Notice Special Interest NOSI): Availability Emergency Competitive Revisions Chemosensory Testing a COVID-19 Screening Tool Notice Number: NOT-OD-20-152 Key Dates Release Date: August 6, 2020 First Available Due Date: September 01, 2020 Expiration Date: September 16, 2020 Related Announcements PA-20-135 - Emergency Competitive Revision Existing NIH Awards Emergency Supplement - Clinical Trial Optional) NOT-OD-20-144 - Notice Intent Publish Funding Opportunity Announcements the RADx-rad Initiative RFA-OD-20-022 - Chemosensory Testing a COVID-19 Screening Tool U01 Clinical Trial Optional) RFA-OD-20-019 - Emergency Awards: RADx-rad Data Coordination Center DCC) U24 Clinical Trial Allowed) Issued Office The Director, National Institutes Health OD) National Institute Aging NIA) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Child Health Human Development NICHD) National Institute Deafness Other Communication Disorders NIDCD) National Institute Dental Craniofacial Research NIDCR) National Institute Neurological Disorders Stroke NINDS) National Institute Nursing Research NINR) applications this funding opportunity announcement should fall within mission the Institutes/Centers. following NIH Offices co-fund applications assigned those Institutes/Centers. Office Research Women's Health ORWH) Purpose Purpose NIH issuing NOSI response the declared public health emergency issued the Secretary, HHS, 2019 Novel Coronavirus COVID-19). emergency NOSI the National Institutes Health NIH) provides expedited funding mechanism part the Rapid Acceleration Diagnostics-Radical RADx-rad) initiative. goal the RADx-rad initiative to encourage development novel, non-traditional approaches identify current SARS-CoV-2 virus other markers the COVID-19 disease can used future outbreaks COVID-19 that be applicable other, yet unknown, viruses. Specifically, goal this NOSI to solicit proposals enhance utility chemosensory testing a COVID-19 screening tool using objective tests examine onset prognostic value chemosensory loss to encourage development and/or deployment home-based on-site chemosensory tests. funding this initiative provided the Paycheck Protection Program Health Care Enhancement Act, 2020. Background SARS-CoV-2 a novel coronavirus has recently identified the causative agent COVID-19, respiratory disease exhibits wide range clinical outcomes asymptomatic mild disease severe viral pneumonia, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ARDS), Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Children MIS-C), acute kidney injury, thrombotic disorders, chemosensory dysfunction, serious cardiac, cerebrovascular vascular complications. March 11, SARS-CoV-2 outbreak classified a pandemic the WHO. Research an important component the public health emergency response before, during after emergency. United States Food Drug Administration FDA)-authorized COVID-19 diagnostic testing critical slowing spread the virus preventing future outbreaks. Given this, is urgent public health need the National Institutes Health NIH) support development a variety approaches testing. Expanding capacity, throughput, regional placement existing technologies accelerating development new technologies contribute significantly the current national efforts curb COVID-19 pandemic. help meet need, NIH launched Rapid Acceleration Diagnostics RADx) initiative speed innovation the development, commercialization, implementation technologies COVID-19 testing. RADx initiative a national call scientists organizations bring innovative ideas new COVID-19 testing approaches strategies. a part this initiative, NIH developed RADx Radical RADx-rad) project. RADx-rad support new, non-traditional approaches, including unconventional screening, biological physiological markers, new platforms, point-of-care devices, address current gaps COVID-19 testing. program also support new non-traditional applications existing approaches enhance usability, accessibility, and/or accuracy. Despite variety activities included, overall RADx-rad effort be centrally aligned coordinated harmonize data collection, storage, management, providing opportunity further explore identify additional approaches understand novel virus. Beyond current crisis, is anticipated the technologies advanced through RADx-rad also applicable other, yet unknown, infectious agents. Sudden loss smell taste formally recognized one the hallmarks COVID-19 the CDC has emerged the main neurological manifestation the disease as as 80% patients infected SARS-CoV-2 reporting chemosensory dysfunction. fact, recent observational studies indicate the loss smell taste one the most common symptoms COVID-19 more predictive all symptoms, including fatigue, fever, cough. Most studies date used self-report rather objective chemosensory testing, leading the possibility the prevalence chemosensory loss be even higher among patients COVID-19 previously reported. findings highlight need objective chemosensory tests COVID-19 screening, yield immediate results are validated across lifespan, easy self-administer, quantitative graded allow determination diminished well profound sensory loss. initiative aims support further development, commercialization, implementation technologies chemosensory testing screen patients COVID-19 to complement current temperature screening procedures. Research Objectives NOSI fund competitive revisions existing NIH awards support chemosensory