We continue to add new resources to our COVID-19: Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients of NIH Funding webpage. We hope they are helpful in helping you navigate this unprecedented situation. Here is a summary of what’s new since the last Nexus:

• An overview of information for NIH applicants and recipients related to COVID-19 (available in PowerPoint and Word document formats)
• Many new and updated FAQs on foreign components, animal welfare, continuous submission, timing of reference letters, salaries, donating PPE, prior approval, contracts, and training, fellowship and career development awards. A listing of specific FAQ changes can be found on our page update history.
• A link to a new webpage: COVID-19 Pandemic Contingency Planning for Animal Care and Use Programs
• A link to a webinar: COVID-19 Pandemic Response Resources and FAQs for Animal Care and Use Programs
• A link to OHRP Guidance on COVID-19 
• A link to Virtual NIH Activities for Trainees Outside the NIH
• New funding opportunities specific to COVID-19

We know it can be a challenge to track new information as it becomes available. We are noting changes to the website in the page update history, tweeting from @NIHgrants as things get posted, and we will continue to highlight new resources in the Nexus.

While we all want to be highly productive during this period of self-quarantine, the reality for us and for our trainees and research staff may be very different. We are stressed, they are stressed, and all of us are dealing with unique issues that impact our ability to be productive at this time. 

My mission, as the director of NIH’s Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE), is to help trainees (summer interns, postbacs, grad students, and postdocs) in the NIH Intramural Research Program develop career and professional skills that will help them succeed on all career paths in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. My concern goes beyond just thinking about trainees in NIH’s intramural program. Just last week, I had the honor to talk with the NIH Director, Dr. Francis Collins, about NIH trainees. Parts of our discussion focus on NIH’s intramural program, but his message of hope and NIH’s concern for trainees is universal. I also spoke last week with grad and postdoc office leadership across the US to share concerns and strategies.

Since the advent of social distancing a few weeks ago, all of us have had to work through policy issues, help trainees work through their stress, and identify ways to continue to support their learning while not in the lab. For me in my position, and I am sure for many of you, this has also meant needing to rise to the challenge and adapt programming to meet trainee needs.

Tomorrow my office is hosting a workshop on Supporting Yourself and Your Trainees During the Coronavirus Pandemic that is open to all. In this workshop we will provide PIs, program leaders and research group heads with insights and strategies for supporting themselves, their trainees and staff during this difficult time.  

In addition, we are putting together a panel discussion with mental health experts to help the directors of postbac, graduate student and postdoc offices best support trainees during these uncertain times. The panel discussion will be taped and the discussion will address questions submitted in advance. You can submit questions for the panelists in advance here. The panel discussion will be taped on Friday April 17, 2020 and uploaded for viewing by April 21st. We will plan follow up discussions based on feedback from the community once this resource is disseminated.

We have been working quickly to develop a robust program of virtual workshops we are scheduling each week. We hope your students and postdocs will join us. We will be putting on new programming each week. They can find information by visiting the OITE website of Virtual NIH Activities for Trainees Outside the NIH, and on Twitter @NIH_OITE and @SHARONMILGRAM. After the workshops, the videos will be closed-captioned and posted as quickly as possible on the NIH OITE YouTube Channel for later viewing.

Also, if you wish to join us and your students in the NIH OITE weekly wellness challenge, follow us on Twitter @NIH_OITE and @SHARONMILGRAM. I am trying to post wellness tips daily in addition to updates on our programs.

Right now our trainees need our support more than ever. Working together we can support them though this difficult time.

The US Army Contracting Command – New Jersey (CCNJ), on behalf of the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (CCDC AC) seeks to enter into a Grant for a Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics (STEM) Outreach Program. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is considered a competitive combined synopsis/solicitation, therefore, this announcement constitutes the only synopsis or solicitation that will be released.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is the largest employer of scientists and engineers in the United States and employs nearly half (46%) of the scientists and engineers in the Federal government. Under the Federal STEM strategic plan, the Department is charged with developing STEM initiatives that are unique to the DoD mission and also help meet national goals of: improving instruction; increasing engagement; growing the pool of STEM degree holders; broadening the participation of historically underserved groups; and improving the graduate school experience. DoD STEM represents the Department’s mission to attract, inspire, and develop exceptional STEM talent across the educational continuum to sustain the Department’s technological edge. It is estimated that 80% of the jobs in the United States will require STEM skills in the next decade.

