Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA FD 24 042
This funding opportunity is a single-source cooperative agreement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), specifically through the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). FDA is signaling that it intends to receive and consider one application, and eligibility is limited to Cornell University. The award mechanism is a U18 cooperative agreement, which typically means FDA expects to be substantially involved in guiding or coordinating the work rather than simply providing funds with minimal federal interaction. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed, indicating the work is intended to focus on laboratory, applied food safety, and process-focused research rather than human or animal clinical intervention studies.
The overall goal is to strengthen FDAs research effort around Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (HPAI) H5N1 in dairy-related contexts, with an emphasis on understanding how the virus is inactivated or persists under real-world processing and handling conditions. Cornell University is positioned to support this through its Center for Veterinary Medicine and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, bringing together expertise across virology, dairy science, food processing, and public health-oriented risk reduction. The work is described as multidisciplinary and applied, meaning the expected outputs are practical findings that can inform industry practices, disposal or treatment methods, and risk management decisions.
A major focus area is raw milk cheese aging. The research is intended to examine the conditions during cheese production and aging that influence inactivation of HPAI H5N1, with specific mention of pH and water activity as key variables. In practice, pH and water activity are central levers in food safety because they affect microbial survival and viral stability. By studying how these parameters change over the course of aging, and how they correlate with virus inactivation, the project aims to generate data that can help clarify what processing or aging conditions reduce risk, and under what circumstances additional controls might be warranted.
A second focus area targets waste milk management, particularly milk that might be fed to calves or disposed of. The opportunity calls for research on commonly used acidification methods for treating waste milk, with the goal of understanding how these approaches affect HPAI H5N1. Acidification is frequently used on farms as a practical treatment step to manage microbial growth and stabilize milk prior to feeding or disposal. FDA is looking for applied evidence on whether typical acidification practices meaningfully inactivate the virus, what parameters matter most (for example, target pH, contact time, temperature, or the specific acidification approach), and how robust those effects are under conditions that reflect real farm use.
A third major research thrust is characterizing thermal inactivation kinetics of HPAI H5N1 across a wide variety of dairy products. Thermal inactivation kinetics refers to the quantitative relationship between heat exposure and the reduction of viable virus over time, often expressed in terms that help compare processes and validate control steps. This is especially relevant for dairy because products vary widely in composition (fat content, solids, sugars, proteins), processing steps, and heating profiles. By generating kinetics data across different product types, the project can help FDA and stakeholders understand how reliably heat treatments reduce viral loads, where uncertainties remain, and whether certain matrices protect the virus more than others.
Beyond specific experiments, the cooperative agreement also aims to expand capacity for HPAI H5N1 testing to meet FDAs research agenda. This suggests Cornell would provide added laboratory throughput, validated methods, or surge capability to process samples and generate results when FDA needs additional analytical support. In an emerging or rapidly changing situation, having dependable testing capacity can be as important as the research itself, because it enables quicker answers, better coordination across projects, and more timely data for decision-making.
Another explicit expectation is active engagement with academic and industry stakeholders. The purpose is twofold: first, to ensure the work complements other ongoing research rather than duplicating it, and second, to facilitate practical use of the results. This points to an emphasis on coordination, data sharing where appropriate, and translating findings into actionable knowledge for dairy producers, processors, regulators, and related partners. Stakeholder engagement in this context often includes regular communication, workshops or briefings, alignment with parallel studies, and producing outputs that are usable for guidance, best practices, or risk assessments.
