New NSF Predictive Intelligence for Pandemic Prevention (PIPP) Phase II Centers Program Launched

Will Support Fundamental R&D That Transforms Ability to Forecast Pandemic-scale Events, Detect Outbreaks Early, and Respond Efficiently

Despite decades of research, scientists do not fully understand the dynamic nature of pathogen and disease emergence. Effective responses to emerging pathogens will require sustained, global-scale efforts of researchers and organizations.

NSF’s Predictive Intelligence for Pandemic Prevention (PIPP) initiative focuses on fundamental research and development activities needed to tackle grand challenges in infectious disease pandemics through prediction and prevention. The PIPP Phase II Centers Program expands upon the Phase I Development Grant Program and is the NSF’s flagship program to establish a network of centers or large-scale awards/investments that will support interdisciplinary team-based approaches to accelerate research and development activities in emerging infectious diseases and pandemics.

The program invites proposals for Centers that have a principal focus in one of the following multidisciplinary themes:

• Pre-emergence – Predicting and detecting rare events in complex, dynamical systems
• Data, AI/ML and Design – Computing, manufacturing and technology innovation for pandemics
• The Host as the Universe – Identifying host-pathogen tipping points that dictate control or spread of an infection
• Human Systems – The role of human behavior, activities and environments in disease emergence, transmission, and response or mitigation

NSF plans to make approximately 4-7 Center awards for between $15 million and $18 million for seven years across the themes, depending on strength of submissions.

Letters of intent are due August 25, 2023. Full proposals are due December 8, 2023.