Pilot Projects to Enhance the Human Virome Program (R03, Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its Office of Strategic Coordination (Common Fund) in partnership with the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), plans to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled "Pilot Projects to Enhance the Human Virome Program." This opportunity, issued under opportunity number NOT-RM-25-013, supports the NIH’s broader initiative to expand the understanding of the human virome. This planned funding opportunity will utilize the R03 grant mechanism and will not allow clinical trials. The Human Virome Program seeks to deepen scientific knowledge of the healthy virome in humans, with specific aims to develop new tools, methods, and models to investigate the virome and to explore the interactions between the virome and the human host. This funding opportunity is intended to solicit small pilot projects that provide new insights or complement ongoing program activities without duplicating them. Applicants are encouraged to form collaborations and prepare responsive project proposals in anticipation of the official NOFO release. The estimated funding for this initiative is $2,000,000, with an expected six awards to be made. Although specific amounts per award have not been detailed, both the ceiling and floor for individual awards are currently unspecified. The expected application release date is September 15, 2025, with a submission deadline of November 17, 2025. Award notifications are anticipated by July 30, 2026, which is also the estimated project start date. This funding opportunity will be discretionary and falls under the health category of funding activities. It is being provided to allow sufficient preparation time for applicants before the official NOFO is posted. Applicants should not submit proposals until the NOFO is formally released. The initiative will support a range of eligible organizations including state and local government entities, educational institutions, public housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations, and both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Applications must align with the R03 activity code requirements and should strictly avoid overlap with the ongoing efforts of the Human Virome Program. Specific questions about this funding forecast can be directed to Dr. Amanda Melillo at the NIDCR via phone at 301-529-7217 or by email at amanda.melillo@nih.gov.