No images? Click here
IDCRC Newsletter: September 2026
IDWeek 2026: Event Details & IDCRC Presenters
IDWeek 2026 will be held in Washington, D.C., from Wednesday, October 21-Saturday, October 24, 2026. This conference is a joint annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, the HIV Medicine Association, the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists. We hope to see you there!
IDCRC Presenters:
We're thrilled to share that there will be 33 presentations conducted by IDCRC members at this year's conference. Congratulations to our VTEU partners on being selected for this opportunity. See the full list of presenters below.
Registration:
Save your spot today! Come discover the science at the premier forum for ID health professionals of varied backgrounds, and collaborate, connect, and learn from each other’s expertise for the improvement of patient care and public health.
IDCRC Investigator Spotlight: David M. Dobrzynski, MD
This month's Investigator Spotlight features David M. Dobrzynski, MD, associate professor in the Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases at the University of Rochester Medicine. Read an excerpt below and click the button to read the interview.
What has been the most impactful or highlight of the work you have done with the IDCRC?
I think the obvious answer is the Mix and Match COVID vaccine study. Not only was it done in an incredibly short period of time, it was extremely impactful on national and international policies. The ability to prove that receiving different combinations of vaccines were effective and safe helped people make informed decisions about their health and improve supply chain and manufacturing issues.
NIH News
Comments Due Today: NIH RFI on K-Awards
The NIH is seeking public input on potential funding models that would allow recipients of mentored K awards to serve as principal investigators of clinical trials while receiving support for the clinical trial through a funding mechanism separate from the K award. All comments must be submitted electronically. Responses are due by 11:59:59 PM (ET) on September 30.
Notice of Funding Opportunity:
Infectious Diseases Clinical Trials Network
The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to solicit applications for an Infectious Diseases Clinical Trials Network (IDCTN). The IDCTN, comprising the Clinical Trial Evaluation Units (CTEUs) and a Network Coordination Center (NCC), supports the evaluation of interventions for emerging and chronic infections.
The CTEUs design and implement clinical trials and studies, while the NCC provides the administrative and operational framework for a collaborative, integrated network and engages with experts in the field to solicit and generate clinical trial concepts. The NCC and CTEUs will collaboratively create opportunities to advance investigators early in their careers and those new to the field.
Publications
NOTE: Please include the following citation in any publications resulting from direct or indirect IDCRC support:
"Supported by the Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Consortium through the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health, under award number UM1AI148684. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health."
News
CVD News | CVD Faculty Receive Competitive Contract to Support Global RSV Vaccination Efforts
Despite recent advances in prevention, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a leading cause of hospitalization and death among children under age 5 worldwide. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has committed to support maternal immunization in low-income countries for whom new products are otherwise unaffordable.
To help inform global vaccination strategies, Meagan Fitzpatrick, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine and co-Director of the UMSOM Global Health Alliance, and colleagues at the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) have been awarded a competitive contract from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to model the potential impact of RSV vaccination programs across all countries eligible for Gavi support.
Vanderbilt Health News | Vanderbilt Health mourns passing of global icon Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton, the global superstar whose philanthropy helped advance research and patient care at Vanderbilt Health and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Her support of Vanderbilt Health and Monroe Carell spanned decades and made meaningful impacts on everything from pediatric cancer care to infectious disease research.
When the pandemic was at its height in April 2020, Parton donated to establish the Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund at Vanderbilt. Appearing on NBC’s “Today” show to announce the gift, she said, “What better time than right now, we need this. I felt like this was the time for me to open my heart and my hand and try to help.”
NPR | Doctor talks about Trump's executive order to change childhood vaccine schedule
IDCRC Leadership Group vice chair, James Campbell, MD (University of Maryland School of Medicine), was recently interviewed by NPR's Leila Fadel. In this conversation, Dr. Campbell explains the recent executive order that changes the childhood vaccination schedule.
The Ohio Newsroom | More Ohio kindergartners are getting vaccine exemptions, amid measles outbreak
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows nearly 6% of the state’s kindergartners got vaccine exemptions last school year. That’s more than double the percentage of Ohio kids who got vaccine exemptions prior to the COVID pandemic — and it’s higher than the national exemption rate of about 4%.
