Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 24 069
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a discretionary grant opportunity to create Centers for Accelerating Phage (Bacteriophage) Therapy to Combat ESKAPE Pathogens (CAPT-CEP) under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AI-24-069. The program uses the P01 center-style grant mechanism and is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applicants should not propose a clinical trial as the primary activity. Instead, the emphasis is on building coordinated, multi-project centers that strengthen the foundational work needed to move phage therapy forward, particularly against ESKAPE pathogens, a well-known group of bacteria that frequently drive hospital-acquired infections and exhibit high levels of antimicrobial resistance (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species).
The core purpose of CAPT-CEP is to accelerate the field by developing and standardizing the kinds of preclinical assays, tools, and models that make phage therapy research more reliable, reproducible, and translational. In practical terms, NIH is looking for centers that can generate robust R and D capabilities such as validated laboratory assays for measuring phage activity, resistance development, host range, potency, and interactions with antibiotics; improved in vitro and in vivo models that better predict how phages will behave in real infections; and enabling tools and workflows that can be shared, scaled, and used to support clinical research readiness. Although clinical trials themselves are not allowed under this announcement, the NOFO makes clear that these centers should still "advance phage clinical research" by producing the preclinical evidence base and methodological infrastructure that de-risks future clinical studies, improves comparability across studies, and supports eventual regulatory-quality development.
This is a health-focused funding opportunity (FundingActivityCategory: Health) with CFDA number 93.855. The award ceiling is listed as $1,200,000, indicating the maximum amount NIH expects to provide per award under this announcement. The opportunity record also lists "ExpectedAwards:" but does not provide a number, so applicants should plan with uncertainty around how many centers may be funded. The original application due date (OriginalClosingDate) is January 28, 2025, and the opportunity was created on October 23, 2024, which helps situate it in NIH's annual funding cycle and gives applicants a sense of the lead time NIH allowed for center-level planning and collaboration building.
Eligibility is broad and includes most common U.S. applicant types as well as several explicitly named categories meant to encourage participation from diverse institutions and communities. Standard eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions when specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. In addition, the NOFO highlights other eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible federal agencies; U.S. territories or possessions; and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and regional organizations. Taken together, this signals NIH interest in building a wide, collaborative phage therapy ecosystem rather than restricting the effort to a small set of research-intensive universities.
At a high level, a competitive CAPT-CEP application would likely read like a coordinated center plan: a set of complementary projects that tackle key preclinical barriers to phage development for ESKAPE infections, supported by shared resources and harmonized methods so results can be compared and reused across the field. The strongest fits for this NOFO are proposals that do more than run isolated experiments and instead create center capabilities such as standardized testing pipelines, reference materials, data practices, model systems, and other enabling infrastructure that can directly feed into and strengthen future clinical research programs.Apply for RFA AI 24 069
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Centers for Accelerating Phage (Bacteriophage) Therapy to Combat ESKAPE Pathogens (CAPT-CEP) (P01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-23.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the CAPT-CEP funding opportunity?
CAPT-CEP is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity to create Centers for Accelerating Phage (Bacteriophage) Therapy to Combat ESKAPE Pathogens. The goal is to build coordinated, multi-project centers that strengthen the preclinical foundation needed to move phage therapy forward, particularly for infections caused by ESKAPE pathogens.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-AI-24-069.
What grant mechanism will NIH use for CAPT-CEP?
This program uses the P01 center-style grant mechanism, which is designed to support coordinated, multi-project research centers with shared goals and integrated activities.
Are clinical trials allowed under this opportunity?
No. The announcement is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." Applicants should not propose a clinical trial as the primary activity under this NOFO.
If clinical trials are not allowed, how does this program support clinical progress?
Even though clinical trials are not allowed, the centers are expected to "advance phage clinical research" by generating the preclinical evidence base and methodological infrastructure that improves reliability, reproducibility, comparability across studies, and readiness for eventual clinical and regulatory-quality development.
What are ESKAPE pathogens, and which organisms are included?
ESKAPE pathogens are a well-known group of bacteria frequently associated with hospital-acquired infections and high levels of antimicrobial resistance. The group includes Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species.
What is the main purpose of CAPT-CEP centers?
The core purpose is to accelerate phage therapy research by developing and standardizing preclinical assays, tools, and models that make research more reliable, reproducible, and translational for ESKAPE-related infections.
What types of activities or outputs is NIH looking for from funded centers?
NIH is looking for coordinated centers that can produce robust research and development capabilities such as validated laboratory assays and standardized workflows; improved in vitro and in vivo models; and enabling tools that can be shared, scaled, and used to support future clinical research readiness.
What kinds of laboratory assays are emphasized in the opportunity description?
The description highlights validated assays for measuring phage activity, resistance development, host range, potency, and interactions with antibiotics.
What kinds of models are emphasized?
The opportunity emphasizes improved in vitro and in vivo models that better predict how phages will behave in real infections, supporting more translationally relevant preclinical research.
Does NIH expect CAPT-CEP centers to create shared or scalable resources?
Yes. The program description emphasizes enabling tools and workflows that can be shared and scaled, along with harmonized methods that help results be compared and reused across the field.
What does NIH mean by building a "coordinated, multi-project center"?
Based on the opportunity description, a coordinated center is expected to include multiple complementary projects that collectively tackle key preclinical barriers to phage development, supported by shared resources and harmonized methods rather than isolated, stand-alone experiments.
What is the Funding Activity Category for this opportunity?
The Funding Activity Category is Health.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 93.855.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) under this announcement?
The award ceiling is listed as $1,200,000, which indicates the maximum amount NIH expects to provide per award under this announcement.
How many awards does NIH expect to make?
The opportunity record lists an "ExpectedAwards" field but does not provide a number. Applicants should plan with uncertainty around how many centers may be funded.
When is the application due?
The original application due date (OriginalClosingDate) is January 28, 2025.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on October 23, 2024.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S. applicant types, including state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions when specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Are community-based and faith-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The NOFO explicitly highlights faith-based or community-based organizations as eligible applicants.
Are Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) specifically encouraged or included in eligibility?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Can federal agencies apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include eligible federal agencies.
Are U.S. territories eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes U.S. territories or possessions.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and regional organizations.
Is the program intended to be limited to research-intensive universities?
No. The broad eligibility and explicit inclusion of diverse institution types signal an interest in building a wide, collaborative phage therapy ecosystem rather than restricting participation to a small set of research-intensive universities.
What kind of application approach is likely to be competitive for CAPT-CEP?
Based on the opportunity description, competitive applications are likely to present a coordinated center plan with complementary projects focused on key preclinical barriers to phage development for ESKAPE infections, supported by shared resources and harmonized methods. Proposals are expected to emphasize standardized testing pipelines, reference materials, data practices, model systems, and other enabling infrastructure that strengthens future clinical research programs.
What should applicants avoid proposing as the primary activity?
Applicants should avoid proposing a clinical trial as the primary activity, because the announcement is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed."
What is the overarching theme connecting the expected center outputs?
The common theme is strengthening the foundational preclinical toolkit for phage therapy: validated and standardized assays, improved predictive models, and shared, scalable workflows that increase reproducibility and comparability and help de-risk later-stage clinical research.
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