International Epidemiologic Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IEDEA) - NIAID

Applications are being sought for the establishment of the International Epidemiologic Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IEDEA) consortium, a collaborative group of international regional data centers, for the compilation of data to address research questions in HIV/AIDS that are not possible to answer with currently existing individual cohorts, one of which will serve as the coordinating center; development of regional, generalizable datasets that represent study populations based on data from different settings and populations; and development of procedures and approaches to allow regions to more accurately address and monitor the HIV epidemic within their populations.

The overall objectives of this request for applications (RFA) are to establish regional data centers for the compilation of data to address research questions in HIV/AIDS that are not possible to answer with currently existing individual cohorts, to increase the generalizability of study results through use of data from different settings and populations, and to allow regions to more accurately define and monitor the HIV epidemic within their perimeters.

Through this RFA, the IEDEA consortium will also be established and will be composed of the principal investigators and regional data centers from each of the funded regions. Depending on the region, activities to augment and improve existing data systems may be required; however, this RFA will not support the creation or implementation of new data or new data systems.

The geographic regions are defined as follows: Region 1: North America; Region 2: Central and South America and the Caribbean; Region 3: Western Europe; Region 4: Eastern Europe; Region 5: Australia, India, Pakistan, and Asia, excluding Central Asia and China; Region 6: China; Region 7: North Africa, including Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Western Sahara; Region 8: West Africa, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo; Region 9: Central Africa, including Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe; Region 10: East Africa, including Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Sudan, Seychelles, and Tanzania; Region 11: Southern Africa, including Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe and Region 12: Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East.

Applications will be funded, based on scientific and technical merit and available funds, using the single project cooperative agreement (U01) mechanism.

Contact Details: Robin Huebner, Ph.D., M.P.H, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Division of AIDS, 6700-B Rockledge Drive, Room 4104, MSC 7620, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-7620, USA. Telephone: +1 (301) 402-4239; Facsimile: +1 (301) 402-3211; Email: [email protected].

URL for more information: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/ RFA-AI-05-014.html

Deadline: July 26, 2005

Deadline Note: Although not required, prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent by June 27, 2005. Applications are due by July 26, 2005.

Eligibility: Applications may be submitted by domestic or foreign, for-profit or nonprofit organizations and public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories; units of state and local government; and eligible agencies of the federal government.