Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa) Research Hubs (U54 Clinical Trial Optional)

Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa) Research Hubs (U54 Clinical Trial Optional) is sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH). This funding opportunity seeks applications for Research Hubs as part of the broader Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa) initiative.

The goal is to advance data science health research and innovation in Africa and support new African and global partnerships that enhance the impact of data science health research. Applicants must propose at least two distinct research projects and a system for soliciting, evaluating, and awarding smaller pilot projects, all focused on a central health theme that addresses priorities in an African country or region.

Clinical trials are optional.

Expired RFA-RM-20-015: Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa) Research Hubs (U54 Clinical Trial Optional) This notice has expired. Check the NIH Guide for active opportunities and notices. Department of Health and Human Services Part 1.

Overview Information Participating Organization(s) National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) of Participating Organizations Office of Strategic Coordination ( Common Fund ) This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is developed as a Common Fund initiative ( https://commonfund. nih. gov/ ) through the Office of the NIH Director, Office of Strategic Coordination https://dpcpsi.

nih. gov/ ). All NIH Institutes and Centers participate in Common Fund initiatives.

The FOA will be administered by a trans-NIH team, which will be led by the Fogarty International Center ( FIC ) on behalf of the NIH.

Funding Opportunity Title Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa) Research Hubs (U54 Clinical U54 Specialized Center- Cooperative Agreements July 29, 2020 - Notice of Technical Assistance Webinars for Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa) RFAs: RFA-RM-20-015, RFA-RM-20-016, RFA-RM-20-017, RFA-RM-20-018. See Notice NOT-RM-20-024 .

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number Companion Funding Opportunity RFA-RM-20-016 International Research Training Cooperative Agreements RFA-RM-20-017 Research Project Cooperative Agreements RFA-RM-20-018 High Impact Research and Research Infrastructure Cooperative Agreement Additional Information on Eligibility .

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) Funding Opportunity Purpose This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) seeks applications for Research Hubs as part of a broader initiative entitled Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa) .

The goal of DS-I Africa is to spur new health discoveries and catalyze innovation in healthcare, public health, and health research on the continent through application of data science. DS-I Africa Research Hubs will be funded to advance data science health research and innovation in Africa and support new African and global partnerships that enhance the impact of data science health research.

Hubs will engage government, industry, or other organizations, including diverse departments from academic institutions, that can partner to provide synergistic expertise, collaborate on research, and support data science linked to new technologies and solutions.

Applicants must propose at least 2 distinct research projects and a system for soliciting, evaluating, and awarding smaller pilots projects, all focused on a central health theme that addresses priorities in an African country or region. Applications must be submitted from African academic or other non-profit organizations.

Proposed partnerships with organizations outside the applicant institution are required and can include all types of organizations in Africa, the U.S., or other countries. Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) Letter of Intent Due Date(s) All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on the listed date(s).

Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date. AIDS Application Due Date(s) All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of AIDS and AIDS-related applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on the listed date(s).

Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date. It is critical that applicants follow the Multi-Project (M) Instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide , except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts ).

Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV . When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions.

Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review. Part 1. Overview Information Part 2.

Full Text of the Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description Section II. Award Information Section III.

Eligibility Information Section IV. Application and Submission Section V. Application Review Information Section VI.

Award Administration Information Section VII. Agency Contacts Section VIII. Other Information Full Text of Announcement Section I.

Funding Opportunity Description Recent technological advances in Africa and around the world have enabled researchers to collect enormous volumes of data. From rural clinics to the most sophisticated genomics laboratories data are central to our ability to improve health, from delivering care to conducting biomedical research.

The ability to fully extract useful knowledge from these data will lead to accelerated discoveries and innovations that can impact health in Africa and globally.

In the next decade, rapid advances in data science, including new approaches to the description, collection, storage, integration, and analysis of large, heterogeneous, structured and unstructured data sets, and new computational methods such as advanced deep learning, digital phenotypes, machine learning and artificial intelligence, and 3D imaging are expected to transform biomedical and behavioral research and lead to improved health for individuals and populations.

