Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 18 011
The Human Islet Research Network - Consortium on Human Islet Biomimetics (HIRN-CHIB) funding opportunity (RFA-DK-18-011) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to bring new teams into an existing, highly collaborative research network focused on Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), this program supports the creation of a microphysiological system (MPS) that can model key features of human islet biology and immune attack in a controlled laboratory setting. The emphasis is on building advanced, human-relevant in vitro platforms that move beyond standard cell culture by recreating a three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment where pancreatic islet cells and immune cells can interact in ways that resemble the autoimmune process that drives T1D.
At the core of this opportunity is the development of biomimetic islet models that incorporate either primary human islets or engineered islet spheroids. These spheroids are described as assembled islet organoids containing human endocrine cell types such as beta, alpha, delta, and potentially other supporting cell populations. The intent is not simply to keep islet cells alive in culture, but to engineer conditions that allow researchers to study how immune cells engage, infiltrate, damage, and potentially spare or regulate islet tissue within a 3D setting. By doing this in an MPS platform, investigators can examine dynamic cellular cross-talk, inflammatory signaling, immune-mediated cytotoxicity, and mechanisms of immune regulation with a level of realism that is difficult to achieve in conventional two-dimensional assays.
A major long-term goal is to produce in vitro human disease model systems that recapitulate meaningful aspects of the complex pathophysiology of T1D. The FOA specifically highlights the importance of using T1D patient-derived islets created via induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), paired with autologous immune components. In practice, that means deriving islet-like tissue from a patient (through iPSC differentiation approaches) and combining it with immune cells from the same individual to model patient-specific autoimmune interactions. This type of personalized, human-based model is meant to help the field better understand why and how human beta cells are lost in T1D, and to provide a testbed for exploring strategies to protect beta cells, modulate immune responses, and ultimately inform therapeutic development.
The opportunity sits within the broader Human Islet Research Network (HIRN), which has an overall mission of supporting innovative, cooperative translational research to clarify mechanisms of human beta cell loss in T1D and to accelerate strategies to protect and replace functional beta cell mass. CHIB is presented as a consortium within HIRN, meaning awardees would be expected to contribute to a coordinated network effort rather than operate as isolated projects. Because the funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, NIH program staff typically have a more active role than in standard research project grants, often including involvement in steering committees, shared milestones, data/resource sharing expectations, and coordination across sites to ensure interoperability and collective progress toward consortium goals.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement funding instrument, and it is labeled UG3/UH3 (clinical trial not allowed). The UG3/UH3 structure commonly reflects a phased approach in which early-stage activities focus on feasibility and development (often with explicit milestones), followed by a later stage supporting more advanced implementation once initial objectives are met. While the detailed milestone language is not included in the excerpt you provided, the mechanism signals that applicants should be prepared to define clear, measurable deliverables for developing and demonstrating the MPS platform and its ability to model islet-immune interactions in a biomimetic manner. The program is categorized under health-related funding (CFDA 93.847) and is administered by NIH/NIDDK. The listed award ceiling is $750,000, and the original closing date for the referenced solicitation was December 11, 2018.
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizational types, reflecting NIH’s interest in drawing expertise from academia, nonprofits, industry, and government. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly calls out inclusion of a wide range of institution 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, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.
At the same time, there are clear limits around foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic (non-U.S.) institutions are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means a U.S. applicant may include certain foreign collaborations or performance sites if they are justified, appropriately structured, and compliant with NIH policy.
In practical terms, this FOA is aimed at teams capable of integrating human islet biology, stem cell-derived islet engineering, immunology, and bioengineering approaches such as microfluidics, organ-on-chip systems, or other MPS technologies. The expected outcome is not just a new assay, but a robust and reproducible biomimetic platform that can help the field study immune-islet interactions in a human context, generate mechanistic insights into T1D, and provide a foundation for evaluating interventions intended to prevent, slow, or reverse beta cell loss.Apply for RFA DK 18 011
- The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Human Islet Research Network - Consortium on Human Islet Biomimetics (HIRN-CHIB) (UG3/UH3 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 2018-08-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-12-11. (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 $750,000.00 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the HIRN-CHIB funding opportunity (RFA-DK-18-011)?
HIRN-CHIB (Human Islet Research Network - Consortium on Human Islet Biomimetics) is an NIH cooperative agreement funding opportunity supported through NIDDK. It is designed to bring new research teams into an existing collaborative network focused on Type 1 diabetes (T1D), with a central goal of building advanced in vitro models that mimic human islet biology and immune attack.
Which NIH institute administers this program?
The program is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
What is the overall scientific goal of this opportunity?
The goal is to support development of a microphysiological system (MPS) that models key features of human islet function and immune-mediated attack in a controlled laboratory environment. The emphasis is on creating human-relevant biomimetic platforms that go beyond standard 2D culture by recreating a 3D microenvironment where islet cells and immune cells can interact in ways that resemble the autoimmune process in T1D.
What is meant by a microphysiological system (MPS) in this FOA?
In this context, an MPS refers to an engineered in vitro platform (for example, organ-on-chip or microfluidic-type systems) that recreates aspects of tissue architecture and function. Here, it is intended to enable dynamic, measurable interactions between human islet tissue and immune components in a more physiologically meaningful way than conventional assays.
What type of disease is this program focused on?
