Tuberculosis Research Units (P01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Background
The Tuberculosis Research Units (TBRUs) funding opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The goal of this funding opportunity is to establish multidisciplinary research units that will collaborate to enhance the understanding of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and its interactions with hosts. This initiative aims to address the significant public health challenge posed by tuberculosis (TB), which remains a leading cause of infectious disease mortality globally. The program seeks to improve knowledge about TB infection outcomes, disease progression, and the factors influencing these processes.

Grant Details
The TBRUs will operate as a collaborative network focusing on several key tasks:

1. Characterizing bacterial and host heterogeneity's roles in TB infection outcomes and disease progression.

2. Defining bacterial and host determinants relevant to Mtb establishment, dissemination, and disease stage.

3. Each TBRU must include at least two interdependent Research Projects involving both animal research studies and clinical research studies.

4. Investigators are encouraged to develop pathogen-specific tools and incorporate emerging technologies into their research.

5. The program emphasizes the importance of understanding subclinical TB states, metabolic adaptations of Mtb within hosts, and the impact of comorbidities on TB treatment outcomes.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, local governments, state governments, tribal governments, and foreign organizations. Applicants must have the necessary skills and resources to carry out the proposed research as Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs). There are no specific cost-sharing requirements for this NOFO.

Period of Performance
The maximum project period is five years, with an anticipated start date for successful applications in November 2025.

Grant Value
NIAID intends to commit $10 million in FY 2026 to fund approximately 4-5 awards. Individual application budgets should not exceed $1.5 million in direct costs per year.