Emergency Awards: Automatic Detection and Tracing of SARS-CoV-2 (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

NIH is issuing this FOA in response to the declared public health emergency issued by the Secretary, HHS, for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). This emergency funding opportunity announcement (FOA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides an expedited funding mechanism as part of the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics-Radical (RADx-rad) initiative. The goal of this RFA is to solicit proposals for the development of novel, non-traditional approaches to identify the current SARS-CoV-2 virus or other markers of the COVID-19 disease that can be used in future outbreaks of COVID-19 and that could be applicable to other, as yet unknown, viruses. Specifically, this RFA will support the early stage development of an innovative platform that integrates aptamer biosensing with touchscreen or other digital devices to achieve real-time detection and tracing of SARS-CoV-2. The project needs to demonstrate proof-of-concept of SARS-CoV-2 detection with high sensitivity and specificity, immobilized sensor functionality, automatic signal transduction and detection by digital devices. The funding for this initiative is provided from the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, 2020. NIH expects that all projects funded under this FOA will actively coordinate, collaborate, and share data with the RADx-rad Data Coordinating Center, as allowed, and with considerations under tribal IRB processes, as appropriate. Researchers applying to this funding opportunity are strongly encouraged to review the Data Coordinating Center (DCC) funding opportunity