Incorporating Human Behavior in Epidemiological Models | 24 507

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Incorporating Human Behavior in Epidemiological Models (IHBEM) (24-507)

What is the IHBEM grant opportunity?

IHBEM stands for Incorporating Human Behavior in Epidemiological Models. It is a discretionary research grant opportunity from the National Science Foundation (NSF) focused on improving mathematical epidemiological models by explicitly integrating human behavior into how disease spread and outbreak response are modeled.

Who is the funding agency?

The funding agency is the National Science Foundation (NSF).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is 24-507.

What is the main purpose of this program?

The program aims to strengthen epidemiological modeling by treating epidemic dynamics as shaped not only by biology and contact patterns, but also by human decision-making and social forces. The intent is to integrate social, behavioral, and economic processes directly into model design and analysis.

What kinds of human behavior does IHBEM want incorporated into models?

Examples of behavioral forces highlighted in the opportunity include decision-making, risk perception, compliance with public health guidance, economic incentives, social networks, misinformation, and other behavioral drivers that can change over time and vary across communities.

Is this strictly an epidemiology program, or does it require other fields?

It explicitly requires other fields. A key requirement is genuine interdisciplinary balance, with mathematical sciences working hand-in-hand with social, behavioral, and economic sciences.

What does NSF mean by "genuine interdisciplinary balance"?

NSF is looking for projects where social, behavioral, and economic science contributions are not treated as a minor add-on. Competitive projects typically show that behavioral and social concepts are translated into the model structure, while mathematical and computational approaches are used to test, analyze, and generalize those mechanisms within rigorous epidemiological frameworks.

What are examples of how behavior might be translated into model structure?

The opportunity provides examples such as behaviorally driven contact rates, adaptive responses to disease prevalence, feedback loops between policy and compliance, and heterogeneity linked to social and economic context.

What type of funding instrument is used for awards?

The award instrument is a grant.

What is the program category?

The opportunity is categorized as Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Who is eligible to submit a proposal?

Eligibility to submit proposals is limited to US-based Institutions of Higher Education. This includes accredited two-year and four-year colleges and universities (including community colleges) that have a campus located in the United States and that submit proposals on behalf of their faculty.

Are community colleges eligible to submit?

Yes. The eligibility description includes accredited two-year colleges, including community colleges, as long as they are US-based and have a campus located in the United States.

Does NSF restrict who can be a Principal Investigator (PI) on this opportunity?

No special PI eligibility constraints are described. The opportunity states there are no restrictions or limits on who may serve as the PI beyond the requirement that the proposal be submitted by an eligible institution.

Can a proposal include work at an international branch campus of a US institution?

Yes, but with conditions. If proposal funding would flow to an international branch campus of a US institution (including via subawards or consultant arrangements), the submitting institution must clearly explain why the work at the international branch campus benefits the project and why those activities cannot be carried out at the US campus.

Does the international branch campus requirement apply only to subawards?

No. The information provided states that the requirement applies if funding would flow to an international branch campus, including through subawards or consultant arrangements.

What is the closing date for this opportunity?

The original closing date is February 14, 2025.

How many awards does NSF expect to make?

NSF anticipates making about 15 awards under this solicitation.

Is there an award ceiling listed?

An explicit award ceiling is not listed in the provided information.

Which CFDA numbers are associated with this solicitation?

The program is associated with CFDA numbers 47.049, 47.074, 47.075, and 93.279.

What makes a project "competitive" according to the description provided?

Based on the information provided, competitive projects typically (1) integrate behavioral and social science concepts directly into model structure (for example through adaptive behavior, feedback loops, and heterogeneity tied to social and economic context), and (2) apply mathematical and computational methods to test, analyze, and generalize these mechanisms in rigorous epidemiological frameworks, while maintaining real interdisciplinary balance.

Does IHBEM focus only on biological transmission mechanisms?

No. The central idea described is that epidemic dynamics are not driven only by biology and contact patterns, but also by behavioral forces such as decision-making, risk perception, compliance, incentives, networks, and misinformation.

Does the program emphasize differences across communities?

Yes. The description notes that behavioral forces can differ across communities and can change over time, and it also highlights heterogeneity tied to social and economic context as an example of how behavior could be reflected in model structure.