Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 18 023
The Immune Mechanisms at the Maternal-Fetal Interface (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-AI-18-023) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant initiative designed to support research focused on how immune cells function and interact at the maternal-fetal interface across the full course of pregnancy. The central goal is to clarify the immune mechanisms that help maintain a healthy pregnancy while also defending the fetus and the mother against infection. A key emphasis is understanding how maternal immune responses to vaccination and infection operate at this interface, including which immune pathways provide fetal protection and how these exposures and protective responses may shape the developing fetal immune system.
Scientifically, the opportunity is aimed at projects that investigate the types of immune cells present at the maternal-fetal interface, how they communicate with each other and with placental and maternal tissues, and how these relationships change from early pregnancy through delivery. This includes studying immune tolerance mechanisms that prevent harmful immune reactions against the fetus, balanced against protective immunity that still allows the mother and fetus to respond effectively to pathogens. The announcement explicitly highlights interest in mechanisms of response to vaccination and infection, reflecting an intent to fund work that can explain why certain maternal immunizations are protective, how antibodies or immune cells may contribute to fetal protection, and how infection-triggered inflammation or immune activation might alter fetal development or neonatal immune outcomes.
From a program structure standpoint, this is an R01 mechanism, meaning it is intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects that can support a multi-year, in-depth investigation. The “Clinical Trial Optional” designation signals that applicants may propose clinical trial components if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required. This flexibility allows applications ranging from basic and translational immunology studies (for example, mechanistic work using human tissues or relevant model systems) to clinical or clinical-adjacent studies that evaluate immune responses in pregnant individuals, vaccine response dynamics during pregnancy, or immune correlates associated with protection from infection affecting pregnancy.
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across the public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors. Eligible applicants listed for this opportunity include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private 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); nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. The notice also specifically calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized entities, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). Taken together, this indicates an intent to attract a wide range of research teams, including those serving underrepresented communities and those with specialized access to relevant populations, clinical settings, or biological samples.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized under Health, Income Security and Social Services, and it is associated with CFDA numbers 93.855 and 93.865. The NIH is the sponsoring agency. The funding opportunity was created on 2018-06-14, with an original closing date of 2018-10-04. The source data provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, so applicants would typically look to the full FOA text or NIH budget guidance for details on budget expectations, project period limits, and any institute-specific funding considerations.
In practical terms, the projects this FOA seeks to enable are those that deepen understanding of immune biology at the point where maternal and fetal systems meet, with clear relevance to pregnancy health, maternal immunization, infectious disease risk, and early-life immune development. The underlying public health value is that clearer mechanisms can inform better vaccines for pregnant populations, improved strategies to prevent infection-related pregnancy complications, and more precise interventions to support healthy immune development in infants.Apply for RFA AI 18 023
- The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Immune Mechanisms at the Maternal-Fetal Interface (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855, 93.865.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-06-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-10-04. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name and number of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Immune Mechanisms at the Maternal-Fetal Interface (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and the funding opportunity number is RFA-AI-18-023.
Which agency is offering this grant?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What type of grant mechanism is this?
This is an NIH R01 mechanism, intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects that support multi-year, in-depth investigation.
What does "Clinical Trial Optional" mean for this opportunity?
"Clinical Trial Optional" means applicants may include a clinical trial component if it fits the proposed research, but submitting a clinical trial is not required. Applications may range from basic and translational studies to clinical or clinical-adjacent research involving pregnant individuals.
What is the main research focus of this FOA?
The FOA supports research on how immune cells function and interact at the maternal-fetal interface across the full course of pregnancy, with the goal of clarifying immune mechanisms that help maintain a healthy pregnancy while also defending the fetus and the mother against infection.
What is meant by the "maternal-fetal interface" in the context of this opportunity?
In this opportunity, the maternal-fetal interface refers to the point where maternal and fetal systems meet (including placental and maternal tissues) and where immune cells and immune signals shape pregnancy health, fetal protection, and immune development.
What pregnancy time period is the FOA interested in studying?
The announcement emphasizes the full course of pregnancy, including how immune relationships and mechanisms change from early pregnancy through delivery.
What kinds of scientific questions does NIH want applicants to address?
Projects are aimed at investigating: (1) which immune cells are present at the maternal-fetal interface; (2) how they communicate with each other and with placental and maternal tissues; (3) how those interactions change over pregnancy; and (4) how immune tolerance and protective immunity are balanced to prevent harmful reactions against the fetus while maintaining protection against pathogens.
How does the FOA prioritize immune tolerance versus protective immunity?
The FOA highlights the need to understand tolerance mechanisms that prevent harmful immune responses against the fetus, while also understanding protective immunity that still allows effective responses to pathogens that may affect the mother or fetus.
Is maternal vaccination a specific emphasis of this funding opportunity?
Yes. A key emphasis is understanding maternal immune responses to vaccination at the maternal-fetal interface, including which immune pathways provide fetal protection and why certain maternal immunizations are protective.
Is maternal infection also a specific emphasis of this funding opportunity?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights mechanisms of response to infection, including how infection-triggered inflammation or immune activation might alter fetal development or influence neonatal immune outcomes.
What aspects of fetal or neonatal immune development are relevant to this FOA?
The FOA is interested in how maternal exposures (such as vaccination or infection) and resulting protective responses at the maternal-fetal interface may shape the developing fetal immune system and potentially impact neonatal immune outcomes.
What kinds of study approaches are appropriate under this FOA?
The FOA allows flexibility for applications ranging from basic and translational immunology studies (including mechanistic work using human tissues or relevant model systems) to clinical or clinical-adjacent studies evaluating immune responses in pregnant individuals, vaccine response dynamics during pregnancy, or immune correlates associated with protection from infection affecting pregnancy.
Are applicants required to propose a human clinical trial?
No. A clinical trial is optional, not required.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors, as well as other eligible entities listed in the opportunity description.
Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
Are government organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts. Eligible federal agencies are also called out in the eligibility list.
Are tribal entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and also includes Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized entities, as well as Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments).
Are nonprofits eligible to apply?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status are eligible (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories, as specified in the provided eligibility language).
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.
Are community-based or faith-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are specifically called out as additional eligible applicant categories.
Are organizations in U.S. territories eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are listed among the additional eligible applicant categories.
Are non-U.S. organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are included in the eligibility list.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically encouraged or included as eligible?
The eligibility list specifically includes categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
What is the CFDA information associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.855 and 93.865.
How is this opportunity categorized administratively?
The opportunity is categorized under Health, Income Security and Social Services.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The provided information indicates it was created on 2018-06-14.
What was the original closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed in the provided information is 2018-10-04.
Does the provided information list an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The source data provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
What is the public health purpose of the research this FOA aims to support?
The stated value is to deepen understanding of immune biology where maternal and fetal systems meet, with relevance to pregnancy health, maternal immunization, infectious disease risk, and early-life immune development. This mechanistic clarity could inform better vaccines for pregnant populations, improved strategies to prevent infection-related pregnancy complications, and more precise interventions to support healthy immune development in infants.
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