Influenza Transmission Research Consortium (P01 Clinical Trial Optional)

The Influenza Transmission Research Consortium funding opportunity, offered by the National Institutes of Health through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), supports multidisciplinary research focused on understanding how seasonal influenza viruses spread between humans. This program reissues and expands on earlier initiatives, encouraging cross-disciplinary teams to develop innovative models, tools, and methods that advance the field of respiratory virus transmission research. The consortium will consist of multiple research centers collaborating to investigate the biological, environmental, and behavioral factors that drive influenza transmission, with the goal of improving global preparedness for influenza epidemics and pandemics. The initiative responds to critical public health needs by filling longstanding knowledge gaps about transmission mechanisms. Despite significant prior work, uncertainty remains about how influenza spreads through aerosols, droplets, fomites, and direct contact. The program seeks to clarify the roles of host factors such as genetics, immunity, and symptoms, as well as the influence of environmental conditions like temperature and humidity. Through innovative research approaches, funded centers will generate new insights that can improve prevention strategies and inform vaccine design—key priorities for NIAID. Centers funded under this NOFO must include an Administrative Core to coordinate activities, a Resource Development Core to create novel or improved research tools, and at least two Research Projects aligned with the overarching theme of human-to-human influenza transmission. Optional Scientific Cores may be added if they serve multiple projects. Collaborative engagement across centers is expected, with annual meetings and working groups designed to foster synergy and data sharing. Projects may include both human and animal studies provided they model human transmission; controlled human infection studies are allowed, but vaccine or drug trials are not. The total funding available is approximately $8 million in FY 2026, supporting 2–3 awards of up to $2.5 million in direct costs per year for a maximum five-year period. Applications are due November 7, 2025, with letters of intent encouraged 30 days prior. Awards are anticipated to begin in July 2026 following peer review in March and advisory council review in May 2026. Applicants must submit through the NIH ASSIST system or institutional system-to-system platforms and ensure all required federal registrations (SAM, UEI, eRA Commons, Grants.gov) are current before submission. Eligible applicants include domestic and foreign higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, state and local governments, tribal governments, and certain international organizations. However, foreign subawards or subcontracts are not permitted under this notice, though foreign collaborators without direct funding may participate. Cost sharing is not required. Applications will be evaluated based on significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, and environment, with special attention to integration of research components, data sharing, and plans for resource dissemination. Key contacts include Dr. Brooke Bozick (brooke.bozick@mail.nih.gov) and Dr. Kate Plimack (kate.plimack@mail.nih.gov) for scientific inquiries, and Tamika Boyd (tamika.boyd@nih.gov) for grants management.