This opportunity is focused on Type 1 diabetes (T1D), specifically on understanding and modeling the immune-mediated processes that lead to beta cell loss.
What is the role of the Human Islet Research Network (HIRN) in this program?
CHIB is a consortium within the broader HIRN. HIRN supports innovative, cooperative translational research to clarify mechanisms of human beta cell loss in T1D and to accelerate strategies to protect and replace functional beta cell mass. Awardees under CHIB are expected to contribute to coordinated network objectives rather than operate as fully independent efforts.
What does "Consortium on Human Islet Biomimetics" mean in practical terms?
It means the funded work is expected to produce biomimetic islet models: engineered, human-relevant in vitro systems that reproduce meaningful aspects of islet structure and immune interactions. The consortium framing also implies coordination and interoperability across multiple participating teams/sites.
What is the focus on 3D culture and biomimicry?
The FOA emphasizes moving beyond standard cell culture by recreating a three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment. The intent is to allow pancreatic islet cells and immune cells to interact within a setting that better resembles autoimmune engagement in T1D, including processes like immune infiltration, inflammatory signaling, immune-mediated cytotoxicity, and immune regulation.
What kinds of islet tissues or constructs are expected to be incorporated?
The FOA highlights biomimetic islet models that incorporate either (1) primary human islets or (2) engineered islet spheroids. The spheroids are described as assembled islet organoids containing human endocrine cell types such as beta, alpha, delta, and potentially other supporting cell populations.
What are engineered islet spheroids in this FOA?
They are assembled islet organoids (often described as spheroid structures) that include multiple human endocrine cell types (for example beta, alpha, delta) and potentially additional supporting cell populations, with the intention of better recreating islet-like organization and function in vitro.
What immune interactions is the platform expected to model?
The platform is intended to support studies of how immune cells engage, infiltrate, damage, and potentially spare or regulate islet tissue within a 3D setting. It is also aimed at enabling investigation of cellular cross-talk, inflammatory signaling, immune-mediated cytotoxicity, and mechanisms of immune regulation in a human-relevant model.
Why does the FOA emphasize human-relevant in vitro platforms?
The long-term aim is to produce in vitro human disease model systems that recapitulate meaningful aspects of T1D pathophysiology. Human-relevant models can help researchers study beta cell loss and immune attack in ways that are difficult to capture with conventional two-dimensional assays.
Does the FOA highlight patient-specific or personalized models?
Yes. The FOA specifically highlights the importance of using T1D patient-derived islets created via induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), paired with autologous immune components. This means combining islet-like tissue derived from a given patient with immune cells from the same individual to model patient-specific autoimmune interactions.
What is meant by "autologous immune components" in the described approach?
Autologous immune components means immune cells sourced from the same individual as the iPSC-derived islet-like tissue, enabling modeling of immune-islet interactions in a patient-matched (patient-specific) way.
What kinds of technologies or disciplines are likely relevant for applicants?
The FOA is aimed at teams capable of integrating human islet biology, stem cell-derived islet engineering, immunology, and bioengineering approaches such as microfluidics, organ-on-chip systems, or other MPS technologies.
What outcomes are expected from funded projects?
The expected outcome is a robust and reproducible biomimetic platform (not merely a basic assay) that enables human-context study of immune-islet interactions, supports mechanistic insight into T1D, and provides a foundation for evaluating interventions intended to prevent, slow, or reverse beta cell loss.
What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
The FOA uses an NIH cooperative agreement mechanism and is labeled UG3/UH3 (clinical trial not allowed). Cooperative agreements typically involve more active NIH program staff participation than standard research grants.
What does a cooperative agreement imply for project management and collaboration?
Because this is a cooperative agreement, NIH program staff typically take a more active role than under standard research project grants. The FOA description indicates expectations such as participation in coordinated network efforts, potential steering committee involvement, shared milestones, data/resource sharing, and coordination across sites to support interoperability and collective progress.
What is the UG3/UH3 phased structure intended to support?
The UG3/UH3 structure commonly reflects a phased approach: an early stage focused on feasibility and development (often guided by explicit milestones), followed by a later stage supporting more advanced implementation once initial objectives are met. Applicants should be prepared to define clear, measurable deliverables for developing and demonstrating the MPS platform and its biomimetic islet-immune modeling capabilities.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. The mechanism is explicitly labeled UG3/UH3 (clinical trial not allowed).
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The program is categorized under CFDA 93.847.
What is the award ceiling listed for this FOA?
The listed award ceiling is $750,000.
What was the original closing date for the referenced solicitation?
The original closing date for the referenced solicitation was December 11, 2018.
Who is eligible to apply for this funding opportunity?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizational types. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Does the FOA explicitly encourage applications from specific institution types?
Yes. The FOA explicitly calls out inclusion of institution 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, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply as the primary applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic (non-U.S.) institutions are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply.
Are foreign components allowed in any form?
Yes. Foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant may include certain foreign collaborations or performance sites when justified, appropriately structured, and compliant with NIH policy.
What is the central rationale for building these models for T1D research?
The rationale is to create in vitro human disease model systems that capture meaningful aspects of T1D pathophysiology. By modeling immune-islet interactions in a controlled 3D human-relevant setting, researchers can better investigate why and how beta cells are lost in T1D and explore strategies to protect beta cells and modulate immune responses.
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