Traditional datasets (e.g. national health systems, surveillance, surveys) are becoming deeper and richer while new geospatial data, mobile phones, wearables, electronic medical records, bioimaging, and genomics) are emerging that may be of greatest value when linked to data science.

Progress in development of new large data sets and advanced methods for mining them underpin advances in diagnostics, technology development, and the potential for precision public health.

The Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa) program is designed to spur discoveries and innovations through application of data science in the African context that will ultimately promote significant improvements in health for African individuals, communities, and populations.

We define data science as the interdisciplinary field of inquiry in which quantitative and analytical approaches, processes, and systems are developed and used to extract knowledge Decades of infrastructure building and training in Africa have provided compelling opportunities for research to address the disproportionate share of the global burden of disease that Africa bears.

Data science has the potential to significantly impact both quantitative and qualitative research and health on the continent. By leveraging existing digital infrastructure, new solutions can be developed that are relevant, affordable, acceptable, and scalable.

For example, extensive mobile phone coverage in Africa has led to major innovations in banking and agriculture and similarly has the potential to rapidly advance health care delivery systems, bringing the clinic to the patient through point of care technologies and self-management systems, with applications to rural and underserved populations worldwide.

Additionally, this initiative is synergistic with and leverages the substantial investments NIH, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and other US government entities have already made in research and research training in Africa.

NIH funds more than 1,600 active grants working in Africa and has catalyzed well-developed clinical and academic research networks through prior investments by the NIH Common Fund and its partners in the Medical Education Partnership Initiatives ( MEPI ) and the Human Health and Heredity in Africa ( H3Africa ) DS-I Africa Research Hubs will serve as a core component within the larger DS-I Africa program, which will also consist of 1) data science and innovation training programs, 2) research on the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) central to data science health research and innovation in Africa, and 3) an open data science platform and coordinating center.

As a group, awardees will constitute a collaborative consortium, made up of all programs funded through the broader DS-I Africa program, and will work collectively toward strategic objectives designated by the consortium, beyond the individual research objectives of each award.

Representatives from each DS-I Africa Research Hub will be expected to participate fully in the DS-I Africa Consortium and cross-consortium technical and education working groups.

The overarching goal of the DS-I Africa program is to advance data science and related innovations in Africa through creation of a multisectoral and multidisciplinary ecosystem that can begin to provide local solutions to countries most immediate biomedical and public health problems through advances in research.

It is expected that the DS-I Africa Research Hubs will become recognized centers of excellence in various fields of data science that can be regional and continental resources. Additionally, these hubs will have the ability to advance population-relevant, affordable, acceptable, and scalable data science solutions and, in the long-term, demonstrate the ability of these solutions to improve health in Africa.

DS-I Africa Research Hubs should be interdisciplinary (biomedical science, computer science, engineering, social and behavioral science, and other fields) and focus on a critical health research area to be addressed through data science approaches. This critical health research area should be of importance to the country or region of focus, and may be cross-cutting, disease-specific, or data-specific.

Hubs least two partners outside the applicant institution (one of which must be a non-academic African organization).

Applicants are highly encouraged to propose methods to form, maintain, and/or strengthen African governmental and private partnerships (including industry, NGOs, and related organizations globally), in addition to academic partners from other countries globally, to provide synergistic expertise, collaborate on research, and support data science linked to new technologies.

It is expected that these partnerships will expand over the course of the award and collectively support the various aspects of the research supported by the Research Hub. Together, the Research Hub collaborations must provide the complete capacity needed to carry out research on a health topic important to Africa.

There are many areas of data science that may be engaged by the Research Hubs and projects will be expected to employ a variety of approaches through the research proposed. Projects and Cores may collect and utilize a wide range of data types and sources, including but not limited to clinical, public health, genomic, imaging, geospatial, mobile, and environmental data.

