The application package for the Opportunity Fund is in line with the requirements for NIH applications (including the CV, budget, templates, formatting, etc.), which will help junior investigators learn how to put together an NIH application. The expertise that junior investigators develop from completing the Opportunity Fund application will support them when they apply for larger NIH opportunities such as the International Research Scientist Development Award (IRSDA) program.

Opportunity Fund research proposals are expected to be solicited annually.

Yes.

No, applying for the Opportunity Fund is not required of TMRCs. Applications should only be submitted by TMRCs with junior investigators who have defined research concepts.

The Opportunity Fund uses the NIH definition of early-stage investigator (ESI), “An ESI is a Program Director/Principal Investigator who has completed their terminal research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training, whichever is later, within the past 10 years and who has not previously competed successfully as a PD/PI for a substantial NIH independent research award”. Additional details can be found here .

Yes, advanced PhD students are eligible and can apply to the Opportunity Fund.

A junior investigator must be affiliated with the TMRC but does not need to be an employee. However, the award will not cover salary nor training.

Yes, if a US PI trains and receives the Opportunity Fund Award, their institution can receive the funding.

The goal of the Opportunity Fund is to build capacity for the NTD domain and TMRC. If there is an ID fellow from another division that wants to apply for the Opportunity Fund to further their own training and not contribute to the long-term goal of the TMRC, it is less encouraged for them to apply.

No, a master’s level investigator can apply as long as they have the right expertise.

No, the parent TMRC institution receives the award.

Yes, as long as the proposed research is relevant to the current TMRC scope and is intended to further the science.

Yes.

It is possible, however if the new sample being collected would require an IRB modification or modification to the informed consent, then it would not be approved.

As long as the proposed work is related to the TMRC pathogen scope, then it could be covered.

The proposed work can be based on data or samples from other sources, as long as the proposed work expands on the TMRC’s current work.

Yes.

It depends on the situation. If a small fraction of the Opportunity Fund award budget is used to help the awarded PI travel to be trained, that would be okay, but the award cannot be entirely used for training purposes. The award cannot be used at all to cover a senior persons travel to a site to train the PI. The award is purposed for the research.

Absolutely! It would be ideal if two early career investigators from the same TMRC apply as co-PIs, with one co-PI being more of a biostatistician, epidemiologist, or clinician, and then the second co-PI being more lab-oriented. In this scenario, the awarded budget can be up to $20,000.

Other samples can be used as long as they are being studied within the scope of the TMRC’s focus.

Yes, as long as it relates to the TMRC’s objective.

Opportunity Fund awards will be provided and managed by RTI as subawards. The Opportunity Fund awards are separate from the TMRC institution awards. Thus, TMRCs do not need to include the Opportunity Fund in their yearly financial reports (FFRs) to the NIH.

Since the Opportunity Fund awards are small and will not include new human subjects or animal approvals, RTI expects that the international research approvals will move quickly. However, in the case that there are delays with government approvals, the Opportunity Fund award will still be honored for the awarded TMRC.

Yes, once the international approval is obtained, the institution does not have to do it every year.

Yes, the maximum is $20,000 for two PIs collaborating on a single application. For a single application with one PI, the maximum award amount is $10,000. For applications with two PIs, it is best if their expertise is complimentary.

Yes.