Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 15 019
Apply for PAR 15 019
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition for the Continuation of Rare Diseases Clinical Research Consortia in the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (U54)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.350 National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences 93.394 Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research 93.395 Cancer Treatment Research 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 16, 2014 and posted on Oct 16, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 16, 2014. (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 $1,250,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments Special district governments For profit organizations other than small businesses County governments 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 Small businesses Independent school districts Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) State governments.
- 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) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) 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 allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
This grant opportunity, PAR 15 019, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement (U54) designed specifically as a limited competition to continue funding for existing Rare Diseases Clinical Research Consortia (RDCRCs) within the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN). It is not an open call for brand-new consortia. Only the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) leading RDCRCs that previously received either an NINDS award under the RDCRN program through RFA TR 13 002, or an NCI award through RFA OD 08 001, are eligible to apply. The goal is to give those currently participating, NINDS- and NCI-supported consortia a chance to compete for an additional four years of network participation and support, allowing the RDCRN to maintain continuity while reassessing performance and plans for the next project period.
At its core, the RDCRN is structured as a coordinated national effort that links multiple clinical research consortia with a central Data Management Coordinating Center (DMCC). The network model emphasizes collaboration across sites and disciplines and is built around a partnership between academic/clinical investigators and patient advocacy groups. This structure is meant to make rare disease research more feasible and more efficient by pooling expertise, harmonizing data collection, supporting shared tools and resources, and improving communication across the community. The DMCC role is central to that approach, helping ensure that data standards, informatics infrastructure, and cross-consortium collaboration are strong enough to support multi-site studies and broader data sharing.
The FOA highlights four main areas it intends to support. First, it supports collaborative clinical research in rare diseases, including longitudinal studies that follow individuals over time to better understand disease course, outcomes, and meaningful clinical endpoints. It also encompasses clinical studies and clinical trials, recognizing that rare diseases often require multi-center enrollment strategies, carefully designed natural history studies, and coordinated trial infrastructure to overcome small patient populations and dispersed expertise. Second, it supports career development and advancement opportunities for clinical investigators working in rare diseases, reflecting the need to build and retain a workforce capable of leading complex, multi-site rare disease studies and translating discoveries into practice. Third, it encourages pilot or demonstration projects, described as proof-of-concept clinical research, which can be used to test new ideas, generate preliminary data, refine protocols, and de-risk larger future studies. Fourth, it aims to improve access to reliable information on rare diseases for a broad audience that includes basic and clinical researchers, physicians, patients, and the general public, reinforcing the network's commitment to transparency, education, and dissemination.
Administratively, this funding opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses the cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning NIH expects to have substantial involvement in the funded activities compared to a standard research grant. The posted date and creation date are October 16, 2014, with an original and current closing date of December 16, 2014, and an archive date of January 16, 2015. The award ceiling listed is $1,250,000. No cost sharing or matching is required. The program is associated with multiple CFDA numbers reflecting NIH components involved in translational science, neuroscience, and cancer-related research, including 93.350 (NCATS), 93.394 and 93.395 (NCI programs), and 93.853 (NINDS extramural research).
Eligibility is broad in terms of institution types (for example, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, state and local government entities, tribal governments and tribal organizations, small businesses, and certain for-profit organizations), but the practical eligibility is constrained by the limited-competition requirement tied to prior RDCRN consortium awards under the specified RFAs. Importantly, non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply as applicants, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible; however, foreign components as defined under NIH policy are allowed, which can enable certain international collaborations when they are part of a U.S.-led application and justified within NIH rules.
Overall, PAR 15 019 is best understood as a continuation and renewal pathway for established RDCRN clinical research consortia, focused on sustaining and improving the network's ability to run high-quality, multi-site rare disease clinical research, train the next generation of rare disease investigators, seed innovative pilot studies, and serve as a trusted hub for rare disease information and engagement with patients, advocacy organizations, and clinicians.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - PAR-15-019 (NIH U54 Cooperative Agreement)
1) What is PAR-15-019?
