This Request for Proposals (RFP) from Pfizer aims to address the gap in comprehensive data regarding the burden of pneumococcal disease and serotype epidemiology in children under 5 years old, particularly in the post-vaccination era. The program seeks to support projects that will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of interventions and inform public health strategies in selected countries.

Geographic Focus and Project Objectives

The geographic scope of this grant program is focused on several countries: Mozambique, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Senegal, and Cote d’Ivoire. Projects must be based in one of these eligible countries.

The primary objective is to evaluate the pneumococcal burden of disease and serotype distribution following the implementation of PCV immunization programs. This includes studies on Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD), Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), genetic evolution of pneumococci, nasopharyngeal carriage, and antibiotic resistance of S. pneumoniae.

Projects should utilize retrospective serotyping data analysis from available records, serotyping of laboratory samples currently under cold storage, or prospective surveillance of pneumococcal NP carriage with serotyping. The submission should include a brief description of the intended statistical analysis of serotyped isolates.

Eligible Applicants and Key Requirements

To be eligible, the institution and Principal Investigator (PI) must be based in one of the eligible countries. Only organizations are eligible to receive grants, not individuals or medical practice groups.

• The PI must have a medical or postdoctoral degree (MD, PhD, or equivalent), an advanced nursing degree, or a degree in Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, or Social Work.

• The PI must be an employee or contractor of the requesting organization.

• The requesting organization must be legally able to receive award funding directly from Pfizer Inc.

The applicant must be the PI or an authorized designee of such individual. If the project involves multiple departments within an institution and/or between different institutions / organizations / associations, all institutions must have a relevant role and the requesting organization must have a key role in the project.

Funding Details and Project Timeline

Individual projects requesting up to $50,000 USD will be considered. For projects requiring third-party lab services for serotyping and sample transportation, up to an additional $30,000 (total $80,000) will be considered. The estimated total available budget for this RFP is $400,000 USD.

The Grant Application Due Date is September 1, 2025. The Anticipated Grant Award Notification Date is October, 2025. Grants will be distributed following a fully executed agreement.

The RFP release date was July 9, 2025. Anticipated Project Start and End Dates: December 2025 to May 2026.

Application Submission Process

Applications must be submitted via the online portal at www.cybergrants.com/pfizer/Research. First-time users should create a password. Ensure you use the correct URL for this grant application type.

In the application, select "Yes" for "Competitive Grant?" and choose the following Competitive Grant Program Name: 2025 VAC ACCORD serotype distribution and burden of pneumococcal disease RES. Also, select the following Primary Area of Interest: VAV-Pneumococcal-RES.

Complete all required sections of the online application and upload your project proposal in the Proposal/Protocol field. Applications submitted after the due date will not be reviewed. For questions, contact Rehab Elsaie at rehab.z.elsaie@pfizer.com with the subject line "2025 VAC ACCORD serotype distribution and burden of pneumococcal disease RES, July 2025".