Full Proposal Deadline is November 16, 2022  

IOS would like to bring your attention to the EEID program, which seeks to support highly integrative research that focuses on understanding disease transmission and the myriad factors that influence it. The solicitation, NSF 22-260, describes the details of how to apply to the program. This multi-agency program supports research on the ecological, evolutionary, organismal, and social drivers that influence the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases. The central theme of submitted projects must be the quantitative, mathematical, or computational understanding of pathogen transmission dynamics. The intent is discovery of principles of infectious disease (re)emergence and transmission and testing mathematical or computational models that elucidate infectious disease systems.  

Although the title implies a narrower focus on ecology and evolution, the program welcomes proposals on all aspects of organismal biology that potentially influence transmission dynamics. Successful projects include many research dimensions, and IOS science is highly relevant to the goals of the program. Animal social and movement behavior, immunological and other physiological processes, and effects of the microbiome are increasingly represented within the program’s portfolio. 

As expected from this very broad focus, the program is a collaboration among the Directorates for Biological Sciences (BIO), Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE), Geosciences (GEO), and Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) at the NSF.  Other U.S.  governmental partners involved with this program include the National Institutes of Health (specifically the John E. Fogarty International Center, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) and the USDA (specifically the National Institute of Food and Agriculture). This program also involves collaborations with United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI), specifically the Medical Research Council and the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council; the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF); and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).  Thus, the program welcomes international research and collaboration, projects with implications for human disease transmission especially those with social science components, research involving agricultural or management systems, as well as marine research. 

If you think this program may be for you, navigate to the program page and solicitation, and don’t hesitate to reach out to a cognizant Program Director with any questions.