Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 725
The grant opportunity "Generating New Insights and Mechanistic Understanding of Antibiotic Resistance Development (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA 18-725) is a discretionary research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that supports basic and mechanistic studies aimed at tackling antibiotic resistance. It aligns directly with priorities laid out in the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB), which emphasizes the need to better understand how resistance arises, spreads, and persists, and how scientific advances can be translated into strategies that slow or prevent resistant infections. As an R01 mechanism, the opportunity is geared toward substantial, hypothesis-driven research programs rather than small pilot projects, and the "clinical trial not allowed" designation indicates the work must not propose human clinical trials as defined by NIH, even if it may involve clinically relevant samples or non-interventional human research depending on NIH rules.
A central focus of the announcement is deepening scientific understanding of microbial communities (such as the gut, skin, respiratory, or environmental microbiomes) and the ways antibiotics reshape them. This includes studying how antibiotics disrupt community structure, alter microbial interactions, and create ecological conditions that promote the selection or expansion of resistant organisms. The FOA also highlights research on how microbial communities might be harnessed to prevent disease, which can include approaches like manipulating colonization resistance, designing microbiome-informed interventions, or identifying community-level mechanisms that suppress opportunistic pathogens. The overarching theme is mechanistic insight: moving beyond observations of resistance patterns to explain the biological, genetic, biochemical, and ecological processes that drive resistance development and maintenance.
Another emphasized research area is the exploration of combination therapies as a strategy to address the emergence of resistance. Combination approaches can include pairing antibiotics with each other, combining antibiotics with adjuvants that inhibit resistance mechanisms (for example, beta-lactamase inhibitors), or using nontraditional partners that sensitize bacteria to antibiotics or reduce selection pressure. The intent is to support research that clarifies why certain combinations work, when they fail, and what evolutionary tradeoffs or mechanistic constraints could be exploited to reduce the probability that resistance will arise during treatment. In practical terms, this could involve studying synergistic interactions, mapping resistance pathways under combination pressure, or identifying dosing and sequencing principles that limit resistance evolution, provided the work remains outside of clinical trial territory.
Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and institutions involved in biomedical and health-related research. Eligible applicants listed include 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; and a range of nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), other than institutions of higher education). The FOA also allows applications from for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses, as well as Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. In addition, the announcement 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility reflects NIH interest in drawing on diverse institutional capabilities and perspectives to address antibiotic resistance as a public health and scientific challenge.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized under Health as the funding activity area, with CFDA (now commonly referenced as Assistance Listing) number 93.855. The FOA was created on March 28, 2018, and the original closing date listed is May 7, 2021. The source data does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, which often means applicants need to refer to the full FOA text and NIH institute-specific guidance for budget expectations, typical award sizes, project periods, and any special review considerations. Overall, the program is designed to fund rigorous, mechanistic research that can generate actionable insights into how antibiotic resistance develops, particularly in the context of microbial communities and therapy strategies that may reduce or slow resistance emergence, while staying firmly within non-clinical-trial research boundaries.Apply for PA 18 725
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Generating New insights and Mechanistic Understanding of Antibiotic Resistance Development (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-03-28.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-05-07. (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 of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Generating New Insights and Mechanistic Understanding of Antibiotic Resistance Development (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)."
What is the funding opportunity number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PA 18-725.
Which agency is offering this grant?
This is a discretionary research grant offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What type of grant mechanism is used?
The opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which is intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven research programs rather than small pilot projects.
What does "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" mean for this FOA?
Applications must not propose human clinical trials as defined by NIH. The research must stay within non-clinical-trial boundaries, even if it uses clinically relevant samples or involves non-interventional human research, as permitted under NIH rules.
What is the overall purpose of this funding opportunity?
The FOA supports basic and mechanistic studies aimed at tackling antibiotic resistance, with an emphasis on explaining the biological, genetic, biochemical, and ecological processes that drive resistance development and maintenance.
How does this FOA align with national priorities on antibiotic resistance?
It aligns directly with priorities in the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB), which emphasizes understanding how resistance arises, spreads, and persists and how scientific advances can translate into strategies to slow or prevent resistant infections.
What kinds of research topics are emphasized?
Key emphasized areas include mechanistic studies of antibiotic resistance development, research on microbial communities (microbiomes) and how antibiotics reshape them, and mechanistic exploration of combination therapies designed to reduce or slow resistance emergence.
Is microbiome or microbial community research specifically encouraged?
Yes. A central focus is deepening scientific understanding of microbial communities (for example, gut, skin, respiratory, or environmental microbiomes) and how antibiotics disrupt community structure, microbial interactions, and ecological conditions that promote resistant organisms.
What does the FOA mean by studying antibiotics "reshaping" microbial communities?
It refers to research on how antibiotics alter community composition and interactions, and how those changes can create ecological conditions that select for or expand resistant organisms.
Does the FOA support research on using microbial communities to prevent disease?
Yes. The announcement highlights research on how microbial communities might be harnessed to prevent disease, including work on colonization resistance, microbiome-informed interventions, and community-level mechanisms that suppress opportunistic pathogens.
Is the focus mainly observational resistance surveillance, or mechanistic work?
The emphasis is on mechanistic insight, meaning the goal is to move beyond observations of resistance patterns and explain the underlying processes that drive resistance development and persistence.
Are combination therapies within scope for this FOA?
Yes. The FOA emphasizes exploring combination therapies as a strategy to address resistance emergence, as long as the work remains outside of NIH-defined clinical trial territory.
What types of combination therapy approaches are mentioned?
Examples include pairing antibiotics with each other, combining antibiotics with adjuvants that inhibit resistance mechanisms (such as beta-lactamase inhibitors), and using nontraditional partners that sensitize bacteria to antibiotics or reduce selection pressure.
What kinds of questions about combination therapies does the FOA aim to answer?
The intent is to clarify why certain combinations work, when they fail, and what evolutionary tradeoffs or mechanistic constraints could be exploited to reduce the probability that resistance will arise during treatment.
What are examples of mechanistic work related to combinations that could fit?
The description references studying synergistic interactions, mapping resistance pathways under combination pressure, and identifying dosing and sequencing principles that limit resistance evolution, provided the work does not become a human clinical trial.
What is the funding activity area for this opportunity?
The funding activity area is Health.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA (now commonly referred to as the Assistance Listing) number is 93.855.
When was this FOA created?
The FOA was created on March 28, 2018.
What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is May 7, 2021.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and institutions involved in biomedical and health-related research, plus non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) as explicitly listed in the opportunity description.
Are U.S. government entities eligible (state, local, special districts)?
Yes. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments.
Are school districts eligible?
Yes. Independent school districts are listed as eligible applicants.
Are higher education institutions eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. A range of nonprofit organizations are eligible, including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education).
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA allows applications from for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and also from small businesses.
Are Tribal entities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments).
Are public housing authorities eligible?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are listed as eligible.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The description explicitly lists 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); and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly called out as eligible applicants.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are included in the eligibility list.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly listed as eligible applicants.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. The announcement explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) as eligible applicants.
Does the provided information state an award ceiling or expected number of awards?
No. The source information does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards.
Where should applicants look for budget expectations or typical award size information?
Because the source information does not include award ceiling, number of awards, or typical budgets, applicants would generally need to consult the full FOA text and any NIH institute-specific guidance for budget expectations, project periods, and review considerations.
What is the main scientific theme across the research areas described?
The main theme is generating rigorous mechanistic understanding of how antibiotic resistance develops, particularly in the context of microbial communities and therapy strategies that may reduce or slow resistance emergence, while remaining within non-clinical-trial research boundaries.
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