Pilot Projects for Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study (Midas)

The summary for the Pilot Projects for Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study (Midas) grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the National Institutes of Health, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

Pilot Projects for Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study (Midas): The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) encourages applications for pilot research projects and database development for a new initiative, Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study (MIDAS). MIDAS will consist of a centralized database and a network of multidisciplinary scientists conducting computational and mathematical research to improve the ability to detect, control, and prevent emerging infectious diseases caused by naturally occurring or intentionally released pathogens, including those relevant to biodefense. The overall goal of this research initiative is to improve the nation's ability to respond to biological threats promptly and effectively. The two main objectives are (1) to develop computational tools to (a) model exposure to pathogens and their products, (b) carry out identification and surveillance of infectious diseases in a timely and cost-effective manner, (c) model the effectiveness and consequences of different intervention strategies, and (d) model the decontamination of facilities from pathogens and their products; and (2) to establish a centralized database to store, display, and make publicly available the tools and information developed, for the practical use of policymakers, public health professionals, and researchers. NIGMS will support multidisciplinary research teams that will develop mathematical and computational tools applied to the identification, control, prevention and treatment of emerging infectious diseases, including those of biodefense relevance. The MIDAS Network will comprise multiple Research Groups and an Informatics Group. It will be governed by a MIDAS Steering Committee consisting of members of the Research Groups and Informatics Group and scientists, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other research institutions, who represent relevant fields of expertise. This initiative is a pilot effort in the organization of research centers for the modeling of emerging infectious diseases and biodefense responses. NIGMS is soliciting applications for Research Groups and the Informatics Group. Applicants may submit applications for support of a Research Group, the Informatics Group, or both.