the Target Population Category (A, B, or C) and Target Population Description for which they received initial funding in FY18. The goal is to fund recipients that have the capability, expertise, resources, reach, and history of providing capacity building relevant to implementing this program’s key strategies, activities,
and outcomes.

The program strategies include strengthening the capacities of public health systems infrastructure; leadership and workforce; data and information systems; communication and information technology; partnerships; laws and policies; and programs and services. The capacity-building efforts of this program are expected to strengthen and optimize the public health system and services to improve and protect the nation’s health. This supplemental funding opportunity enables recipients to strengthen the nation’s public health infrastructure; ensure a competent, current, and connected public health system; and improve delivery of essential services through capacity-building assistance (CBA).

CBA is defined as activities that strengthen and maintain the infrastructure and resources necessary to sustain or improve system, organizational, community, or individual processes and competencies. CBA is delivered through technical assistance, training, information sharing, technology transfer, materials development, or funding that enables organizations to serve customers better and operate in a comprehensive, responsive, and effective manner. Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one (or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the OSTLTS:

• Improve the capacity and performance of state, tribal, local and territorial public health agencies to more efficiently and effectively manage and deliver high quality programs and services to protect the public’s health.
• Develop and implement training to provide for competent, sustainable, and empowered public health workforce able to meet emerging and future health challenges.

This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by CDC. If research is proposed, the application will not be considered. For this purpose, research is defined here. Guidance on how CDC interprets the definition of research in the context of public health can be found here. (See section 45 CFR 46.102(d)).

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is publishing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) pursuant to authority provided by section 1741(f) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Pub. L. 116-92, December 20, 2019), to be codified in the NIST Organic Act at 15 U.S.C. § 278s(f), as amended.

Collectively, Manufacturing USA institutes have over 2,000 member institutions including small manufacturers, two-thirds of Fortune 50 U.S. manufacturers, and nearly every top ranked research and engineering university in the United States. Its network of research and development institutes that engage with these industry-led institutions positions it well to distribute high-impact funding into existing efforts in the manufacturing sector to both stimulate the US economy and to support efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health crises.

Projects should focus on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Projects may include medical countermeasures; non-medical countermeasures; leveraging institute capabilities to strengthen state and community resilience; grants to companies and technical support to accelerate productions of critical materials, equipment, and supplies; creation of additional production facilities; technology road-mapping for pandemic response and recovery; re-shoring the manufacture of critical conventional drugs and ensuring supply chain for critical materials related to pandemic response; or workforce development and training for a skilled advanced manufacturing workforce.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of potential proposal topics, but examples. Any proposals responsive to public needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be considered.

The Manufacturing USA institutes, for example, can direct expertise in manufacturing scale up toward critical technologies such as: wearable and environmental sensors for biothreat detection and personal protective equipment; agile, intensified and automated biomanufacturing platforms for medical counter measures; re-shoring the supply chain for critical raw materials needed to manufacture medical counter measures; and reducing the energy and environmental impact of the above. Through the Manufacturing USA network, they can also efficiently resource collaborative projects between institutes for these efforts.

In addition to developing materials for direct production of medical countermeasures, the manufacturing sector needs to alleviate shortages in advanced manufacturing technology. The Manufacturing USA institutes, working as appropriate with Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers, for example, can leverage their expertise to retool factories to convert their traditional manufacturing to advanced manufacturing facilities; retooling examples include adding smart sensing for digital tracking of supply chain, advanced automation, and digital controls.

Proposals can provide support to existing or planned state or other non-federal efforts to develop needed local manufacturing capabilities to respond to COVID-19 and other public health crises, for example. Examples include retooling of existing manufacturing equipment to support specific needs for personal protective equipment, increasing capacity for needed testing supplies, institute-led projects that speed production and increase quality control using automated production of medical implements; rapidly deployable hospital set-ups to meet the need in critical locations.

Proposals can leverage technical expertise at the Manufacturing USA institutes to provide targeted grants to accelerate production of critical materials, equipment, and supplies needed for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health crises, for example. The institutes can also propose technical support to ensure rapid, successful deployment of new equipment. Examples include advanced manufacturing equipment for producing of critical equipment, such as equipment for producing N95 masks; additive and composites; manufacturing of tooling for critical needs; and portable and deployable equipment for emergency response.

Background: From 1665 to 1666, the Great Plague of London swept across England, likely taking the lives of over 100,000 people (United Kingdom Public Archives, 2020). Though the germ theory of disease would not be formulated until the 1860s, the English public engaged in “social distancing” behaviors to avoid illness (Washington Post, 2020), leading to the closure of universities. Among the displaced was a young Isaac Newton, still a student at Trinity College in Cambridge. During the ensuing year of isolated study and reflection, Newton developed the basis for calculus, as well as foundational theories in gravitation, motion, and optics.

Separated from the Great Plague by 350 years, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to similar health responses among the general public and scientific community, forcing the closure of laboratories and universities throughout the world and slowing scientific progress across theoretical and empirical domains. To help stimulate scientific thought and encourage efforts and advancements in the spirit of Sir Isaac, the Basic Research Office in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announces the Newton Award for Transformative Ideas during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Program Objective: This award will be presented to a single investigator or team of up to two investigators that develops a “transformative idea” to resolve challenges, advance frontiers, and set new paradigms in areas of immense potential benefit to DoD and the nation at large. Proposals should aim to produce novel conceptual frameworks or theory-based approaches that present disruptive ways of thinking about fundamental scientific problems that have evaded resolution, propose new, paradigm-shifting scientific directions, and/or address fundamental and important questions that are argued to be undervalued by the scientific community. Approaches can include analytical reasoning, calculations, simulations, and thought experiments. While the use and production of datasets is allowed, any new supporting data should be generated without the use of any experimentation or instrumentation, as the nation-wide closure of laboratories limits the ability of investigators to follow normal safety procedures set by their institutions, in accordance with federal and state regulations.

Given the novelty of and circumstances surrounding this one-time Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the objective of this program is to generate proposals that are equally novel and pioneering. Therefore, this FOA should be viewed as an opportunity to propose basic research that falls outside the bounds of traditional proposals.

Expectations of Award Recipients: Newton Award recipients will produce novel conceptual frameworks or theoretical approaches to addressing outstanding or emerging challenges facing the scientific community. The resulting frameworks and approaches should include clear predictions that can be tested by the scientific community in the years following the return to the laboratory environment. Findings must be submitted as pre-publication material in open archives and disseminated through open publication in a journal. Award winners will brief the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) leadership at the end of the award period of performance, and may be asked to design and chair a Future Directions Workshop on the topic of their findings. In addition, OUSD(R&E) will support funded projects in finding pathways to continue the funding, validation, and development of their transformative ideas.

Only one proposal total may be submitted by each investigator.