PAR-15-019 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement funding opportunity using the U54 mechanism. It is designed as a limited competition to continue support for existing Rare Diseases Clinical Research Consortia (RDCRCs) within the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN), rather than to create new consortia.
2) Is this an open opportunity for new rare disease consortia?
No. This is not an open call for brand-new consortia. The opportunity is specifically intended to continue funding for RDCRCs that are already part of the RDCRN under the prior, specified awards.
3) Who is eligible to apply under this limited competition?
Only the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) leading RDCRCs that previously received either (a) an NINDS award under the RDCRN program through RFA-TR-13-002, or (b) an NCI award through RFA-OD-08-001, are eligible to apply.
4) What is the purpose of limiting eligibility to previously funded RDCRCs?
The purpose is to allow currently participating NINDS- and NCI-supported consortia to compete for an additional four years of RDCRN participation and support. This approach helps maintain network continuity while NIH reassesses performance and plans for the next project period.
5) What is the RDCRN and how is it structured?
The Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) is a coordinated national effort that links multiple clinical research consortia with a central Data Management Coordinating Center (DMCC). The model emphasizes collaboration across sites and disciplines and is built around partnerships between academic/clinical investigators and patient advocacy groups.
6) What role does the Data Management Coordinating Center (DMCC) play?
The DMCC has a central role in supporting the network approach by strengthening data standards, informatics infrastructure, and cross-consortium collaboration. This helps enable multi-site studies, harmonized data collection, and broader data sharing across the network.
7) What types of activities does this FOA intend to support?
The FOA describes four main areas of support: (1) collaborative clinical research in rare diseases (including longitudinal studies, clinical studies, and clinical trials), (2) career development and advancement opportunities for clinical investigators in rare diseases, (3) pilot or demonstration (proof-of-concept) clinical research projects, and (4) improving access to reliable rare disease information for researchers, clinicians, patients, and the general public.
8) Does the FOA support longitudinal or natural history studies?
Yes. It specifically includes longitudinal studies that follow individuals over time to better understand disease course, outcomes, and meaningful clinical endpoints.
9) Are clinical trials included within the scope of supported research?
Yes. The FOA encompasses clinical studies and clinical trials and recognizes that rare diseases often require multi-center enrollment strategies and coordinated trial infrastructure due to small patient populations and dispersed expertise.
10) What are pilot or demonstration projects in the context of this opportunity?
Pilot or demonstration projects are described as proof-of-concept clinical research intended to test new ideas, generate preliminary data, refine protocols, and reduce risk (de-risk) for larger future studies.
11) Does this opportunity include career development support?
Yes. The FOA supports career development and advancement opportunities for clinical investigators working in rare diseases, reflecting the need to build and retain a workforce capable of leading complex, multi-site studies and translating discoveries into practice.
12) Does the FOA include public or patient-facing information goals?
Yes. A stated aim is to improve access to reliable information on rare diseases for basic and clinical researchers, physicians, patients, and the general public, emphasizing transparency, education, and dissemination.
13) What funding mechanism is used, and what does it imply?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement mechanism (U54). As a cooperative agreement, NIH expects substantial involvement in the funded activities compared with a standard research grant.
14) Is this funding considered discretionary?
Yes. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.
15) What is the maximum award amount listed for this FOA?
The award ceiling listed is $1,250,000.
16) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states that no cost sharing or matching is required.
17) What were the key dates for PAR-15-019?
The posted date and creation date are October 16, 2014. The original and current closing date is December 16, 2014. The archive date is January 16, 2015.
18) Which NIH components and CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The program is associated with multiple CFDA numbers tied to NIH components involved in translational science, neuroscience, and cancer-related research: 93.350 (NCATS), 93.394 and 93.395 (NCI programs), and 93.853 (NINDS extramural research).
19) What types of organizations are generally eligible (institutional categories)?
Institution types listed as eligible include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, state and local government entities, tribal governments and tribal organizations, small businesses, and certain for-profit organizations.