Hubs should leverage existing, African-based information and communication technology infrastructure, such as cell coverage and mobile phones, satellites, high-performance computing infrastructure and other digital information systems.

The proposed Research Hub should include several demonstrated competencies, as appropriate to the project proposed, to meet the overarching goals of the DS-I Africa program, which include leveraging open data science, biomedical domain knowledge, technology, capacity building, and community/stakeholder engagement to advance health discovery and innovation in Africa.

Each DS-I Africa Research Hub will be expected to include the following components: Research Projects (required, Administrative Core (required, Data Management and Analysis Core (required, maximum of one) Research Projects: Applicants must propose at least two research projects .

One research project must be solution-oriented through the development or adaptation of a product (software or hardware) or new technology that is either needed for the collection of new data types or translates initial data science research into a new health innovation. Other research projects proposed will be up to the applicants to define.

While new data can be collected where necessary, projects should primarily focus on use of pre-existing data. In the long-term, Research Hubs should demonstrate through these projects the potential for data science-driven research products to impact health, healthcare, or health research and translate beyond the research lab. See "Specific Areas of Research Interest" below for further information about applicable areas of research.

Administrative Core: This core leads the Research Hub, maintains the organization of the Hub and its external collaborations, and ensures that the projects and cores are being supported to achieve the Hub's goals.

The Administrative Core facilitates and coordinates communication of Hub results, accomplishments, and implications of the Hub's research to stakeholders, including appropriate NIH staff, the DS-I Africa Coordinating Center, DS-I Africa affiliated programs, and other stakeholders in a context that makes the research applicable to the target audience.

The Administrative Core has the critical role in assisting project/core leaders in translating their research outcomes and activities to appropriate audiences (including industry partners for applicable commercialization of Hub-related innovations); ensuring the accurate and timely use of products and sharing of findings; and advancing appropriate ethical, legal, and social implications research tied to research projects and overall Hub activities.

This core also has the primary role of initiating partnerships, arranging appropriate subawards, determining and distributing award funds, etc. as partnerships expand over the course of the Additionally, a key component of each DS-I Africa Research Hub must involve a mechanism to provide sub-award support for pilot projects that have significant potential to address developing needs and opportunities while being shorter term and varying throughout the period of award.

These pilot projects will allow the grantees to take advantage of new directions stimulated by their projects, form new partnerships, provide support to early-stage investigators to undertake data science-related research and innovation, and support relevant cross-consortium projects.

Beyond the administrative oversight activities of an NIH-sponsored Administrative Core, it is expected that the DS-I Research Hub Administrative Core will establish and manage a solicitation, review, and selection process for collaborative sub-award pilot projects aligned with the Research Hub overall focus and milestones, including the distribution of yearly sub-award funds.

Hubs are required to fund two to five sub-award projects per year beginning in Year 2 of the research funding cycle , with at least one yearly sub-award project from outside the existing Hub organizational structure, in keeping with the overarching DS-I Africa goal of sustaining and expanding vital partnerships.

Hubs should also encourage junior investigator-led sub-award pilot projects from within and outside the U54 awardee institution, as well as serve as potential research sites for trainees associated with the DS-I Africa Research Training Program.

The Administrative Core should also lead or propose how the Research Hub will interact with other DS-I Africa Research Hubs, Training Programs, ELSI Projects, Open Data Science Platform, and Coordinating Center for advancing aligned research (as applicable), strengthened research capacity building efforts, informed community engagement and development of relevant ethical and legal frameworks, and open data sharing.

These efforts can be led directly through the Administrative Core or through an optional Support Core . Data Management and Analysis Core: Data represent important research products and attention is needed to provide stewardship of data and treat data as an asset. To support NIH data sharing policies ( https://grants.

nih. gov/policy/sharing. htm ) and promote best practices, all DS-I Africa Research Hub applicants are required to have a Data Management and Analysis Core (DMAC).

