Innovative Approaches for TB Prevention and Case Finding to END TB

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its Global Health Center, has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled *"Innovative Approaches for TB Prevention and Case Finding to END TB."* This funding opportunity aligns with the World Health Organization’s End TB Strategy, aiming for a world free from tuberculosis (TB) by 2035. Despite being preventable and treatable, TB remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases globally, with approximately 10.6 million cases and 1.3 million deaths reported in 2022. Significant gaps in TB case detection persist, particularly among vulnerable populations, including people living with HIV (PLHIV), children, healthcare workers, and mobile or migrant populations. This NOFO seeks to address these gaps through innovative approaches to TB prevention, early detection, and optimized treatment strategies in high-burden TB settings. This NOFO supports two thematic components: Component A focuses on halting the progression of TB disease through preventive treatment (TPT) with or without nutritional support, while Component B emphasizes improving TB case finding and understanding the disease spectrum, including subclinical TB. Component A aims to develop and test innovative TPT strategies across various populations, evaluate TPT efficacy over time, and assess the impact of combining TPT with nutritional support. Component B focuses on improving contact tracing, utilizing innovative tools such as artificial intelligence and molecular diagnostics, and understanding the burden of post-TB lung disease. Both components aim to yield evidence-based interventions for routine TB care and influence national TB program guidelines. The total anticipated funding for this NOFO over the five-year period is $10 million, with an estimated $2 million allocated for the first year. Each thematic component will receive up to $1 million per year, and only one award will be granted per component. Applications exceeding the $1 million budget cap for a single thematic component in the first year will be deemed nonresponsive. The project period is expected to run from September 30, 2025, to September 29, 2030. Applicants may submit separate and scientifically distinct applications for each thematic component. Eligible applicants include institutions and organizations with demonstrated experience and capacity in TB prevention and detection research. Preference will be given to applicants proposing activities in CDC-priority countries, including Botswana, Eswatini, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Proposals must address populations at higher risk for TB, including PLHIV, pregnant and breastfeeding women, healthcare workers, and individuals with comorbidities such as diabetes and undernutrition. Collaborative partnerships with Ministries of Health, local stakeholders, and global health organizations are strongly encouraged. Applications must include a detailed plan for study activation visits, ongoing monitoring of study activities, and evaluation using SMARTIE objectives. Progress will be monitored through monthly, annual, and final project reports. Data-sharing agreements should ensure de-identified data is retained according to CDC retention policies, enabling further analysis and dissemination of findings. Proposals must also include a translation plan for research findings to ensure rapid integration into national TB programs, with dissemination through publications, conferences, and workshops. The application deadline is March 3, 2025, with a letter of intent due by February 3, 2025. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and validated successfully in the eRA Commons system by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the due date. Peer review is scheduled for April 9, 2025, followed by secondary review on June 4, 2025. Selected projects are expected to begin on September 30, 2025. For additional information, applicants are encouraged to consult the NOFO guidelines and reach out to CDC contacts provided in the announcement.