Partnerships for Advancing Development of Diagnostics for Infectious Diseases

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is issuing a Request for Applications (RFA) to fund partnerships between academic or small‑business investigators and industrial partners for the translational development of infectious‑disease diagnostic tests that have already demonstrated proof‑of‑concept. The goal is to de‑risk early‑stage diagnostics, accelerate commercialization, and ensure the end products are fit for purpose in treatment, vaccine evaluation, and outbreak detection. Up to ten awards are anticipated, with a total estimated funding envelope of $10 million. Projects will be overseen by a science advisory board and NIAID, with annual meetings and workshops to promote collaboration. • Target audience: academic labs, small businesses, biotech firms, and other eligible entities (including non‑U.S. institutions). • Funding mechanism: Cooperative Agreement (CA) under sections 301/405 of the PHS Act. • Estimated total funding: $10 M across ~10 awards (~$1 M per award). • Expected deliverables: a validated diagnostic prototype ready for regulatory submission and commercial scale‑up. • Timeline: application due Oct 14 2027; award anticipated Jul 1 2028; project start Jul 1 2028. • No cost‑sharing required.