The primary purpose of the DMAC is to support the management, integration, and interoperability (as appropriate) of data assets across the Hub, including the Hub research projects and all pilot projects. The DMAC will support management and analysis of both pre-existing data and new data produced through the Hub, as well as the development of tools for data assessment.

Developing creative approaches that foster the development or strengthening of artificial-intelligence ready data sets (AI-Ready data sets) is desired. The DMAC should also establish, coordinate, and monitor processes for data analysis and work closely with project/core leaders to ensure high data quality throughout the entire lifecycle of the data.

The DMAC also has a coordinating role to work with project/core leaders to identify opportunities for integrating project/core-generated data with other existing datasets, as appropriate. Importantly, the DMAC should also facilitate collaboration with the DS-I Africa Open Data Science Platform for applicable alignment, management, and harmonization of data across the DS-I Africa Consortium.

Research Hub Cores (both required Cores and optional Support Cores) should support and strengthen the efforts of the Research Projects and Pilot Projects, as well as further enable integration with the broader DS-I Africa Consortium efforts.

While the specific area(s) a Research Hub application proposes to address will be determined by the applicant, potential topics that could be considered include, but are not limited to: multi-omics computational research (e.g., genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, epitranscriptomics, proteomics, pharmacogenetics, and biomarkers), including applied research efforts that work toward the development of polygenic risk scores for defined African populations; development and use of shared platforms and leveraging of large health datasets that enable discovery of emergent multi-morbid patterns as well computational approaches to mine electronic health records, data findings from clinical trials; development of algorithms for extraction of features from clinical reports to reduce human resource needs and develop pattern recognition in population data to enable prediction of treatment outcomes; development and leveraging of novel machine learning/artificial intelligence/computer vision tools for data analytics, computer-assisted detection and diagnosis or treatment planning that translate affordable point of need technologies and mobile medical decision support; computational approaches that improve the remote transmission and clinical utility of imaging technologies to rural hospitals and clinics; integration of sensor technologies with satellite and mobile data, demographics, exposure biomarkers, and other data for exposure assessment development or expansion of informatic tools and statistical methodologies to analyze multi-dimensional environmental exposure data, gene-environment interaction (GxE) data, and related complex data; computational approaches to improve understanding and surveillance of risk factors, diseases, and/or disease susceptibility; data-driven and computational approaches for examining developmental trajectories of health and disease (including disparities, life-course patterns, and/or generational differences) in diverse populations in Africa; computational approaches and automated, real-time data sharing practices to accelerate the discovery and development of new therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines; data science technologies and approaches for behavioral health interventions that leverage novel data sources, new and emerging sensors, and emerging machine learning approaches; computational tools and technologies for the development of new approaches to provide formal and informal care in distinct regions of Africa that are experiencing the dual burden of communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases; computational technologies and approaches to improve the capacity of local, national, or regional public health planning and public health development of data visualization and analysis tools to accelerate knowledge extraction from data that is relevant at the local, country and regional level in Africa and globally; modelling applications to predict disease outbreaks, pathogen exposure, disease dynamics, and susceptibility; and modelling of markers for Precision Public Health and the use of big data to predict public health risk and customize treatments for more specific and homogeneous subpopulations, among many others.

Applicants are encouraged to consider the unique opportunities for African research, including: extensive genomic diversity, migration, and admixture; diseases and health conditions prevalent on the African environmental exposures and health-related conditions; and All applications proposing research to improve the understanding of HIV/AIDS prevention, diagnosis, treatment, cure and related complications will be considered in accordance with the NIH AIDS Research Priorities document found at the following link ( https://grants.

nih. gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-15-137. html ).

Applications submitted in response to this FOA may propose research that is cross-cutting or more specifically focused on a disease or health area that falls within the broad areas of data science for health discovery and innovation.

Applications may fall within the mission of any NIH institute, center, or office and additional information is provided regarding specific areas of interest of members of the DS-I Africa working group on the DS-I Africa program website: https://commonfund. nih. gov/AfricaData .

