Preparedness for and Prevention of Severe Disease and Sequelae of Respiratory Viruses and Other Respiratory Pathogens

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the Department of Health and Human Services, is forecasting the release of a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled "Preparedness for and Prevention of Severe Disease and Sequelae of Respiratory Viruses and Other Respiratory Pathogens" (Opportunity Number: RFA-IP-26-100). This grant is part of a federal initiative to support public health preparedness and disease prevention research focused on respiratory pathogens. It is administered through CDC's Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ERA) branch and falls under Assistance Listing 93.083, which supports the prevention of disease, disability, and death through immunization and control of respiratory and related diseases. The objective of this funding opportunity is to build and expand a preparedness and prevention infrastructure capable of improving public health responses and clinical outcomes related to severe respiratory diseases. The CDC aims to fund research activities focused on understanding and mitigating the complications and long-term effects of respiratory infections. This includes studying immunity in high-risk populations such as pregnant women, infants, children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals; detecting and preventing various respiratory viruses (e.g., RSV, hMPV) and bacterial pathogens (e.g., pertussis, mycoplasma pneumoniae); and evaluating the effectiveness of prevention tools such as vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. The NOFO may also support research evaluating the use and uptake of treatment products, including antiviral drugs and immunomodulators, and assessing the sequelae of respiratory infections over a two-year period following diagnosis. Potential outcomes for investigation include developmental delays, recurrent wheezing, asthma, subsequent infections, and antibiotic usage. Further areas of study may involve economic impact analyses and the development of rapid response infrastructure to address future respiratory disease public health emergencies. Methodologies could include cohort studies, interviews, electronic health record (EHR) analyses, sample collection, and laboratory testing. The funding opportunity anticipates the release of a full application package by December 31, 2025, with applications due electronically by March 1, 2026, no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Awards are expected to be announced by August 15, 2026, with project start dates set for September 1, 2026. The total available program funding is projected to be $50,000,000, with individual awards ranging from a minimum of $1,500,000 to a maximum of $2,000,000. Five awards are expected to be distributed through cooperative agreements. Eligibility for this grant opportunity is broad and includes state governments, local governments (city, township, county, and special district), independent school districts, institutions of higher education (both public and private), nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (excluding small businesses), public and Indian housing authorities, and Native American tribal organizations, both federally recognized and others. Applications must meet the eligibility requirements stated in the funding notice. No cost-sharing or matching is required for this opportunity. For more information, interested applicants may contact Amy Yang at 404-718-8836 or via email at AYang@cdc.gov. This grant is currently in the Forecast stage and classified as a Discretionary Cooperative Agreement in the Health category. The anticipated award and project timelines, along with the eligibility and scope of the funding, position this opportunity as a significant investment in the preparedness and prevention of future respiratory disease outbreaks.