Through Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Discovery and Development of Oral Small-Molecule Direct-Acting Antivirals Targeting Viruses of Pandemic Potential, NIAID invites research project grant applications to advance candidate antiviral drugs suitable for widespread use in the community in future outbreaks or pandemics.
Specifically, the NOSI encourages discovery and development of small molecule compounds (molecular weight less than 2 kilodaltons) with activity against viral targets that could be administered orally as monotherapy or in combination with other drugs to treat infections caused by viruses of pandemic potential. Such research may range from early discovery and lead series optimization to late-stage preclinical development and investigational new drug-enabling profiling.
Example project activities include, but are not limited to:
- Structure-based design and medicinal chemistry
- Biochemical screening
- In vitro efficacy
- In vivo efficacy
- Mechanism of action studies
- Pharmacology and toxicology
We strongly encourage applicants to collaborate with pharmaceutical organizations to access chemical starting points and critical medicinal chemistry, as well as regulatory and drug development expertise.
Incorporating multidisciplinary activities may also be appropriate, depending on the project’s stage of candidate discovery and development.
As for what viruses to target, the NOSI considers viral pathogens from the following RNA virus families within scope:
- Coronaviruses (activity against multiple coronaviruses, ‘pan-CoV,’ required)
- Paramyxoviruses
- Bunyaviruses (Bunyavirales order)
- Togaviruses
- Filoviruses
- Picornaviruses
- Flaviviruses
- Orthomyxoviruses
You must not focus on other virus families or we will consider your application nonresponsive under this NOSI. Likewise, the NOSI will not support the following:
- Approaches that target the host and not the virus.
- Therapeutics that will require intravenous, intranasal, or other non-oral delivery routes.
- Antibody or other non-small molecule approaches in which the candidate’s molecular weight exceeds 2 kilodaltons.
- Efforts to repurpose or reformulate marketed drugs.
How to Apply
For standard due dates on or after October 5, 2024, through July 16, 2027, you may apply using the following parent notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) or their subsequent reissues:
- NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PHS 2024-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42], Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PHS 2024-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC, and FDA for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44], Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Remember, you must list “NOT-AI-24-053” in the Agency Routing Identifier field (Box 4B) of the SF 424 R&R form.
To determine your project’s maximum project period, budget limits, and specific submission deadline, refer to the NOFO through which you choose to apply.
Direct questions about the NOSI to our scientific/research contacts for the initiative: Dr. Mindy Davis at mindy.davis@nih.gov or 301-761-6689 and Dr. Dipanwita Basu at dipanwita.basu@nih.gov or 240-627-3469.