testing a COVID-19 screening tool using objective tests examine onset prognostic value chemosensory loss to encourage development and/or deployment home-based on-site chemosensory tests. Areas interest include: Development deployment standardized validated over counter testing kits tests utilize common household items remote, home-based screening through telemedicine mild moderately affected individuals. Modification existing test platforms e.g. NIH Toolbox) improve efficiency administration, data collection evaluation using mobile phone apps telemedicine. Development innovative chemosensory platforms can implemented testing large, risk populations, example, health care workers, pregnant women, older adults caretakers residing/working nursing homes long-term care facilities. Establishment appropriate odorants, optimal odorant concentrations, standardized delivery systems protocols the development onsite, group testing stations those working living high-density, high risks environments. Analysis test results determine specificity chemosensory testing respect COVID-19 versus influenza, onset chemosensory dysfunction, the prognostic value chemosensory testing predicting neurological other manifestations. maximize research rapidly implement approaches address COVID-19 pandemic, comparisons across datasets studies data integration essential collaboration. Projects funded through FOA strongly encouraged use following resources applicable: Data Harmonization Social Determinants Health via PhenX Toolkit: Investigators involved human-subject studies strongly encouraged employ common set tools resources will promote collection comparable data social determinants health SDOH) across studies. particular, studies human participants should incorporate SDOH measures the Core Specialty collections are available the Social Determinants Health Collection the PhenX Toolkit
www.phenxtoolkit.org). trans-NIH working group making existing COVID-19 survey items investigator contact information publicly available through NIH-supported platforms: NIH Public Health Emergency Disaster Research Response DR2)
https://dr2.nlm.nih.gov/] the PhenX Toolkit
https://www.phenxtoolkit.org/index.php]. Researchers addressing COVID-19 questions, whether population-based for clinical research, strongly encouraged consider COVID-19 specific survey item repositories select existing survey items protocol modules currently being fielded. Additional Requirements NIH requiring data sharing all COVID-19 projects, where is prohibited i.e., Tribal data sovereignty). NIH expects supports timely release sharing final research data NIH-supported studies use other researchers expedite translation research results knowledge, products, procedures improve human health. Recipients expected work the RADx-rad Data Coordinating Center DCC) submit common evaluation metrics COVID-19 testing-related outcomes implementation the DCC. Recipientsshould identify dedicated unit responsible these data reporting activities. NIH expects all projects funded under NOSI actively coordinate, collaborate, share data the RADx-rad Data Coordinating Center, allowed, with considerations under tribal IRB processes, appropriate. Researchers applying this funding opportunity strongly encouraged review Data Coordinating Center DCC) funding opportunity. NIH Expects, data acquisition, collection, curation strategies be coordinated the DCC guidance annotation benchmarking data, including obtaining appropriate consent data sharing implementation the schemas proposed under ABOUT ML effort (Annotation benchmarking understanding transparency machine learning lifecycles; available
https://www.partnershiponai.org/about-ml/). order maximize progress successful outcomes, recipientsare expected participate DCC-organized activities, including regular e.g., monthly) progress meetings individual subsets awardees, twice annual meetings all RADx-rad awardees. Applications must include timeline completion. timeline must include plans regular reports progress be submitted the DCC. Projects must include evaluation plan demonstrating the proposed COVID-19 diagnostic strategies/activities be assessed effectiveness impact. Recipientsare expected obtain retain personal identifiers all research participants where is prohibited i.e., Tribal data sovereignty) future longitudinal follow-up to leveraged intervention research. Data collected this program be protected a Certificate Confidentiality. Recipients must include measures reporting relevant testing implementation outcomes, inform future community, local, state, federal policies. with NIH supported research, details regarding human subjects research expected, including data safety monitoring plans and, needed, plans a Data Safety Monitoring Board DSMB). Studies have DSMB expected coordinate DCC DSMB activities. Recipients expected disaggregate study results sex gender; race ethnicity; age other relevant demographic factors, to consider intersectionality appropriate Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, accessibility affordability key considerations chemosensory tests. Odor taste assessment delivery tools should follow FDA guidelines including performance testing demonstrate reliability detection loss chemosensory function be considered Generally Recognized Safe GRAS). Non-responsive Projects do have infrastructure rapidly report study findings impact the DCC. Projects have limited testing