“What we've seen in state after state is that the increase of exemptions leads directly to an increase in outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases,” said Dr. Robert Frenck Jr., a professor of pediatrics and director of Cincinnati Children’s Vaccine Research Center.
WXXI News | The FDA approved new mRNA flu vaccine. URochester expert says it has benefits and drawbacks
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Moderna's mRNA-1010 flu shot for ages 50 and older. It's the same mRNA technology used to develop the COVID vaccines. Researchers said they observed greater efficacy with the mRNA version compared to the standard flu shot, with it being about 27% more effective at preventing illness.
"One of the huge advantages of an mRNA flu vaccine is how quickly they (manufacturers) can adapt it, and how quickly they can scale it up," said Dr. Ann Falsey, an infectious disease expert at University of Rochester Medicine.
Job Postings
Visit the IDSA Career Center to browse other ID job postings.
Events
Attend the 2026 NFID Awards Gala
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) Annual Gala
Tuesday, October 20 | 6:30 p.m. | Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (Washington, D.C.)
You're invited to join the NFID's Annual Gala, celebrating excellence in public health. This event will bring together partners, colleagues, and supporters dedicated to advancing healthier lives for all through evidence-based prevention and treatment. During this event, the following individuals will be honored for their significant and lasting contributions to public health.
- Richard J. Hatchett, MD, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award
- Shabir A. Madhi, MMed, PhD, Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement
- Kathleen M. Neuzil, MD, MPH, John P. Utz Leadership Award
Center for Childhood Infections & Vaccines Symposium
CCIV Annual Symposium
November 12, 2026 | 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Health Sciences Research Building (Rollins Auditorium & Café Area)
The 10th Annual Childhood Infections and Vaccines (CCIV) Fall Symposium, bringing together faculty, clinicians, and trainees from across Emory University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to share research and foster collaboration in infections, immunology, vaccinology, and child health. The symposium will feature oral and poster presentations, rapid-fire presentations, networking opportunities, and a keynote presentation from Dan H. Barouch, MD, PhD, of Harvard Medical School.
Funding Opportunities
2026 Deadline:
2026 Lauren F. Collins STAR Emerging Research Pilot Award *NEW*
Deadline: October 15
NIH: Development of Animal Models and Related Biological Materials for Research (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) *NEW*
Deadline: Friday, October 16
NIH Common Fund PRIMED-AI Funding Opportunities
Deadline: October 2026
NIAID Clinical Trial Implementation Cooperative Agreement (U01 Clinical Trial Required)
Deadline: November 5, 2026
2027 Deadline:
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Research to Stimulate Development of Diagnostics, Therapeutics, and Vaccines for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
Deadline: Wednesday, April 6, 2027
Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Deadline: Saturday, May 8, 2027
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Systems Modeling of Infection and Immunity Across Biological Scales
Deadline: Wednesday, September 8, 2027
NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (Parent R13 Clinical Trial Not Allowed
Deadline: Wednesday, September 8, 2027
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Advancing Research Needed to Develop a Universal Influenza Vaccine
Deadline: Sunday, November 17, 2027
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Accelerating Malaria Vaccine and Monoclonal Antibody Discovery
Deadline: Sunday, November 17, 2027
IDCRC Studies
Fully Enrolled Studies in Follow-up
- A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 1 Trial to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of Sanaria(R) PfSPZ-LARC2 Vaccine, a Late-Arresting, Replication-Competent, Genetically Attenuated Plasmodium Falciparum Vaccine by Controlled Human Malaria Infection in Malaria-Naïve Healthy Adults Conditions (DMID 23-0010)
- Efficacy Study of IM Administered CssBA+dmLT Against Moderate-severe Diarrhea in Human Infection Model With ETEC Strain B7A in Healthy Adults (DMID 23-0006)
- A Prospective, Randomized, Open-label Phase 4 Study of the Immunology and Safety of Maternal RSV Vaccination (ABRYSVOTM), Infant Nirsevimab (BEYFORTUSTM) Immunization, or Both Products During the First Year of Life (PROMISE) (DMID 24-0003)
Communication Resources
Please submit IDCRC news to idcrc@emory.edu for inclusion in the monthly newsletter and IDCRC.org.