The Department of Defense (DoD) provides learning opportunities from elementary school through graduate school to inspire and cultivate a diverse pool of exceptional STEM talent. DoD programs connect STEM education in the classroom to the excitement, skills, and challenges that some with safeguarding the United States. For example, DoD STEM scholarships provide awards to students who have demonstrated ability and aptitude for excelling in STEM fields in disciplines of importance to DoD. DoD STEM internships allow high school and college students the opportunity to engage in hands-on research, solving real world problems at DoD laboratories and facilities

The objective of this FOA, which is being issued in accordance with 10 USC §2192, is to seek application packages from Applicants capable of engaging and improving Grades K-12 Plus (to include colleges, universities, and vocational schools) STEM skills through outreach programs and support services on a national level. The requirement for increased STEM professional development is necessary to meet the long term national defense needs of the United States for personnel proficient in such skills.

It is expected that the Applicant will review all attachments and amendments to this notice prior to Application package preparation and submission. 

Each Applicant responding to this notice shall be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov. The representations and certifications made by your Company, including those completed electronically via the SAM shall be incorporated by reference into any resulting Grant that is awarded from this notice.

All application packages shall be submitted through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov). Required application package documentation is identified within the FOA. Forms for completion can be found on the Grants.gov website under the Research and Related (R&R) section of the forms repository.

The Government will review all submissions and perform an integrated assessment of each submission in accordance with the evaluation criteria and relative order of importance of the criteria as listed in the FOA. The Government intends to make a single award as a result of this FOA. The Government reserves the right to select for award, one or none of the application packages received. An award is anticipated to be made to the Applicant whose application package contains a proposed solution that is most advantageous to the Government’s identified STEM program objectives and tasks. The Government reserves the right to award to other than the most highly rated application package.

The Government intends to award a contract without exchanges (except for clarification), therefore, each Applicant is urged to provide an application package that contains its most favorable terms in order to reflect its best possible potential in fulfilling the program objectives and tasks. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct exchanges to permit Applicants to revise their application packages, if necessary. A notice of the Government’s award selection decision will be announced on FedBizOpps upon the conclusion of the evaluation process.

Any questions related to this FOA must be directed to the Government point of contact identified below by 4:00pm Eastern time on 08 May 2020:

David Grimes – Grants Specialist, CCNJ-ET – david.m.grimes2.civ@mail.mil

Edward Gorsky – Grants Specialist, CCNJ-ET – edward.a.gorsky.civ@mail.mil

Morgan Ziatyk – Grants Officer, CCNJ-ET – morgan.f.ziatyk.civ@mail.mil

All information submitted in response to this FOA will be at no cost or obligation to the Government. No sensitive or classified information will be discussed.

The FY20 Defense Appropriations Act provides funding to the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) to support to support medical research projects of clear scientific merit and direct relevance to military health. As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency J9, Research and Development Directorate manages the Defense Health Program (DHP) Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) appropriation. The managing agent for the anticipated Program Announcements/Funding Opportunities is the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC).

The FY20 PRMRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are posted on the Grants.gov website. 

The vision and mission of the PRMRP is improve the health, care, and well-being of all military Service members, Veterans, and beneficiaries by encouraging, identifying, selecting, and managing medical research projects of clear scientific merit and direct relevance to military health.

Congressionally Directed Topic Areas: All applications submitted to the PRMRP must address at least one of the FY20 PRMRP Congressionally directed topic areas. The FY20 PRMRP Topic Areas are as follows:

