Rational Design of Vaccines Against Hepatitis C Virus (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically through its sub-agency, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has announced a forecasted funding opportunity under the notice number NOT-AI-25-034. The purpose of this initiative is to support the rational design of vaccines aimed at preventing Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infections. The effort falls under the U19 Cooperative Agreement mechanism and explicitly prohibits clinical trials, indicating that the supported projects will focus on preclinical vaccine development. This funding opportunity aligns with NIAID’s mission to support research on infectious and immune-mediated diseases. This initiative is designed to establish a consortium of research centers that will collectively work on designing, optimizing, evaluating, and developing broadly protective vaccines against HCV. The ultimate aim is to prepare vaccine candidates for clinical evaluation, although the current stage of the grant does not include clinical trials. Applicants are encouraged to engage in collaborative and interdisciplinary efforts to ensure the development of vaccines that can address various strains and presentations of the virus. The forecasted notice is intended to allow potential applicants sufficient time to form partnerships and plan responsive, scientifically grounded proposals. The anticipated total program funding is $8,300,000, and the NIH expects to make up to four awards. However, neither an award ceiling nor an award floor is explicitly provided in the current forecast, and applicants may need to await the final Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for further budgetary guidance. The funding instrument will be a cooperative agreement, which means that NIH staff will have substantial programmatic involvement throughout the lifecycle of the award. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad. It includes a wide array of organizations such as state and local governments, independent school districts, federally and non-federally recognized tribal organizations and governments, public housing authorities, small businesses, other for-profit organizations, non-profit entities with 501(c)(3) status, and both public and private institutions of higher education. This expansive eligibility is consistent with NIH's goal of fostering a diverse and collaborative research environment. The forecasted timeline indicates an estimated posting date of July 7, 2025, with an application due date of November 3, 2025. The anticipated award and project start date is July 1, 2026, providing a reasonable period for review and award processing. The opportunity is currently classified as “Forecasted” and falls into the early engagement stage, which means applicants cannot yet submit applications but are encouraged to begin preparing. There is no indication of pre-application deadlines such as letters of intent or concept papers. Interested applicants should note that this grant opportunity is discretionary and falls under the health category of federal funding. For further inquiries, the designated point of contact is Dr. Rajeev Gautam from NIAID, who can be reached by phone at 301-761-5347 or via email at rajeev.gautam@nih.gov. Additional documentation and updates will likely be made available on Grants.gov closer to the posting date.