20) If many institution types are listed, what is the practical eligibility constraint?
Even though a broad range of institution types is listed, practical eligibility is constrained by the limited-competition requirement: only Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) of RDCRCs with the specified prior RDCRN awards (under RFA-TR-13-002 or RFA-OD-08-001) are eligible to apply.
21) Are non-U.S. (foreign) institutions eligible to apply as the applicant organization?
No. Non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply as applicants.
22) Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
23) Are any types of international participation allowed?
Yes. Foreign components (as defined under NIH policy) are allowed. This can enable certain international collaborations when they are part of a U.S.-led application and are justified within NIH rules.
24) How does the RDCRN model make rare disease research more feasible?
The network model is intended to make rare disease research more feasible and efficient by pooling expertise across sites, harmonizing data collection, supporting shared tools and resources, and improving communication across researchers, clinicians, and patient advocacy groups.
25) What is the overall goal of PAR-15-019?
Overall, PAR-15-019 functions as a continuation and renewal pathway for established RDCRN consortia, focused on sustaining and improving the network's capacity to conduct high-quality, multi-site rare disease clinical research, support investigator career development, seed innovative pilot studies, and serve as a trusted hub for rare disease information and engagement.
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| National Cancer Institute Program Project Applications (P01) Apply for PAR 15 023 Funding Number: PAR 15 023 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mechanistic Studies of Pain and Alcohol Dependence (R01) Apply for PA 15 026 Funding Number: PA 15 026 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Promoting Research in Basic Neuroscience (R01) Apply for PAS 15 029 Funding Number: PAS 15 029 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The Early Detection Research Network Biomarker Developmental Laboratories (U01) Apply for RFA CA 14 014 Funding Number: RFA CA 14 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| The Early Detection Research Network Clinical Validation Centers (U01) Apply for RFA CA 14 015 Funding Number: RFA CA 14 015 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| The Early Detection Research Network Biomarker Reference Laboratories (U24) Apply for RFA CA 14 016 Funding Number: RFA CA 14 016 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| The Early Detection Research Network Data Management and Coordinating Center (U24) Apply for RFA CA 14 017 Funding Number: RFA CA 14 017 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $4,500,000 |
| Cancer Prevention, Control, Behavioral Sciences, and Population Sciences Career Development Award (K07) Apply for PAR 15 033 Funding Number: PAR 15 033 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $130,000 |
| Research Aimed at Novel Behavioral Targets to Improve Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Interventions (R01) Apply for PA 15 036 Funding Number: PA 15 036 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research Aimed at Novel Behavioral Targets to Improve Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Interventions (R34) Apply for PA 15 035 Funding Number: PA 15 035 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| Cancer Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment Technologies for Global Health (UH2/UH3) Apply for RFA CA 15 001 Funding Number: RFA CA 15 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Exploratory Grant Award to Promote Workforce Diversity in Basic Cancer Research (R21) Apply for PAR 15 053 Funding Number: PAR 15 053 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| NCI Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K08) Apply for PAR 15 060 Funding Number: PAR 15 060 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI Mentored Patient Oriented Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K23) Apply for PAR 15 062 Funding Number: PAR 15 062 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI Transition Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K22) Apply for PAR 15 063 Funding Number: PAR 15 063 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (K01) Apply for PAR 15 064 Funding Number: PAR 15 064 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The NCI Transition Career Development Award (K22) Apply for PAR 15 056 Funding Number: PAR 15 056 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Building on High Impact Basic Neurobiology Through Assay Development Advancing Tools for Therapeutic Discovery (R01) Apply for PAR 15 066 Funding Number: PAR 15 066 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Academic Industrial Partnerships for Translation of Technologies for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment (R01) Apply for PAR 15 075 Funding Number: PAR 15 075 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Integration of Infectious Diseases and Substance Abuse Intervention Services for Individuals Living with HIV (R01) Apply for RFA DA 15 013 Funding Number: RFA DA 15 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
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