Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 12 010
Apply for RFA NS 12 010
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploratory Laboratory and Analysis Projects in Parkinsons Disease Biomarkers (U18)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 16, 2012 and posted on Mar 16, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 23, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Special district governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) City or township governments Small businesses Public and State controlled institutions of higher education State governments County governments Independent school districts.
- 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) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Exploratory Laboratory and Analysis Projects in Parkinsons Disease Biomarkers (U18) funding opportunity (RFA-NS-12-010) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement run through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Its core aim is to spark new, practical innovations that make it easier and faster to discover and validate biological biomarkers for Parkinsons disease (PD). Rather than focusing on broad clinical studies alone, this announcement targets the enabling science that often determines whether biomarker discovery succeeds: better lab methods, better assays and reagents, and better ways to manage and analyze biomarker data.
A central theme of the opportunity is strengthening and accelerating the NINDS Parkinsons Disease Biomarkers Program (PDBP). The expectation is that PDBP will serve as a hub that consolidates, integrates, and enhances NINDS-supported PD biomarker projects. In that context, the U18 mechanism is meant to fund exploratory laboratory and analytic projects that can plug into that broader program and help standardize, scale, or otherwise improve the technical pipeline for PD biomarker progress.
The scientific scope is intentionally geared toward method and technology development that enables biomarker discovery. Projects may focus on biospecimen preparation methodologies (for example, improving how blood, CSF, saliva, or other biospecimens are collected, processed, stabilized, stored, or quality-controlled so results are reliable across sites and over time). The FOA also encourages quantitative analyte analysis, which includes developing or refining measurement approaches for proteins, metabolites, lipids, nucleic acids, or other biological signals relevant to PD, with an emphasis on rigor, sensitivity, reproducibility, and comparability. Another major area is reagent and assay development, which can include creating improved antibodies, standards, reference materials, panels, or assay workflows that make PD biomarker measurements more dependable and easier to replicate. Finally, the announcement explicitly supports data analysis methods, recognizing that biomarker discovery depends not only on wet-lab quality but also on the computational and statistical tools used to interpret complex, high-dimensional datasets and distinguish true disease signals from noise, batch effects, and confounders.
The FOA allows the use of existing (extant) specimens and datasets for novel discovery projects, which is important for speeding up early-stage biomarker work and reducing the time and expense of collecting new cohorts. However, there is a clear data-sharing condition tied to the PDBP infrastructure: using existing specimens and data is permitted as long as the consent associated with those materials allows deposition of all resulting data into the PDBP Data Management Resource (DMR). In practical terms, applicants needed to plan for harmonized data submission and compliance with the program’s data integration expectations, since the broader goal is to build a consolidated, reusable biomarker resource rather than isolated one-off datasets.
From an administrative and funding perspective, this was a discretionary opportunity using the cooperative agreement (U18) instrument, meaning NIH staff typically have substantial programmatic involvement compared with a standard research grant. The total estimated funding was $1,000,000, with an award ceiling of $200,000 and an expected five awards. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The program fell under CFDA 93.853 (Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders). The opportunity was posted March 16, 2012, with an original and current closing date of May 23, 2012, and an archive date of June 23, 2012.
Eligibility was broad and included many types of domestic and international applicants. Eligible organizations ranged from public and private institutions of higher education to nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and various levels of government entities (state, county, city/township, special districts, and independent school districts). The FOA also listed eligibility for tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities, regional organizations, and a range of mission-focused institutions such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and tribally controlled colleges and universities. Notably, non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) were eligible, as were foreign components of U.S. organizations, consistent with NIH policy definitions.
Overall, the opportunity can be understood as a targeted push to improve the technical and analytic foundations of Parkinsons biomarker discovery, with an emphasis on tools, assays, specimen handling, and data methods that can be shared, integrated, and scaled through the PDBP, and with a built-in expectation that resulting data are deposited into the PDBP DMR when consent permits.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Exploratory Laboratory and Analysis Projects in Parkinsons Disease Biomarkers (U18)" and is identified as RFA-NS-12-010.
