Nonhuman Primate Reagent Resource (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health and its National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has released a notice of funding opportunity titled Nonhuman Primate Reagent Resource (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed), under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AI-25-010. This is a reissue of RFA-AI-20-043. The purpose of this funding program is to support the Nonhuman Primate Reagent Resource, an initiative that will provide the biomedical research community with key immunologic reagents needed for nonhuman primate research. This research support is vital, as nonhuman primates represent one of the most important preclinical models for studying human diseases of the immune system, including transplant rejection, infectious diseases, and autoimmune disorders. The goal of the program is to ensure accessibility to reagents that enable rigorous research in immunology, translational science, and biomedical therapeutics. The scope of the award includes both the continued management and distribution of the approximately 258 existing reagents already developed under previous awards and the development of new reagents. Applicants must propose at least two new candidate reagents for development, one designed for in vitro use and one for in vivo use. The reagents must not already be commercially available or optimally formulated for nonhuman primate use. Reagents must meet standards for purity, reproducibility, stability, and safety, particularly for in vivo use, though full current good manufacturing practice compliance is not required. The resource is also tasked with creating and maintaining a public website with a searchable catalog of reagents, including protocols, specifications, and user feedback mechanisms. Applicants must propose a comprehensive Overall Management Plan that covers reagent inventory, risk management, subcontract oversight, data management, licensing agreements, and community engagement. Annual meetings with NIAID and participation in NIAID scientific or consortium meetings will be required. The cooperative agreement mechanism means that NIH staff will play a substantial role in guiding and coordinating the project alongside the principal investigator and institution. Applications will be reviewed for scientific merit, feasibility, management planning, and community outreach capacity. Evaluation will focus on significance, innovation, approach, environment, and investigator qualifications. Projects that propose activities outside the scope, such as clinical trials, reagents unrelated to immunology, or animal models other than nonhuman primates, will not be reviewed. Eligibility for this program is broad, encompassing public and private higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit entities including small businesses, local and state governments, tribal governments, special districts, independent school districts, housing authorities, and other organizations. However, foreign institutions and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. Registrations in SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, and other systems are required before submission. The total funding available for this award is anticipated to be approximately $1.3 million in fiscal year 2026, with a single award expected. The maximum project period is five years, and budgets must reflect actual project needs. Cost sharing is not required, and applicants must plan to recover costs for large-scale manufacturing of in vivo reagents through billing requesting investigators. Applications are due October 28, 2025, with an open submission date beginning September 28, 2025. The scientific merit review is scheduled for April 2026, council review for May 2026, and the earliest award start date is expected to be July 2026. Inquiries are encouraged. The designated scientific and research contact is Dr. Shilpa Kulkarni, reachable at shilpa.kulkarni@nih.gov or 240-747-7365. Grants management inquiries should be directed to Nicole Gormley at nicole.gormley2@nih.gov or 301-761-5449. General grants information is available via GrantsInfo@nih.gov, and application submission support can be accessed through the eRA Service Desk or Grants.gov support center. The program authority is provided under Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act and relevant federal regulations.