Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AA 12 001
Apply for RFA AA 12 001
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DNA Repository for the NIAAA National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related ConditionsIII (NESARCIII) (U24)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273 Alcohol Research Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 22, 2011 and posted on Mar 22, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 24, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,700,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments City or township governments Special district governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Independent school districts Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education County governments.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions 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) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
This funding opportunity (RFA-AA-12-001) is a National Institutes of Health initiative from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) to establish and operate a dedicated DNA repository tied to the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III (NESARC-III). The award mechanism is a U24 Cooperative Agreement, meaning the project is expected to function as a research resource center with substantial coordination and interaction with NIH/NIAAA rather than operating as a fully independent research grant. NIAAA expects to make a single award, with an estimated total funding level of about $3,000,000 and an award ceiling of $2,700,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
The core purpose is not to fund new hypothesis-driven alcohol research, but to fund the infrastructure and operational capacity required to manage the DNA collected as part of NESARC-III. The repository is expected to handle end-to-end biospecimen logistics and laboratory processing steps that protect sample integrity and ensure that downstream genomic work can be done reliably. Specifically, the repository must support receipt of biospecimens, DNA extraction, rigorous quality control, genotyping of ancestry informative markers, secure storage, and distribution or transfer of high-quality DNA to a sequencing laboratory. In practical terms, this is a centralized service function: it ensures the chain of custody is documented, the material is processed consistently, and the resulting DNA is of a standard that supports large-scale genotyping and sequencing projects without avoidable batch effects or quality failures.
A major long-term objective is to create a foundation for future data sharing that links phenotypic information from NESARC-III with genetic and genomic data derived from these DNA samples. The FOA emphasizes building cyberinfrastructure, meaning the repository is expected to do more than store tubes in freezers. It should also support systems and processes that allow genetic and genomic resources to be integrated, tracked, and ultimately shared in ways that are usable to the broader scientific community. The ultimate public health and scientific rationale is to enable human genetic research and gene discovery related to alcohol use disorders and associated disabilities by making high-quality biospecimens and well-managed data resources available for future studies.
The opportunity falls under the Health activity category and is listed under CFDA 93.273 (Alcohol Research Programs). It is classified as a discretionary funding opportunity and was posted on March 22, 2011, with an application closing date of May 24, 2011 (archived June 24, 2011). Even though the announcement is historical, its structure is a good example of how NIH funds centralized resources: the award supports standardized processing, quality assurance, controlled storage, and coordinated distribution pipelines that can serve many future investigators rather than a single research team.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic and non-domestic entities. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, independent school districts, and additional categories such as faith-based and community-based organizations, HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and even foreign organizations. This breadth reflects that the work is infrastructure-focused and could potentially be carried out by academic biorepositories, specialized laboratory organizations, or other qualified entities with proven capacity in biospecimen management and genomic QC workflows.
Key operational expectations implied by the FOA include: (1) implementing standardized protocols for extraction and QC so that DNA quality and concentration are consistent and well documented; (2) generating ancestry informative marker data that supports population structure assessment and downstream genetic analyses; (3) maintaining secure, reliable long-term storage with robust inventory control and sample tracking; and (4) having a dependable distribution process to provide DNA to an external sequencing laboratory while preserving documentation, sample integrity, and compliance with applicable human subjects protections and data governance requirements. The end result NIAAA is aiming for is a durable, well-run repository and supporting informatics framework that makes NESARC-III genetic resources practical to use at scale and maximizes their value for future research into alcohol-related disorders.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity being described?
This opportunity is NIH RFA-AA-12-001 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). It supports establishing and operating a dedicated DNA repository connected to the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III (NESARC-III).
Which NIH institute is sponsoring this award?
The sponsoring institute is the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the primary goal of this award?
The goal is to fund infrastructure and operational capacity to receive, process, quality control, store, and distribute DNA collected as part of NESARC-III. The focus is on running a centralized repository service that preserves sample integrity and enables reliable downstream genomic work.
Is this funding meant to support new hypothesis-driven alcohol research projects?
No. The purpose is not to fund new hypothesis-driven alcohol research. It is intended to support repository infrastructure and standardized operational workflows for managing NESARC-III DNA resources.
What award mechanism is used for this opportunity?
The mechanism is a U24 Cooperative Agreement. This means it is structured as a research resource center with substantial coordination and interaction with NIH/NIAAA rather than a fully independent research grant.
What does it mean that this is a Cooperative Agreement (U24)?