Which agency and institute are running this program?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity administered through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The core aim is to spark new, practical innovations that make it easier and faster to discover and validate biological biomarkers for Parkinsons disease (PD), with an emphasis on enabling science such as improved lab methods, assays, reagents, and biomarker data management and analysis approaches.
How does this opportunity relate to the NINDS Parkinsons Disease Biomarkers Program (PDBP)?
A central theme is strengthening and accelerating the NINDS Parkinsons Disease Biomarkers Program (PDBP). The expectation is that PDBP serves as a hub that consolidates, integrates, and enhances NINDS-supported PD biomarker projects, and U18 projects are intended to plug into that broader program to help standardize, scale, or improve the technical pipeline for PD biomarker progress.
What type of grant mechanism is used?
The mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U18). This implies NIH staff typically have substantial programmatic involvement compared with a standard research grant.
What kinds of projects are in scope for this FOA?
The scientific scope is geared toward method and technology development that enables biomarker discovery, including biospecimen preparation methodologies, quantitative analyte analysis, reagent and assay development, and data analysis methods for complex biomarker datasets.
Does this FOA focus on broad clinical studies?
Rather than focusing on broad clinical studies alone, it targets enabling science that often determines whether biomarker discovery succeeds, such as better lab methods, assays, reagents, and data analysis and management approaches.
What biospecimen-related work is encouraged?
Projects may focus on improving biospecimen preparation methodologies, including how blood, CSF, saliva, or other biospecimens are collected, processed, stabilized, stored, or quality-controlled so results are reliable across sites and over time.
What does "quantitative analyte analysis" mean in this FOA?
It includes developing or refining measurement approaches for proteins, metabolites, lipids, nucleic acids, or other biological signals relevant to PD, with an emphasis on rigor, sensitivity, reproducibility, and comparability.
What types of reagent and assay development are supported?
The FOA supports creating improved antibodies, standards, reference materials, panels, or assay workflows that make PD biomarker measurements more dependable and easier to replicate.
Are data analysis and computational methods part of the scope?
Yes. The FOA explicitly supports data analysis methods, recognizing that biomarker discovery depends on computational and statistical tools to interpret complex, high-dimensional datasets and to distinguish true disease signals from noise, batch effects, and confounders.
Can applicants use existing (extant) specimens and datasets?
Yes. The FOA allows use of existing specimens and datasets for novel discovery projects, which can help speed early-stage biomarker work and reduce the time and expense of collecting new cohorts.
Are there conditions for using existing specimens and datasets?
Yes. Using existing specimens and data is permitted as long as the consent associated with those materials allows deposition of all resulting data into the PDBP Data Management Resource (DMR).
What is the PDBP Data Management Resource (DMR) and why does it matter here?
The PDBP DMR is the program infrastructure for harmonized data submission and integration. This FOA ties use of extant specimens/datasets to an expectation that resulting data can be deposited into the DMR (when consent permits), supporting the broader goal of a consolidated, reusable biomarker resource rather than isolated one-off datasets.
Does the FOA emphasize data harmonization and integration?
Yes. Applicants were expected to plan for harmonized data submission and compliance with PDBP data integration expectations, consistent with the program goal of consolidating and enhancing NINDS-supported PD biomarker projects.
What is the total estimated funding and anticipated number of awards?
The total estimated funding was $1,000,000, with an expectation of five awards.
What is the award ceiling for a single award?
The award ceiling was $200,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The program fell under CFDA 93.853 (Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders).
When was this opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
It was posted on March 16, 2012. The original and current closing date was May 23, 2012. The archive date was June 23, 2012.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included many types of domestic and international applicants, including institutions of higher education (public and private), nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and multiple levels of government entities.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) institutions eligible?
Yes. Non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) were eligible, and foreign components of U.S. organizations were also eligible, consistent with NIH policy definitions.
What types of government entities were eligible?
The FOA listed eligibility for state, county, city/township, special district governments, independent school districts, tribal governments, and other eligible public entities such as public housing authorities.
Were tribal and regionally focused organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. The FOA included tribal governments, tribal organizations, and regional organizations among eligible applicants.
Were mission-focused higher education institutions specifically noted as eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly listed categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and tribally controlled colleges and universities.
