Translational Centers Using Microphysiologic Systems for Infectious Diseases
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers and organizations developing human microphysiologic systems (MPS) to study infectious diseases and develop therapeutics. Applicants typically include research institutions, academic medical centers, biotechnology companies, and nonprofit organizations with research capacity. The program is open to organizations with the ability to conduct advanced in vitro research and partner with drug or biological product developers. Projects must focus on MPS technology applied to infectious disease research or product development.
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Key dates
- Jun 24, 2026 Applications open
- Jan 29, 2027 Application deadline in 197 days
- Jan 1, 2028 Award announced
- Jan 1, 2028 Project start
Program description
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) seeks to advance its mission by supporting the development of human microphysiologic systems (MPS) for infectious disease research and the development of therapeutics or biological products. MPS are in vitro platforms composed of cells or tissues maintained in a microenvironment designed to mimic the physiological aspects of in vivo tissue or organ function. There is growing support for the development of MPS for basic research at NIH and regulatory pathways at the FDA with the aim of reducing the use of animals in research and generating human tissue models that can be used to study human physiological processes. However, MPS development has not focused on their use in studies of infectious diseases or for product development. The goal of this program is to accelerate the use of MPS for infectious diseases and product development, promoting adoption for use by developers of drugs and biological products and their regulatory acceptance. Grant authorities that allow NIAID to forecast this opportunity are as follows: Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 2 CFR Part 200.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance
- Project Narrative/Research Strategy
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biosketches of key personnel
- Letters of Support (from collaborators or end-users)
- Facilities and Resources documentation
- Timeline and Milestones
Program contact
- 👤 Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (DMID) MPSTranslational
- 📧 DMIDMPSTranslational@mail.nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via email.
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.855 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$246,626,852
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$201,437,825
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$185,816,804
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$180,737,624
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$136,265,880
-
$116,817,868
-
$93,394,862
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$89,845,851
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$74,456,241
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$72,987,380
Top States by Funding
- CA 8 awards $696.2M
- MA 6 awards $602.8M
- NY 6 awards $335.0M
- TX 3 awards $280.9M
- GA 5 awards $257.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.855). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $4,073,812,529 | |
| 2025 | $4,378,235,639 | |
| 2026 est. | $4,299,426,996 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Research institutions, academic centers, biotech firms, and nonprofits with research capability. Your organization should have expertise in cell biology, tissue engineering, or infectious disease research.
What is the deadline and how often does this fund?
The deadline is January 29, 2027. This appears to be a fixed, single deadline opportunity rather than rolling applications.
What activities does the grant support?
Development of microphysiologic systems for infectious disease research. Projects may include creating human tissue models, testing therapeutics, or generating data to support regulatory pathways.
How competitive is this funding?
This is a highly competitive NIH program. Strong applications demonstrate technical innovation, infectious disease relevance, and potential for regulatory or commercial adoption.
What is the funding range?
The total funding pool is $7 million. Individual award amounts are not specified; contact NIH program officer for guidance on typical grant sizes.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start with a strong preliminary data section showing proof-of-concept for your MPS platform. Even early-stage work demonstrating technical feasibility strengthens competitiveness.
- Clearly articulate how your system reduces animal use or provides superior human relevance compared to existing models. NIH prioritizes both ethical and scientific goals.
- Include letters of support from potential end-users (pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies, or product developers) showing demand for your technology.
- Address regulatory pathway explicitly. Explain how your MPS could support FDA submissions or drug development decisions.
- Assemble a multidisciplinary team with expertise in microfabrication, infectious disease, cell biology, and ideally regulatory science or commercial development.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals lacking evidence of actual infectious disease relevance or focusing too heavily on basic MPS engineering without disease application. Applications without clear pathway to adoption by industry or regulatory bodies. Insufficient preliminary data or overestimating technical readiness beyond what pilot work supports.
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