Immune Mechanisms of Protection Against Mycobacterium tuberculosis Center (IMPAc-TB)

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the NIH under the Department of Health and Human Services, is seeking proposals to support the continued operation of the Immune Mechanisms of Protection Against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (IMPAc-TB) Center. This program aims to accelerate the development of tuberculosis (TB) vaccines by deepening the understanding of tissue-specific and systemic immune responses that either prevent or control Mtb infection. The focus includes both basic and translational research, utilizing human samples and clinical studies, animal models, and computational data integration for cross-comparative analyses. The program emphasizes technologies such as new approach methods including organoids or ex vivo systems, as well as computational modeling and refinement of animal models to better evaluate vaccine candidates at various stages of TB disease. The initiative also highlights the importance of studying the impact of HIV/SIV on TB immunity and fostering collaboration with related immune epitope discovery programs. This solicitation plans to award two to three contracts with a collective average annual budget of about $10.5 million, approximately $5 million per award per year, for projects lasting up to five years starting around September 2027. Each contract will allocate $300,000 annually in years two through five to support collaborative activities initiated by IMPAc-TB contractors, though proposals should not include these collaborations at the time of submission. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the NIAID eCPS system by June 2, 2026. This effort supports NIH’s priority to align research with human-based studies and advances vaccine development through innovative models and translational clinical research. The contract will be awarded on a cost reimbursement basis with performance milestones. Communication and coordination with NIH program staff and oversight through an External Scientific Advisory Group will guide the evaluation of collaborative projects and overall program progress.