Additional Objectives of DS-I Africa Program As noted above and in the companion FOAs, there are several specific objectives that the DS-I Africa Program is trying to achieve. Successful applicants will become members of the DS-I Africa Consortium, and will be expected to adhere to these policies.

DS-I Africa Consortium Participation: DS-I Africa will be organized as a research consortium that brings participants together in a highly collaborative and synergistic effort. The DS-I Africa Consortium will include all participants of research, training, ELSI, and open data science platform/coordinating center programs funded through DS-I Africa, as well as responsible NIH staff.

Groups funded under this program will be expected to participate in the DS-I Africa Consortium and to collaborate effectively with each other to maximize the chances of overall success of the program. Each funded applicant is expected to participate directly or via proxy in Consortium Working Groups that establish rules, guidelines, and resources for the Consortium or that develop cross-consortium research or related projects.

Each project is expected to comply with applicable consortium policies and procedures. In addition, the PD/PI(s) will be active members of the DS-I Africa Steering Committee, which will meet regularly by teleconference. The DS-I Africa Consortium will generally hold two meetings per year, usually in Africa at Consortium member sites.

Africa Data Sharing Policies: Data sharing is an increasingly important aspect of contemporary biomedical research, and the Consortium will develop a Data Sharing and Access Policy within year 1 of the award that applies to data and resources funded with NIH support.

The policy will address the data sharing needs of the Consortium while safeguarding the privacy of research participants and protecting confidential and proprietary data and resources.

One of the roles of the associated DS-I Africa Open Data Science Platform is to facilitate data and resource access and sharing, and all DS-I Africa awardees will be expected to work closely with the Open Data Science Platform team to facilitate appropriate alignment of Science , is committed to ensuring that data-science activities and products supported by the NIH are Findable, Assessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR).

Data, analytical, educational, and other resources generated by a DS-I Africa awardee are expected to conform to the FAIR Principles , where possible. Additionally, guidance may be developed by the Consortium to inform data acquisition, collection and curation, including appropriate consent for data sharing, as appropriate for the Consortium member projects and their relevant standards or schemas.

Partnerships and Collaborations: One of the major goals of the DS-I Africa program is to enhance the impact of data science on health in Africa and spur innovation through support of new African and global partnerships. These partnerships are expected to contribute to the sustainability of African data science programs and the advancement of product development.

Awardees are expected to maintain and strengthen existing partnerships that are proposed in applications and engage new partners throughout the duration of the award funding. Collaboration within the DS-I Africa consortium will also be facilitated through the DS-I Africa Coordinating Center.

The DS-I Africa Research Hubs will have the opportunity to develop cross-consortium research projects enabled by the DS-I Africa Open Data Science Platform. DS-I Africa Research Training Programs will have the opportunity to collaborate with the DS-I Africa Research Hubs through mentored training experiences for trainees.

Finally, DS-I Africa ELSI awardees will collaborate with the Research Hubs to explore and address issues that are specifically relevant to the data science projects within the consortium. Community Engagement: NIH recognizes engagement and the building of trust relationships with research participants as an essential feature of ethical biomedical and population-based data science research involving human subjects.

DS-I Africa awardees are expected to incorporate relevant community engagement activities into data science research and research training activities.

Community engagement can include a variety of activities, including those that empower communities to contribute to and become partners in data science research and activities that engage diverse stakeholders to learn about and contribute to DS-I Africa Data Science Capacity in Africa: Another major objective for the DS-I Africa program is to increase capacity at African institutions to use and develop data science approaches in health research and innovation.

The DS-I Africa Research Training Programs will build individual and institutional data science capacity through development of new data science curriculum and training of data science research leaders in master s, PhD, post-doctoral, and faculty development programs.

