Pilot Projects to Enhance the Human Virome Program (R03, Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
This grant funds small pilot projects to develop or improve tools, methods, and studies that advance understanding of the human virome and its effects on health, using human or animal samples, without clinical trials.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates (Anticipated): November 2026 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Estimated total program funding: $2,000,000 | Typical award: $50,000–$100,000 for short pilot projects | Up to 13 awards expected
Summary: Supports small pilot projects to advance tools, models, and methods for comprehensive human virome characterization and its impact on health and disease.
Key Information: This is a forecasted opportunity—dates and details are subject to change.
Description
This opportunity supports small pilot research projects that enhance the goals of the NIH Common Fund Human Virome Program (HVP). The HVP aims to extensively characterize the human virome and develop tools, models, and methods for in-depth study of its variation, composition, and influence on health and disease. Projects may include validating or improving HVP-developed tools, leveraging human or animal specimens, expanding biospecimen sampling, developing new methods for virome study, or exploring virome-host interactions. Projects should encourage collaboration across the HVP consortium and must not duplicate existing HVP efforts. The R03 mechanism is intended for short-term, limited-resource projects.
