Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 14 033
Apply for RFA HD 14 033
- The National Institutes of Health in the health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Centers for Collaborative Research in Fragile X (U54)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 26, 2013 and posted on Nov 21, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 21, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $6,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: City or township governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Independent school districts Private institutions of higher education Small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) County governments Special district governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Centers for Collaborative Research in Fragile X (U54) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-HD-14-033) was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement mechanism designed to build a small number of highly collaborative research centers focused on Fragile X syndrome and conditions related to the Fragile X gene (FMR1). Rather than supporting isolated projects, this announcement emphasized assembling transdisciplinary teams of investigators who could work together in an integrated way to tackle difficult, well-defined scientific problems. The goal was to close important research gaps, accelerate discovery, and strengthen the overall research base needed to better understand Fragile X biology and translate that knowledge toward meaningful advances for individuals and families affected by Fragile X-related conditions.
A central feature of this opportunity was its “targeted areas of research” framework. NIH signaled that it wanted applicants to organize their Centers around focused and challenging questions within specific priority areas, with the expectation that the Center structure would add value beyond what typical single-investigator or loosely connected project grants could accomplish. In practical terms, this meant proposing an integrated program where multiple investigators and disciplines (for example, genetics, neuroscience, molecular biology, clinical research, behavioral science, or related fields) work in a coordinated manner to move the science forward more efficiently than separate, unconnected efforts. The overall intent was to foster synergy, shared resources, and cross-disciplinary problem solving that could drive faster progress in Fragile X and FMR1-related research.
The award used the NIH cooperative agreement mechanism (U54). Compared with a standard research project grant, a cooperative agreement typically involves substantial scientific or programmatic involvement from NIH staff during the life of the award. While the Center investigators would lead the science, the cooperative structure generally implies a more active partnership with the funding agency, often including coordinated oversight, milestone-driven progress expectations, and participation in collaborative activities intended to maximize the impact of the funded Centers and align them with broader program goals.
In terms of scale, NIH anticipated making about four awards under this announcement, with an estimated total funding level of $6,000,000. The listed award ceiling was $1,300,000, indicating the maximum budget level NIH expected to support per award under the program’s structure and rules. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants were not required to contribute non-federal funds as a condition of receiving an award.
Eligibility was broad and included many categories of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants included public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, as well as state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations. The FOA also explicitly referenced eligibility for a range of institution types and community-based entities 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), among others, and noted that certain federal agencies could be eligible. At the same time, the announcement clearly excluded non-U.S. entities: foreign institutions could not apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations were not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) were not allowed, reinforcing that the program’s activities and performance were intended to be domestic.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted on November 21, 2013, with a closing date of January 21, 2014, and an archive date of February 21, 2014. The funding activity category was listed under health, income security, and social services, and it referenced CFDA numbers 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants), 93.853 (Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders), and 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research), which signals the program’s fit across mental health, neuroscience, and child health and development portfolios relevant to Fragile X research.
For applicants at the time, the main takeaway was that NIH was not simply looking for a collection of projects under a single umbrella name. It was seeking Centers that could demonstrate genuine integration, clear scientific focus, and a strong rationale for why a coordinated, transdisciplinary Center approach was necessary to answer the selected questions in Fragile X syndrome and FMR1-related conditions. The official full announcement was hosted on the NIH grants site under the provided link, and NIH’s Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts were listed for access and technical issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Centers for Collaborative Research in Fragile X (U54) opportunity?
It is an NIH cooperative agreement funding opportunity intended to create a small number of highly collaborative research Centers focused on Fragile X syndrome and conditions related to the Fragile X gene (FMR1). The program emphasized integrated, transdisciplinary Center-based research rather than isolated or loosely connected projects.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-HD-14-033.
What is the main goal of this program?
The goal was to close important research gaps, accelerate discovery, and strengthen the research base needed to better understand Fragile X biology and translate that knowledge toward meaningful advances for individuals and families affected by Fragile X-related conditions.
What kinds of research topics were the Centers expected to focus on?
Applicants were expected to organize their Centers around focused, challenging questions in NIH-designated targeted areas of research related to Fragile X syndrome and FMR1-related conditions, with a clear justification for why a Center structure would add value.
What does NIH mean by a "targeted areas of research" framework?
It means NIH signaled specific priority areas and expected applicants to build an integrated Center around well-defined scientific problems within those areas, demonstrating that the coordinated, multi-investigator approach would be more effective than separate, unconnected efforts.
How is a U54 cooperative agreement different from a standard grant?
A U54 is a cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically involves substantial scientific or programmatic involvement by NIH staff during the award. While Center investigators lead the science, the cooperative structure generally implies a more active partnership with NIH, such as coordinated oversight, milestone-driven progress expectations, and participation in collaborative activities.
How many awards did NIH anticipate making under this opportunity?
NIH anticipated making about four awards.
What was the estimated total funding level for the program?
The estimated total funding level was $6,000,000.
What was the maximum budget level (award ceiling) per award?
The listed award ceiling was $1,300,000, indicating the maximum budget level NIH expected to support per award under the program structure and rules.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included many U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township), as well as special district governments and eligible tribal entities.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The announcement included federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations as eligible applicants.
Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. Small businesses were listed as eligible applicants.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations were eligible, except that the eligibility list specified for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and also listed small businesses separately.
Are community-based and minority-serving institutions included in eligibility?
Yes. The FOA explicitly referenced eligibility for a range of institution types including 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), among others.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
The FOA noted that certain federal agencies could be eligible.
Can foreign institutions apply?
No. Foreign institutions could not apply.
Can a U.S. organization apply if it plans to carry out work outside the United States?
No. The announcement stated that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations were not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) were not allowed, indicating that program activities and performance were intended to be domestic.
What kinds of disciplines were NIH expecting to see represented in a Center?
NIH expected transdisciplinary teams, potentially spanning areas such as genetics, neuroscience, molecular biology, clinical research, behavioral science, and related fields, working in a coordinated and integrated manner.
What did NIH mean by "integration" and "synergy" in this program?
NIH emphasized that the Center should not be a simple collection of projects under one umbrella name. Instead, it should demonstrate genuine integration across investigators and disciplines, shared resources where appropriate, coordinated problem-solving, and a strong rationale for why a Center-based approach would move the science forward more efficiently than separate efforts.
When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was posted on November 21, 2013. The closing date was January 21, 2014. The archive date was February 21, 2014.
What was the funding activity category listed for this opportunity?
The funding activity category was listed under health, income security, and social services.
Which CFDA numbers were associated with this funding opportunity?
The announcement referenced CFDA numbers 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants), 93.853 (Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders), and 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research).
What does the inclusion of these CFDA numbers suggest about the program?
It signals that the program aligns with NIH portfolios spanning mental health, neuroscience/neurological disorders, and child health and human development, as relevant to Fragile X and FMR1-related research.
Where was the official announcement hosted?
The official full announcement was hosted on the NIH grants site under the provided link for RFA-HD-14-033.
Who was listed for access or technical issues related to the announcement?
NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts were listed for access and technical issues.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Health Income Security and Social Services
Next opportunity: Region 7 Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program Open to State Fish and Game agencies only
Previous opportunity: NCI Small Grants Program for Cancer Research (NCI Omnibus R03)
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA HD 14 033
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA HD 14 033) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Juvenile Protective Factors and Their Effects on Aging (R03) Apply for PAR 14 022 Funding Number: PAR 14 022 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| U.S South Africa Program for Collaborative Biomedical Research (U01) Apply for RFA AI 14 018 Funding Number: RFA AI 14 018 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| Data Sharing for Demographic Research Infrastructure Program (U24) Apply for RFA HD 14 015 Funding Number: RFA HD 14 015 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers 2014 (U54) Apply for RFA HD 14 012 Funding Number: RFA HD 14 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,300,000 |
| Population Dynamics Centers Research Infrastructure (P2C) Apply for RFA HD 14 016 Funding Number: RFA HD 14 016 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Data Coordinating Center for the Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network (U01) Apply for RFA HD 14 020 Funding Number: RFA HD 14 020 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network (UG1) Apply for RFA HD 14 022 Funding Number: RFA HD 14 022 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Sustained Release for Antiretroviral Treatment or Prevention (SRATP) of HIV Infection (UM1) Apply for RFA AI 14 008 Funding Number: RFA AI 14 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Isolation, Purification, and Synthesis of Human Milk Oligosaccharides with Antimicrobial Activity (R43) Apply for RFA HD 15 008 Funding Number: RFA HD 15 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Isolation, Purification, and Synthesis of Human Milk Oligosaccharides with Antimicrobial Activity (R41) Apply for RFA HD 15 007 Funding Number: RFA HD 15 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Male Contraceptive Development Program (U01) Apply for RFA HD 14 034 Funding Number: RFA HD 14 034 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Global Omics Approaches Targeting Adverse Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcomes Utilizing Existing Cohorts (R01) Apply for PAR 14 264 Funding Number: PAR 14 264 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Peripheral Blood Biomarkers of Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury in Human Subjects SBIR Direct Phase II (R44) Apply for RFA HD 15 012 Funding Number: RFA HD 15 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Innovative Therapies and Tools for Screenable Disorders in Newborns (R21) Apply for PAR 14 269 Funding Number: PAR 14 269 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Innovative Therapies and Tools for Screenable Disorders in Newborns (R03) Apply for PAR 14 271 Funding Number: PAR 14 271 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Pharmacogenetics, Pharmacoepigenetics and Personalized Medicine in Children (R01) Apply for PAR 14 274 Funding Number: PAR 14 274 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Medically Assisted Reproduction Investigation of Mechanisms Underlying the Adverse Outcomes and Development of New and Improved Methods to Overcome the Adverse Outcomes (R01) Apply for PAR 14 272 Funding Number: PAR 14 272 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Medically Assisted Reproduction Investigation of Mechanisms Underlying the Adverse Outcomes and Development of New and Improved Methods to Overcome the Adverse Outcomes (R21) Apply for PAR 14 273 Funding Number: PAR 14 273 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Pediatric Cardiac Genomics Consortium (UM1) Apply for RFA HL 15 012 Funding Number: RFA HL 15 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $269,000 |
| In vivo Methods for Assessing Placental Development and Function (SBIR) R43/R44 Apply for RFA HD 15 018 Funding Number: RFA HD 15 018 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA HD 14 033", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.