Central Coordinating Site for the Polycystic Kidney Disease Research and Translation Core Centers (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA DK 19 011

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 19 011

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is soliciting applications for a Central Coordinating Site (CCS) to support the Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Research and Translation Core Centers (RTCC) program under a U24 cooperative agreement mechanism. This opportunity, RFA-DK-19-011, is designed to create a hub that coordinates and connects a four-center PKD Research Consortium made up of separately funded RTCCs (funded under the companion announcement RFA-DK-19-010, U54). The CCS is intended to operate as both the administrative backbone of the Consortium and a national resource that helps the broader PKD research community access shared tools, information, and collaborative infrastructure.

The core purpose of the program is to accelerate progress in PKD by strengthening collaboration and resource sharing across the field. All Consortium activities are expected to align with an overarching goal: improving understanding of PKD pathogenesis and disease progression, and advancing prevention strategies and clinical management. Rather than funding new clinical trials, this particular CCS award focuses on coordination, communication, and operational support that makes multi-site, translationally oriented research more efficient and more connected. Consistent with the title, clinical trials are not allowed under this FOA.

As the central coordinating entity, the CCS is expected to work closely and continuously with the four PKD RTCCs as part of an NIH-supported research consortium structure. In practical terms, that means providing centralized administrative support (such as planning, scheduling, documentation, and cross-center coordination), managing Consortium-wide communications, and helping to build a cohesive research community that can share resources effectively. The CCS would typically be expected to support activities like consortium meeting coordination, maintaining shared communication channels, facilitating working groups, developing consistent processes for cross-site collaboration, and serving as an organizing point for interactions between the RTCCs and the wider PKD research ecosystem. The intent is to reduce duplication of effort, increase transparency and interoperability across centers, and make it easier for investigators to locate and use Consortium-generated resources.

This FOA uses a cooperative agreement (U24) funding instrument, which generally implies substantial NIH programmatic involvement compared to a standard grant. In other words, the CCS is not simply funded to operate independently; it is expected to collaborate actively with NIH and the RTCC awardees to meet shared Consortium goals and to adapt as Consortium needs evolve. The opportunity is categorized under Health (and Food and Nutrition/Health in the listing) and is associated with CFDA number 93.847.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city/township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education in those categories as specified); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly notes additional eligible applicant types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized tribes.

At the same time, the FOA draws clear boundaries around foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, meaning an eligible U.S. applicant may be able to include certain foreign collaborations or activities if they meet NIH policy requirements and are justified within the project.

Key administrative details from the listing include an original closing date of November 21, 2019, and an award ceiling of $600,000. The sponsoring agency is NIH, and the opportunity was created on July 26, 2019. Overall, the grant is best understood as a coordination and infrastructure award: it funds the central operations that allow multiple PKD research and translation centers to function like a unified consortium, promote consistent communication and governance, and make shared resources more accessible and useful to the PKD research community.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Central Coordinating Site for the Polycystic Kidney Disease Research and Translation Core Centers (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-07-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-11-21. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA DK 19 011

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