What is the overall takeaway for applicants about what NIH wanted to fund?
This was a targeted push to improve the technical and analytic foundations of Parkinsons biomarker discovery, emphasizing tools, assays, specimen handling, and data methods that can be shared, integrated, and scaled through the PDBP, along with an expectation of data deposition into the PDBP DMR when consent permits.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Health
Next opportunity: Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies (SEEDS) Request for Information (RFI)
Previous opportunity: Studies in Parkinsons Disease Biomarkers Discovery (U01)
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 NS 12 010
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA NS 12 010) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| NIDCD Phase I/II/III Clinical Trials in Communication Disorders (U01) Apply for PAR 12 123 Funding Number: PAR 12 123 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIDCD Planning Grant for Phase III Clinical Trials in Communication Disorders (U34) Apply for PAR 12 124 Funding Number: PAR 12 124 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Supporting Improved Health for all People in the Kingdom of Cambodia by Strengthening the Ministry of Healths Capacity to Lead Disease Prevention and Control Efforts and Develop Sustainable Health Delivery Systems under the Presidents Emergency Plan Apply for CDC RFA GH12 1226 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH12 1226 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| State Public Health Coordinating Center for Autism Apply for HRSA 12 131 Funding Number: HRSA 12 131 Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Primary Care Training and Enhancement Interdisciplinary and Interprofessional Joint Graduate Degree Program Apply for HRSA 12 025 Funding Number: HRSA 12 025 Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Immunization Information Systems (IIS) Capacity Building Apply for CDC RFA IP12 1201 Funding Number: CDC RFA IP12 1201 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: $520,000 |
| Strengthening Local Ownership for the Sustainable Provision of HIV/AIDS Services in the Health Bureaus of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) Regional State and Addis Ababa City Administration of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethi Apply for CDC RFA GH12 1222 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH12 1222 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Use Oriented Basic Research Change Mechanisms of Behavioral Social Interventions (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 12 119 Funding Number: PA 12 119 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Construction of a Regional Reference Laboratory in Leribe Apply for CDC RFA GH12 1252 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH12 1252 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Caribbean Regional Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (RELTP) under the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Apply for CDC RFA GH12 1206 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH12 1206 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: $1,300,000 |
| Offender Reentry Program Apply for TI 12 003 Funding Number: TI 12 003 Agency: Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Adminis. Category: Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| The HIV/AIDS Partnership Impact through Prevention, Private Sector and Evidence based Programming (PIPPSE) Apply for RFA 386 12 000001 Funding Number: RFA 386 12 000001 Agency: India USAID New Delhi Category: Health Funding Amount: $38,000,000 |
| Fostering Local Capacity By Working With New Development Partners Apply for APS NUMBER 663 12 000001 Funding Number: APS NUMBER 663 12 000001 Agency: Ethiopia USAID Addis Ababa Category: Health Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| Improving Translational and Basic Research to Control Itch in Humans (ITCH) (R01) Apply for PA 12 131 Funding Number: PA 12 131 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Improving Translational and Basic Research to Control Itch in Humans (ITCH) (R21) Apply for PA 12 132 Funding Number: PA 12 132 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Provision of Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Services and Developing National Capacity to Manage HIV/AIDS Programs in the Republic of Uganda under the Presidents Plan for AIDS Relief Apply for CDC RFA GH12 1213 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH12 1213 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: $3,588,471 |
| State Public Health Approaches to Improving Arthritis Outcomes Apply for CDC RFA DP12 1210 Funding Number: CDC RFA DP12 1210 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Coordinating Center for Research and Training to Promote the Health of People with Developmental and Other Disabilities Apply for RFA DD 12 006 Funding Number: RFA DD 12 006 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: $1,700,000 |
| Primary Care Training and Enhancement Physician Assistant Training in Primary Care Program Apply for HRSA 12 024 Funding Number: HRSA 12 024 Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Validating Data found in Linked 2003 Version of Vital Records and Hospital Discharge Data for Quality Improvement in the States Apply for CDC RFA DP12 1201 Funding Number: CDC RFA DP12 1201 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: $125,000 |
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 NS 12 010", 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.