Research in DS-I Africa Research Hubs and DS-I Africa ELSI awards should provide a variety of training and career enhancement opportunities to students, postdoctoral researchers, and young investigators in diverse disciplines through mentored research experiences. Additionally, Research Hub pilot projects should provide opportunities for early career data scientists to initiate small research projects that could launch their careers.

The DS-I Africa Open Data Science Platform and Coordinating Center will enhance activities conducted by the other awardees by developing short courses relevant to data science and innovation that fill training gaps in the consortium and have potential to reach the broader African research community.

Long-term sustainability and institutional/governmental commitments to research education programs and independent career opportunities are objectives of the DS-I Africa program. Technical Assistance and DS-I Africa Virtual Symposium All applicants are strongly encouraged to contact NIH Staff early in the application process to discuss the alignment of their application with the goals of this FOA, and with the DS-I Africa program.

Technical Assistance Sessions and teleconferences will be held for potential applicants to this FOA and companion FOAs. NIH staff will be available to answer questions related to this FOA. Location, time, date, and connection information will be announced in an NIH Guide Notice and will be posted on the DS-I Africa website: https://commonfund.

nih. gov/AfricaData . During the Technical Assistance Sessions, NIH staff will present an overview of these FOAs and answer questions from prospective applicants.

Additionally, these technical assistance sessions will be part of a larger DS-I Africa Virtual Symposium, which will examine the state of data science in Africa and facilitate networking across disciplines, sectors, and geographies to promote data science for health in Africa. Registration and other details will be posted on the Virtual Symposium website: https://commonfund. nih.

gov/africadatasymposium . All virtual events are free and open to all prospective applicants, but participation is not a prerequisite to applying. Information for award authorities and regulations.

Section II. Award Information Cooperative Agreement: A support mechanism used when there will be substantial Federal scientific or programmatic involvement. Substantial involvement means that, after award, NIH scientific or program staff will assist, guide, coordinate, or participate in project activities.

See Section VI. 2 for additional information about the substantial involvement for Application Types Allowed Glossary and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types. Only those application types listed here are allowed Optional: Accepting applications that either propose or do not propose clinical trial(s) help determining whether you are doing a clinical trial?

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards The NIH Common Fund intends to commit an estimated total of $32,500,000 over five years to fund up to 5 awards. The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications. The requested budget needs to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.

DS-I Africa Research Hub applications are limited to $1,300,000 per year in total costs. The scope of the proposed DS-I Africa Research Hub should determine the project period. The maximum project period is 5 years.

Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made from this FOA.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) African Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education African Private Institutions of Higher Education African Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education African applicants may propose partners from all types of organizations in Africa, the U.S., or other countries, including for-profit and Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement , are allowed. Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted.

Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. Policy on Late Submission of Grant Applications states that failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a Universal Numbering System (DUNS) - All registrations require that applicants be issued a DUNS number.

After obtaining a DUNS number, applicants can begin both SAM and eRA Commons registrations. The same DUNS number must be used for all registrations, as well as on the grant application. System for Award Management (SAM) Applicants must complete and maintain an active registration, which requires renewal at least annually .

The renewal process may require as much time as the initial registration. SAM registration includes the assignment of a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code for domestic organizations which have not already been assigned a CAGE Code. Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code Foreign organizations must obtain an NCAGE code (in lieu of a CAGE code) in order to register in SAM.

must have an active DUNS number to register in eRA Commons. Organizations can register with the eRA Commons as they are working through their SAM or Grants. gov registration, but all registrations must be in place by time of submission.

eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application. must have an active DUNS number and SAM registration in order to complete the Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s)) All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account.

PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director/Principal Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support.

Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF424 The use of the multiple PD/PI (MPI) administrative structure is strongly encouraged for this program.

The PD/PI(s) should be established investigators in their fields and capable of providing both administrative and scientific leadership to the development and implementation of the proposed program. The contact PD/PI will be designated as the Research Hub Director. Research Hub Deputy Director(s) can also be named at the discretion of the applicants.

The PD/PI(s) should have research experience in Africa, particularly in the country where the proposed research program will be