• Arthritis
• Burn Pit Exposure
• Chronic Migraine and Post-Traumatic Headache
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Constrictive Bronchiolitis
• Diabetes
• Dystonia
• Eating Disorders
• Emerging Viral Diseases
• Endometriosis
• Epidermolysis Bullosa
• Familial Hypercholesterolemia
• Fibrous Dysplasia
• Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis
• Food Allergies
• Fragile X
• Frontotemporal Degeneration
• Guillain-Barré Syndromemorrhage Control
• Hepatitis B
• Hydrocephalus
• Immunomonitoring of Intestinal Transplants
• Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
• Interstitial Cystitis
• Metals Toxicology
• Mitochondrial Disease
• Musculoskeletal Health
• Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Myotonic Dystrophy
• Nutrition Optimization
• Pancreatitis
• Pathogen-Inactivated Blood Products
• Plant-Based Vaccines
• Polycystic Kidney Disease
• Pressure Ulcers
• Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Resilience Training
• Respiratory Health
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Sleep Disorders and Restriction
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• Sustained Release Drug Delivery
• Vascular Malformations
• Women’s Heart Disease

Clinical Trial Award – Letter of Intent due July 29, 2020

Assistant Professor level or above (or equivalent):

• Supports the rapid implementation of clinical trials of novel interventions with the potential to have a significant impact on patient care in the Topic Area(s) of interest.
• Proposed projects may range from small proof-of-concept trials through large-scale, definitive trials.
• Investigational New Drug (IND) or Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) applications to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), if needed, must be approved by the FDA before the PRMRP application submission deadline unless applying to the Planning Phase with Clinical Trial application category.

New for FY20:  Optional Planning Phase available. The Planning Phase will provide support to prepare and submit an IND/IDE application to the FDA; FDA/regulatory approval to proceed is required prior to exercising option for clinical trial.

Planning Phase (optional): Maximum of $500,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs). Maximum period of performance is 18 months. Clinical Trial: No maximum funding limit; requested funding must be appropriate for the scope of work proposed. Maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Clinical Trial Award (for Emerging Viral Diseases and Respiratory Health) – Letter of Intent due June 8, 2020

Assistant Professor level or above (or equivalent):

• Supports the rapid implementation of clinical trials of novel interventions with the potential to have a significant impact on patient care in the Topic Areas of Emerging Viral Disease and/or Respiratory Health.
• Applications must address at least one of the Focus Area published in the Program Announcement.
• Proposed projects may range from small proof-of-concept trials through large-scale, definitive trials.
• IND or IDE applications to the FDA, if needed, should be submitted to the FDA before the PRMRP application submission deadline.
• Funding limit for clinical trial not defined; requested funding must be appropriate for the scope of work proposed.
• Maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Investigator-Initiated Research Award (for Emerging Viral Diseases and Respiratory Health) – Letter of Intent is due May 28, 2020

Assistant Professor level or above (or equivalent):

• Supports research that will make an original and important contribution to the field of research and/or patient care in the Topic Areas of Emerging Viral Diseases and/or Respiratory Health.
• Applications must address at least one of the Focus Areas published in the Program Announcement.
• Partnering PI Options available.
• Clinical trials will not be funded.
• Maximum funding of $1.6 million for direct costs (plus indirect costs); $2.0 million for direct costs (plus indirect costs) for applications including a Partnering PI Option
• Maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Technology/Therapeutic Development Award (for Emerging Viral Diseases and Respiratory Health) – Letter of Intent due May 28, 2020

Assistant Professor level or above (or equivalent):

• Supports the translation of promising pre-clinical findings into clinical applications for prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, or quality of life in the Topic Areas of Emerging Viral Diseases and/or Respiratory Health.
• Applications must address at least one of the Focus Areas published in the Program Announcement.
• Product-oriented (e.g., device, drug, clinical guidelines). The product(s) to be developed may be a tangible item, such as a pharmacologic agent (drugs or biologics) or device, or a knowledge-based product.
• Clinical trials will not be funded.
• Maximum funding of $4.0 million for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
• Maximum period of performance is 4 years.

