The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, intends to issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support a new initiative entitled Viral INfections in the Young Lung (VINYL) Clinical Consortium. This consortium will focus on phenotyping infants aged 0 to 2 years with severe viral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) and following up with them until they reach preschool age to assess pulmonary consequences. The forecasted opportunity is identified under opportunity number NOT-HL-24-027.
The goal of the VINYL Clinical Consortium is to establish a network of research institutions and support infrastructure to comprehensively study the impact of viral LRTI on early lung development. This initiative is part of the NHLBI’s broader mission to reduce the burden of lung diseases by fostering high-quality research and evidence-based solutions. The planned research consortium will be comprised of multiple interconnected components, including a Data and Analytics Coordinating Center (DACC), a Clinical Coordinating Center (CCC) with an associated biorepository, and several Clinical Centers (CCs).
Funding will be provided through cooperative agreements. The Data and Analytics Coordinating Center (DACC) is expected to receive up to $7.3 million in total costs, the CCC and biorepository up to $15 million, and each of the four Clinical Centers up to $9.3 million. The UG3/UH3 award mechanism will be used for the phased funding of the CCC and Biorepository, allowing an initial planning phase (UG3) with defined milestones that must be achieved before transitioning to the full implementation phase (UH3).
Eligible applicants include a broad array of public and private institutions and organizations, such as independent school districts, nonprofits, public housing authorities, tribal organizations, small businesses, and institutions of higher education. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Further details about eligibility criteria will be included in the NOFO upon its release.
The expected NOFO publication date is February 13, 2025, with an application due date of June 13, 2025. Funding decisions are anticipated by February 13, 2026, and projects are expected to begin by April 15, 2026. The forecasted opportunity allows potential applicants to prepare well in advance by organizing their proposals and partnerships for this large-scale, multi-center study.
Applicants should monitor the Grants.gov and NIH websites for updates and the official NOFO publication. Contact information for further questions is available via email at operasystemspolicy@nih.gov.
