The Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Research to Stimulate Development of Diagnostics, Therapeutics, and Vaccines for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) encourages applications that focus on furthering the development of new products to prevent HSV infection and improve diagnosis and treatment of patients living with herpes.
In September 2023, NIH released the NIH Strategic Plan for HSV Research, which identifies four strategic priorities: HSV virology basic research, better HSV diagnostics, strategies to address HSV treatment and cure, and research to prevent HSV infection.
Research Objectives
This NOSI invites applications that center on developing diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for HSV, including:
- Accurate and convenient tests for the diagnosis of both symptomatic and asymptomatic herpes infection.
- Novel antiviral molecules, especially those directed against a novel target.
- Therapeutic strategies for eliminating latent HSV.
- Therapeutic and preventative vaccines.
- Monoclonal antibodies for therapy or for prevention of transmission.
The NOSI also calls for development of novel HSV treatments that reduce or eliminate both symptoms and viral shedding, and will support development of vaccines to prevent HSV acquisition. Refer to the NOSI linked above for a detailed description of those priorities.
Application and Submission Information
This notice applies to due dates on or after June 5, 2024, and subsequent receipt dates through April 5, 2027.
Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following notices of funding opportunity (NOFOs) or any reissues of these NOFOs through the expiration date of the NOSI.
- NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PHS 2023-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42], Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PHS 2023-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC and FDA for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44], Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Note that the PHS 2024-2 Omnibus Solicitations of the NIH, CDC, and FDA for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant applications are expected to be published in late Spring 2024 with an expected first application due date in September 2024. Refer to NOT-OD-24-087.
Follow all instructions in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide and the NOFO you choose for submission, with the following addition:
- For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-AI-24-028” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF 424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.
Direct inquiries specific to this NOSI to our listed research contacts: Dr. Kristie Connolly at kristie.connolly@nih.gov or 240-669-5572 and Dr. Mindy Davis at mindy.davis@nih.gov or 301-761-6689.