It means the project is expected to operate with substantial NIH/NIAAA involvement and coordination. The repository functions as a centralized resource that must align closely with NIH/NIAAA expectations for standardized processing, quality assurance, and distribution pipelines.
How many awards does NIAAA expect to make?
NIAAA expects to make a single award.
How much funding is available?
The estimated total funding level is about $3,000,000. The award ceiling is $2,700,000.
Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?
No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What types of activities must the DNA repository support?
The repository is expected to support end-to-end biospecimen logistics and laboratory processing steps, including receipt of biospecimens, DNA extraction, rigorous quality control, genotyping of ancestry informative markers, secure storage, and distribution or transfer of high-quality DNA to a sequencing laboratory.
What does "end-to-end biospecimen logistics" mean in this context?
It refers to handling the full chain of custody and operational workflow, from receiving biospecimens through processing and documentation, to secure storage and controlled transfer/distribution of high-quality DNA for downstream genomic work.
Why is DNA extraction and quality control emphasized?
The FOA emphasizes standardized extraction and rigorous QC so DNA quality and concentration are consistent and well documented. This supports reliable large-scale genotyping and sequencing and helps avoid avoidable quality failures or batch effects.
What are ancestry informative markers, and why are they included?
The repository must genotype ancestry informative markers to support population structure assessment and downstream genetic analyses. This is part of producing genetic resources that are usable for large-scale genomic studies.
What are the storage expectations for the repository?
The repository is expected to maintain secure, reliable long-term storage with robust inventory control and sample tracking.
What are the expectations for distribution or transfer of DNA?
The repository must have a dependable process to distribute or transfer high-quality DNA to an external sequencing laboratory while preserving documentation, sample integrity, and compliance with applicable protections and governance requirements.
Is this repository expected to do more than store physical samples?
Yes. The FOA emphasizes cyberinfrastructure, meaning the repository should support systems and processes that allow genetic and genomic resources to be integrated, tracked, and ultimately shared in usable ways.
What is meant by "cyberinfrastructure" in this opportunity?
Cyberinfrastructure refers to the informatics systems and processes that support integration, tracking, and future sharing of genetic/genomic resources linked to NESARC-III phenotypic information, beyond simply storing physical biospecimens.
What long-term outcomes is NIAAA aiming for?
A major long-term objective is to create a foundation for future data sharing that links NESARC-III phenotypic information with genetic and genomic data derived from the DNA samples, enabling broader scientific use for future studies.
What is the scientific and public health rationale for this repository?
The rationale is to enable human genetic research and gene discovery related to alcohol use disorders and associated disabilities by making high-quality biospecimens and well-managed data resources available for future research.
How is this opportunity categorized in federal program terms?
It falls under the Health activity category and is listed under CFDA 93.273 (Alcohol Research Programs). It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.
When was the opportunity posted, and when did it close?
It was posted on March 22, 2011. The application closing date was May 24, 2011, and it was archived on June 24, 2011.
Is this announcement still active?
No. It is described as historical and was archived in 2011.
Why might this archived FOA still be useful to review?
It serves as an example of how NIH funds centralized resources: standardized processing, quality assurance, controlled storage, and coordinated distribution pipelines designed to serve many future investigators rather than a single research team.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic and non-domestic entities, such as state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, independent school districts, faith-based and community-based organizations, HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and foreign organizations.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes foreign organizations.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations, including small businesses, are included as eligible applicants.
Are nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status eligible?
Yes. The eligibility description includes nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status.
Are educational institutions specifically included in eligibility?
Yes. Public and private institutions of higher education are included, along with HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions.
What kind of organization is best positioned to carry out this work?
Based on the infrastructure focus, the work could be carried out by academic biorepositories, specialized laboratory organizations, or other qualified entities with proven capacity in biospecimen management and genomic QC workflows.
What operational expectations are implied by the FOA?
Key expectations include implementing standardized extraction and QC protocols, generating ancestry informative marker data, maintaining secure long-term storage with strong inventory control and tracking, and operating a dependable distribution process for transferring DNA to an external sequencing laboratory with documentation and integrity protections.
What is the role of chain-of-custody documentation?
The repository is expected to document chain of custody so materials are tracked and processed consistently, helping protect sample integrity and ensuring the resulting DNA meets standards for large-scale genomic work.
What does NIAAA ultimately want to be built through this award?
NIAAA is aiming for a durable, well-run DNA repository plus supporting informatics infrastructure that makes NESARC-III genetic resources practical to use at scale and maximizes their value for future research into alcohol-related disorders.
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