A pre-application is required and must be submitted through the electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) at https://eBRAP.org prior to the pre-application deadline. All applications must conform to the final Program Announcements and General Application Instructions available for electronic downloading from the Grants.gov website.  The application package containing the required forms for each award mechanism will also be found on Grants.gov. A listing of all CDMRP and other USAMRDC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

For email notification when Program Announcements are released, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under “Email Subscriptions” on the eBRAP homepage at https://eBRAP.org. For more information about the PRMRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) are engineered systems that are built from, and depend upon, the seamless integration of computation and physical components. Advances in CPS will enable capability, adaptability, scalability, resiliency, safety, security, and usability that will expand the horizons of these critical systems. CPS technologies are transforming the way people interact with engineered systems, just as the Internet has transformed the way people interact with information. New, smart CPS drive innovation and competition in a range of application domains including agriculture, aeronautics, building design, civil infrastructure, energy, environmental quality, healthcare and personalized medicine, manufacturing, and transportation. CPS are becoming data-rich enabling new and higher degrees of automation and autonomy. Traditional ideas in CPS research are being challenged by new concepts emerging from artificial intelligence and machine learning. The integration of artificial intelligence with CPS especially for real-time operation creates new research opportunities with major societal implications.

While tremendous progress has been made in advancing CPS technologies, the demand for innovation across application domains is driving the need to accelerate fundamental research to keep pace. At the same time, the CPS program seeks to open new vistas for the research community to think beyond the usual cyber-physical paradigms and structures and propose creative ideas to address the myriad challenges of today’s systems as well as those of the future that have not yet been designed or fielded.

The CPS program aims to develop the core research needed to engineer these complex CPS, some of which may also require dependable, high-confidence, or provable behaviors. Core research areas of the program include control, data analytics, and machine learning—including real-time learning for control, autonomy, design, Internet of Things (IoT), mixed initiatives including human-in- or human-on-the-loop, networking, privacy, real-time systems, safety, security, and verification. By abstracting from the particulars of specific systems and application domains, the CPS program seeks to reveal cross-cutting, fundamental scientific and engineering principles that underpin the integration of cyber and physical elements across all application domains. The program additionally supports the development of methods, tools, and hardware and software components based upon these cross-cutting principles, along with validation of the principles via prototypes and test beds. This program also fosters a research community that is committed to advancing education and outreach in CPS and accelerating the transition of CPS research into the real world.

All proposals must include the following as part of the Project Description:

• A Research Description that describes the technical rationale and technical approach of the CPS research, including the challenges that drive the research problem and how the research integrates cyber and physical components.This section must also describe how the research outcomes are translational to other application domains. Specifically, it must include:
  • A subsection titled “CPS Research Focus” which describes the cyber-physical system attributes of the challenge problem and clearly identifies the core CPS research areas addressed in which the novel and foundational research contributions are being made;
  • An Evaluation/Experimentation Plan that describes how proposed concepts will be validated and outlines the metrics for success;
  • A Project Management and Collaboration Plan that summarizes how the project team is ideally suited to realize the project goals and how the team will ensure effective collaboration; and
  • A Broader Impacts section that describes how the research will be disseminated to a broad and diverse audience. This should go beyond traditional academic publications and includes education and outreach from the research team spanning multiple levels of engagement. Broader Impacts encompasses Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) and Engineering (BPE).

In FY 2020, NSF is working closely with multiple agencies across the federal government, including the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T); the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); several National Institutes of Health (NIH) institutes and centers including the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS); and the US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA, hereafter referred to as NIFA). Proposals for three classes of research and education projects—differing in scope and goals—are supported through the CPS program:

• Small projects may request a total budget of up to $500,000 for a period of up to 3 years. They are well suited to emerging new and innovative ideas that may have high impact on the field of CPS. Note that Small projects are not accepted under this solicitation.
• Medium projects may request a total budget ranging from $500,001 to $1,200,000 for a period of up to 3 years. They are well suited to multi-disciplinary projects that accomplish clear goals requiring integrated perspectives spanning the disciplines.
• Frontier projects must address clearly identified critical CPS challenges that cannot be achieved by a set of smaller projects. Furthermore, Frontier projects should also look to push the boundaries of CPS well beyond today’s systems and capabilities. Funding may be requested for a total of $1,200,001 to $7,000,000 for a period of 4 to 5 years. Note that the Frontier project deadline is different than that for Medium projects.

Please note, this solicitation includes windows for Medium and Frontier proposals. Small proposals are not invited in FY 2020. For FY 2021 (beginning Oct. 1, 2020) and beyond, the CPS program anticipates going to a “no-deadline” submission for Small and Medium proposals. Specific annual deadlines for Frontier proposals are anticipated to continue as noted in this solicitation.