Partnerships for the Development of Vaccines and Immunophrophylactics Targeting Multiple Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria (R01) | RFA AI 17 017

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 17 017

The Partnerships for the Development of Vaccines and Immunophrophylactics Targeting Multiple Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria (R01) funding opportunity (RFA-AI-17-017) is a National Institutes of Health discretionary grant program in the health area (CFDA 93.855 and 93.856) designed to push forward practical vaccine and immune-based prevention approaches aimed at some of the most urgent drug-resistant hospital pathogens. The central goal is to fund milestone-driven research projects that move beyond early ideas and into tangible product-focused development, supporting work that includes discovery of promising candidates, establishment of proof-of-concept, and preclinical development of lead vaccine or immunoprophylactic candidates. A defining feature of the announcement is its emphasis on candidates that can target multiple antimicrobial-resistant Gram-negative bacteria associated with nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections, specifically carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter, and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In plain terms, the program is aimed at helping teams develop immune-based tools that could prevent infections caused by more than one of these high-priority, difficult-to-treat organisms, rather than focusing narrowly on a single pathogen.

The scientific and public health rationale behind the opportunity is tied to the persistent and growing burden of antimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings, where patients are often vulnerable due to surgery, intensive care, invasive devices, immunosuppression, or prolonged hospitalization. CRE, MDR Acinetobacter, and MDR Pseudomonas are well known for causing severe infections such as bloodstream infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, complicated urinary tract infections, and wound or surgical site infections, and they can be extremely hard to treat because of limited antibiotic options and high levels of resistance. By prioritizing vaccines and immunoprophylactics, the FOA signals a prevention-first strategy: reducing infections before they occur, which can lower antibiotic use, reduce transmission within facilities, and ultimately help slow the spread and evolution of resistance.

The projects supported under this FOA are expected to be structured around clear, measurable milestones, reflecting an applied, development-oriented mindset rather than open-ended basic research. Milestone-driven programs typically require applicants to define concrete decision points, performance metrics, and go/no-go criteria that show how the work will advance a candidate toward readiness for further development steps. Within the scope described, this can include identifying and validating antigen targets, designing and optimizing vaccine constructs or immunoprophylactic approaches, demonstrating protective activity in relevant experimental systems, and completing key preclinical studies that support advancement toward clinical evaluation. The wording of the announcement highlights three main stages it will support: discovery activities that generate or refine candidates, proof-of-concept studies that demonstrate the approach can work in principle, and preclinical development work that strengthens the evidence package around a lead candidate.

The grant uses the NIH R01 mechanism, indicating a research project grant structure, and it is categorized as a grant funding instrument. The source data lists an award ceiling of $750,000, which conveys an upper bound on the amount expected per award under the terms of this announcement. The original closing date provided is October 4, 2017, and the creation date is May 31, 2017, which places it as a time-bound solicitation from that period. While the dataset line for expected awards is not populated with a number, the opportunity is clearly framed as a competitive funding announcement intended to support multiple projects that fit the milestone-driven, multi-pathogen, Gram-negative antimicrobial resistance focus.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, allowing a wide range of organizational types to apply. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city or township, and special district governments), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education in those categories), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. It also includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. In addition to these standard categories, the FOA explicitly calls out other eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible agencies of the federal government, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This breadth suggests NIH aimed to encourage partnerships and diverse institutional participation, including capacity-building and collaboration across academic, nonprofit, government, and industry settings, and including international contributors where appropriate.

Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted push to accelerate vaccine and immunoprophylactic candidates aimed at multiple, high-threat, drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria that commonly cause hospital-acquired infections. It prioritizes translational progress by requiring milestone-based planning, supports work spanning discovery through preclinical development, and welcomes applications from a very wide set of institutions and organizations, reflecting the reality that successful vaccine development often depends on coordinated partnerships that combine microbiology, immunology, antigen discovery, formulation, animal model testing, manufacturing considerations, and product-development discipline.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Partnerships for the Development of Vaccines and Immunophrophylactics Targeting Multiple Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855, 93.856.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-05-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-10-04. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

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