In terms of administrative details, the opportunity is listed as discretionary funding with an activity category spanning agriculture, consumer protection, and food and nutrition. The program is associated with CFDA number 93.103. The funding opportunity number is RFA FD 24 042. FDA anticipates making one award, consistent with the single-source nature of the announcement. The award ceiling is $1,150,000, and the original closing date is 2024-08-30, with the opportunity created on 2024-07-30. Overall, this is a targeted investment intended to produce applied, decision-relevant data on how HPAI H5N1 behaves in dairy processing and handling scenarios, while also building testing capacity and improving coordination across the broader research landscape.Apply for RFA FD 24 042
- The Food and Drug Administration in the agriculture, consumer protection, food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Single Source Cooperative Agreement to Support HPAI H5N1 Research at Cornell University (U18) - Clinical Trails Not Allowed" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.103.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-07-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-30. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Food and Drug Administration
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition
Next opportunity: Unaccompanied Children Lived Experience and Youth Engagement Program
Previous opportunity: HEAL Initiative: HEAL KIDS (Knowledge, Innovation and Discovery Studies): Chronic Pain Program (UC2 Clinical Trial Optional)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA FD 24 042
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA FD 24 042) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Clinical Trials Addressing Unmet Needs of Rare Neurodegenerative Diseases (R01) Clinical Trials Required Apply for RFA FD 25 001 Funding Number: RFA FD 25 001 Agency: Food and Drug Administration Category: Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $650,000 |
| Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM) Apply for RFA FD 25 007 Funding Number: RFA FD 25 007 Agency: Food and Drug Administration Category: Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| A Research Study of Contaminants in School Meals (U18) Apply for RFA FD 25 024 Funding Number: RFA FD 25 024 Agency: Food and Drug Administration Category: Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Animal Food Regulatory Program Standards Implementation Development and Maintenance, with Mutual Reliance Initiatives Clinical Trials Not Allowed Apply for PAR 25 003 Funding Number: PAR 25 003 Agency: Food and Drug Administration Category: Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Food Safety Capacity and Infrastructure Building (U2F) Apply for RFA FD 25 019 Funding Number: RFA FD 25 019 Agency: Food and Drug Administration Category: Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Conformance with the Egg Regulatory Program Standards Apply for RFA FD 25 021 Funding Number: RFA FD 25 021 Agency: Food and Drug Administration Category: Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $47,000 |
| Reissue of RFA-FD-22-001 - Efficient and Innovative Natural History Studies Addressing Unmet Needs in Rare Diseases (R01 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for RFA FD 25 017 Funding Number: RFA FD 25 017 Agency: Food and Drug Administration Category: Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| NARMS Cooperative Agreement Program to Strengthen Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance in Retail Food Specimens Apply for PAR 25 014 Funding Number: PAR 25 014 Agency: Food and Drug Administration Category: Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Reissue of RFA-FD-23-001- Clinical Studies of Orphan Products Addressing Unmet Needs of Rare Diseases (R01 Clinical Trials Required) Apply for RFA FD 25 020 Funding Number: RFA FD 25 020 Agency: Food and Drug Administration Category: Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| Reducing Fraud and Lowering Barriers to the Production of Drugs in Shortage by Outsourcing Facilities Apply for RFA FD 25 023 Funding Number: RFA FD 25 023 Agency: Food and Drug Administration Category: Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| FDA's Integrated Food Safety System Training Delivery and Development Apply for RFA FD 25 016 Funding Number: RFA FD 25 016 Agency: Food and Drug Administration Category: Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Establishing the Integrated Food Safety System (IFSS) Regulatory and Laboratory Training System (RLTS) National Coordination Center (NCC) and Learning Management System (LMS) Apply for RFA FD 25 005 Funding Number: RFA FD 25 005 Agency: Food and Drug Administration Category: Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $1,750,000 |
| Applied Regulatory Science Research to Evaluate Cardiotoxicity of Oncology Therapeutics (U01) Clinical Trial Optional Apply for RFA FD 25 015 Funding Number: RFA FD 25 015 Agency: Food and Drug Administration Category: Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Federal and State Integration Activities to Advance Cooperation and Regulatory Standards Among Animal Food Safety Regulatory Programs Apply for RFA FD 25 022 Funding Number: RFA FD 25 022 Agency: Food and Drug Administration Category: Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $600,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA FD 24 042", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.