capacity, do include FDA-authorized/approved testing strategies present plan incorporate approved testing strategies Review Process Applications be evaluated scientific technical merit an appropriate internal review panel convened NIH staff, accordance the review criteria specified PA-20-135 well these additional review criteria: Urgency significance research: will successful completion the aims contribute or complement public health efforts the control detection SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19) infection related pathogenic processes? Research strategy: the overall strategy, methodology, analyses well-reasoned appropriate accomplish specific aims the project? feasible appropriate the overall research design elements including power calculations) demonstrating effectiveness impact the proposed COVID-19 diagnostic testing? the emergency time frame appropriate feasible support aims goals the study? Investigators: the PD/PIs, collaborators, other researchers well suited appropriate carry the project? Outcomes: outcomes products proposed impact improve acceptability, accessibility, effectiveness COVID-19 testing? Testing: feasible appropriate the plans access FDA-authorized/approved test kits related activities i.e., ability process tests a timely manner return test results quickly possible)? Data Sharing Plan: the proposed research generate unique resources data may impact public health response medical countermeasure development, does resource sharing plan adequately address rapid dissemination data, results, analyses the broader scientific community, using existing public repositories whenever possible not limited Tribal data sharing policy, a foundation further study? Coordination plans:How feasible appropriate the plans submit data, data collection instruments, outcomes/products the DCC? Pre-Award costs Pre-award costs be incurred January 20, 2020 through public health emergency period prior the date the federal award. Reporting Funds awarded using appropriations provided the Paycheck Protection Program Health Care Enhancement Act, Public Law 116-139 be issued unique subaccounts the HHS Payment Management System will require separate financial reporting any funds awarded. Application Submission Information Application due date: September 15, 2020 5:00 PM local time applicant organization. Submit applications this initiative response the following funding opportunity announcement FOA) the subsequent reissued equivalent through expiration date this notice: PA-20-135- Emergency Competitive Revision Existing NIH Awards Emergency Supplement - Clinical Trial Optional) Eligibility Active research resource grants, cooperative agreements small business grants SBIR STTRs). NRSA training fellowship grants not eligible apply funding. Product development, validation, scale-up activities supporting commercialization all within scope this NOSI. be eligible a competing revision award under NOSI, parent award which revision application based must an active award including those a no-cost-extension period) managed one the participating institutes centers. Grants currently a no-cost extension eligible apply. instructions the SF424 R&R) Application Guide the parent funding opportunity announcement must followed, the following additions: funding consideration, applicants must include NOT-OD-20-152 without quotation marks) the Agency Routing Identifier field box 4B) the SF424 R&R form. Applications without information box 4B not considered this initiative. Applications non-responsive terms this NOSI be be considered. Requests expected to exceed 250,000 total direct costs. Total direct costs requested not exceed direct cost amount the current years award. Maximum direct costs exclusive consortium/contractual Facilities Administrative F&A) costs. Requests limited one year support. Regardless the grant mechanism the parent award, Research Strategy section the application limited 6 pages. Where applicable, provide details appropriate biohazard management plans commensurate the level risk
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/lab-biosafety-guidelines…). Applications conducting research the SARS-CoV-2 virus specimens possible SARS-CoV-2 infection must address protections against potential biohazards, including details access special facilities, e.g., Biosafety Level 3/4 BSL3/4) laboratories. Potential applicants strongly encouraged contact Program Official listed the Notice Grant Award the parent project discuss responsiveness appropriate mechanism before submission to facilitate efficient processing the request. Inquiries Please direct inquiries one the following contacts: Susan Sullivan, Ph.D. National Institute Deafness Other Communication Disorders NIDCD): 301-451-3841
sullivas@nidcd.nih.gov Amanda Melillo, Ph.D. National Institute Dental Craniofacial Research NIDCR 301-312-9037
amanda.melillo@nih.gov Coryse St. Hillaire-Clarke, Ph.D. National Institute Aging NIA) 301-827-6944
sthillaireclacn@mail.nih.gov Nahida Chakhtoura, Ph.D. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Child Health Human Development NICHD) 301-435-6872
nahida.chakhtoura@nih.gov Jim Gnadt, Ph.D. National Institute Neurological Disorders Stroke NINDS) 301-496-9964
gnadtjw@ninds.nih.gov Michelle Hamlet National Institute Nursing Research NINR) 301-496-9623
hamletm@mail.nih.gov Rajasri Roy Office Research Women's Health ORWH) 301-451-0993
rajasri.roy@nih.gov