Viral INfections in the Young Lung- The VINYL Clinical Consortium (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), has issued a forecasted funding opportunity titled "Viral INfections in the Young Lung—The VINYL Clinical Consortium (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)." This opportunity is cataloged under the Assistance Listing 93.838 for Lung Diseases Research and falls within the "Health" category of funding activity. The initiative reflects NHLBI’s mission to improve heart, lung, blood, and sleep health by supporting high-impact research efforts. This particular forecast seeks to establish a collaborative clinical research consortium focused on severe viral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children aged 0 to 2 years, following them through preschool years to monitor for long-term pulmonary effects. The VINYL Clinical Consortium is part of a two-part funding mechanism using the UG3/UH3 phased cooperative agreement. The UG3 phase will focus on planning and initial study execution, while the UH3 phase is contingent upon milestone completion and will support full study implementation. The initiative is intended to fund one Clinical Coordinating Center (CCC) that will also manage a Biorepository, as well as four Clinical Centers (CCs). This consortium will work in tandem with a separately funded Data and Analytics Coordinating Center (DACC), which is forecasted under a separate notice (FOR-25-033). The clinical consortium is expected to conduct detailed phenotyping of young children with severe viral LRTIs and track their development to identify pulmonary sequelae. At this stage, the opportunity is forecasted and applications are not yet being accepted. The estimated application opening date is August 22, 2025, with submissions due by October 22, 2025. Awards are expected to be announced on May 1, 2026, and projects will begin July 1, 2026. The forecast notice has been made available early to allow applicants adequate time to form meaningful collaborations and prepare high-quality, responsive applications. Interested investigators with relevant clinical or research experience are encouraged to begin developing proposals in anticipation of the forthcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes various public, private, nonprofit, and tribal entities. Specifically, eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), small businesses, other for-profit organizations, state governments, county governments, independent school districts, Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (not federally recognized), and public or Indian housing authorities. This wide eligibility reflects the national scope and public health significance of the VINYL initiative. Although specific application requirements are not yet published, applicants should anticipate responding to standard NIH clinical research application formats, which typically include research strategy, human subjects protection plans, milestones for phased awards, and data-sharing considerations. The consortium structure implies a strong emphasis on collaboration, coordination, and standardization across participating sites. For inquiries related to this funding forecast, interested parties may contact the NHLBI’s Division of Lung Diseases via email at nhlbidld_grants@nhlbi.nih.gov. The grant has not yet published an estimated total funding amount, award floor, or ceiling. This information may be available once the full NOFO is released. The opportunity was last updated and forecasted on July 8, 2025, and remains in early engagement status.