Planning Grant for Emerging Epidemic Virus Research Training for West African Countries with Widespread Transmission of Ebola- Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone (D71) | PAR 16 407

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 407

The Planning Grant for Emerging Epidemic Virus Research Training for West African Countries with Widespread Transmission of Ebola (D71) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-16-407; CFDA 93.989) designed to support the early, structured planning of research training and capacity-building programs focused on emerging viral epidemic threats. It targets collaborative partnerships that involve institutions in Guinea, Liberia, and/or Sierra Leone, the three West African countries that experienced widespread Ebola transmission. Rather than funding a full, long-term training program right away, this award is meant to finance the groundwork needed to build a strong, coordinated, and sustainable research training effort that can later be implemented and expanded.

The core purpose of the opportunity is to help U.S. or African research institutions organize a collaborative planning process with partners in the affected West African countries to design training approaches that strengthen local and regional research capacity around emerging viral diseases with pandemic potential. The emphasis is on building capability that lasts beyond a single outbreak, including the ability to detect outbreaks early, understand and predict transmission, evaluate public health interventions, and study the long-term health consequences that can follow infection. In practical terms, applicants are expected to propose how they will work together across institutions to define training needs, identify gaps in infrastructure and expertise, map out feasible curricula and mentorship models, and create a realistic plan for developing researchers and systems that can respond quickly and effectively when new viral threats emerge.

The planned training and capacity building should be oriented toward key epidemic research functions. The FOA highlights several priority areas: early identification of emerging viral diseases (which can include surveillance strategies and diagnostic readiness), prediction of transmission (which can involve epidemiologic methods, modeling approaches, and data systems), testing public health responses (such as study designs that assess intervention effectiveness, operational research, and implementation science), and assessing and addressing long-term health sequelae (the persistent or delayed health impacts that can occur after infection, which requires longitudinal follow-up and clinical research capacity). The overall goal is to enable partner institutions to generate evidence locally, translate findings into public health action, and contribute to regional and global preparedness.

Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, along with other eligible organization types listed in the announcement. The FOA specifically notes additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This structure is meant to encourage inclusive participation and enable both U.S.-based and Africa-based institutions to lead or co-lead planning efforts, provided they can demonstrate a credible collaboration with institutions in Guinea, Liberia, and/or Sierra Leone and a planning approach likely to produce sustainable capacity.

From a funding and timeline standpoint, the opportunity is a grant mechanism with an award ceiling of $50,000, intended to cover planning activities rather than large-scale implementation. The original closing date listed for applications was 2017-02-22, and the opportunity record indicates it was created on 2016-08-16. While the notice references expected awards, the provided source data does not specify a numeric value. In general, a planning grant at this funding level typically supports activities like partnership development meetings, needs assessments, curriculum and mentorship framework design, stakeholder engagement, feasibility assessments for data and lab systems, and development of a more comprehensive future training proposal.

In summary, this NIH planning grant aims to catalyze well-designed, jointly developed research training and capacity-building programs focused on emerging viral epidemics in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. It supports the structured planning needed to build durable local expertise and systems for outbreak detection, transmission understanding, response evaluation, and long-term outcomes research, with the broader intent of improving epidemic preparedness in West Africa and reducing risks that could escalate into regional or global public health emergencies.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Planning Grant for Emerging Epidemic Virus Research Training for West African Countries with Widespread Transmission of Ebola- Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone (D71)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.989.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-08-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-02-22. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for PAR 16 407

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