A Request for Information From the NIH About Virome Research

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is considering the possibility of developing a Common Fund program to characterize the human virome to yield greater understanding of the viruses we harbor and their impact on immune function and human health. Planning efforts are now underway for potential launch in fiscal year 2024 or beyond.

As part of the initial planning process, the NIH is requesting input from the scientific community on the current challenges in this field that can best be addressed through a concerted and coordinated effort. This Request for Information (RFI): Challenges and Opportunities in Elucidating the Human Virome (NOT-RM-22-010) seeks input from stakeholders throughout the scientific research community and the public regarding any of the following topics, as well as any additional ideas not included below:

1. Research to define and characterize the human virome
2. Research to understand the establishment of the human virome in the neonatal period, through infancy, and into early childhood
3. Research to understand how the different parts of the human virome (e.g., eukaryotic and prokaryotic, and between different body sites) interact
4. Research to understand how the virome interacts with the other parts of the microbiome
5. Research to understand the impact of commensal eukaryotic viruses and bacteriophages on the human immune system and pathogenicity and virulence of other viruses
6. Methods, tools, or resources needed for the research outlined above
7. Specific populations for whom research on the human virome should be prioritized and a rationale for the proposed priorities
8. Characterization of particular challenges, acceptability, and feasibility of obtaining biospecimens/tissue samples and other clinical and environmental measures
9. Resources (e.g., biorepositories, registries, and electronic health records) that could be leveraged or used to advance human virome research

Responses to this RFI will be accepted through April 29, 2022.

All comments will be anonymous and must be submitted to [email protected]. Please include the Notice number (NOT-RM-22-010) in the subject line.