Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AR 13 012
Apply for RFA AR 13 012
- The National Institutes of Health in the health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers (U54)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.837 Cardiovascular Diseases Research 93.846 Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research 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 Jul 27, 2012 and posted on Jul 27, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 19, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) For profit organizations other than small businesses County governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Small businesses City or township governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Independent school districts Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district 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) 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:
The Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers (U54) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AR-13-012) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to support a national network of Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers (MDCRCs). The core idea is to strengthen and renew multidisciplinary centers that bring together basic, translational, and clinical researchers to tackle high-priority muscular dystrophy questions in a coordinated way. Because this is a cooperative agreement (U54), the work is intended to be carried out with substantial NIH involvement compared with a standard research grant, reflecting a more actively managed, collaborative center structure.
The FOA emphasizes that these centers are not simply collections of individual projects; they are meant to function as collaborative hubs that accelerate progress by sharing expertise, infrastructure, and resources. The centers are expected to generate tools and resources that can be broadly used by the wider muscular dystrophy research community, which may include shared cores, data resources, specialized technologies, patient-oriented research capabilities, or other center-based assets that individual labs typically cannot sustain alone. By supporting both discovery-oriented science and efforts that move findings toward clinical application, the program aims to shorten the path from mechanism to therapy, diagnostics, and improved patient care.
A major program goal is workforce development. The MDCRCs are expected to provide a strong environment for training and career development, helping new investigators and trainees build careers focused on muscular dystrophy research. In practice, that means the center structure should create mentorship, exposure to cross-disciplinary methods, and opportunities to participate in team science that spans laboratory research, translational development, and clinical studies. The FOA frames this as essential to maintaining long-term national capacity in muscular dystrophy research, not just producing short-term results.
The announcement also makes clear that community outreach and education are part of the job. Center investigators are expected to engage in efforts that increase awareness and help the public understand the importance and implications of the research. This reflects the program’s emphasis on connecting scientific work to the broader muscular dystrophy community, including patients, families, advocates, and other stakeholders, and ensuring that research progress and its meaning are communicated beyond academic settings.
Key administrative details include that the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, using the cooperative agreement funding instrument. The activity category is listed under health, income security, and social services, and the related CFDA program numbers span several NIH research areas that intersect with muscular dystrophy science: 93.837 (Cardiovascular Diseases Research), 93.846 (Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research), 93.853 (Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders), and 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which means applicants are not required to provide a formal financial match to receive an award.
The FOA was posted July 27, 2012, with an original and current closing date of November 19, 2012, and an archive date of December 20, 2012. Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and governments, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts, and independent school districts), as well as public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities and Native American tribal governments and organizations. The FOA also explicitly includes several institution types and community-based entities as eligible, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions, among others. At the same time, it clearly excludes non-U.S. (foreign) institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations from applying, although it allows “foreign components” as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which typically means certain project elements may occur outside the U.S. under NIH rules even though the applicant organization itself must be eligible and U.S.-based.
For applicants or readers who need the full announcement details, the FOA points to the NIH grants page link (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AR-13-012.html). It also provides NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts for technical access or linking issues (FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV), indicating that administrative support was available for navigating the posting and associated materials.
FAQs: Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers (U54) - RFA-AR-13-012
What is this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is the Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers (U54) program (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AR-13-012). It is an NIH cooperative agreement designed to support a national network of Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers (MDCRCs).
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered through the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What does "U54 cooperative agreement" mean in practice?
A U54 is a cooperative agreement, which means the project is expected to be carried out with substantial NIH involvement compared with a standard research grant. The program is intended to be actively managed and collaborative, reflecting a center-based structure rather than independent, stand-alone projects.
What is the main goal of the MDCRC network?
The core goal is to strengthen and renew multidisciplinary centers that bring together basic, translational, and clinical researchers to address high-priority muscular dystrophy questions in a coordinated, collaborative way.
Are these centers just collections of separate research projects?
No. The FOA emphasizes that the centers are not simply collections of individual projects. They are expected to function as collaborative hubs that share expertise, infrastructure, and resources to accelerate progress.
What kinds of research are the centers expected to support?
The centers are expected to support discovery-oriented science as well as efforts that move findings toward clinical application, with the overall intent of shortening the path from mechanism to therapy, diagnostics, and improved patient care.
What shared resources or infrastructure are centers expected to provide?
The FOA describes an expectation that centers will generate tools and resources broadly usable by the wider muscular dystrophy research community. Examples mentioned include shared cores, data resources, specialized technologies, patient-oriented research capabilities, and other center-based assets that individual labs typically cannot sustain alone.
How does this program benefit the broader muscular dystrophy research community?
By building collaborative hubs that develop widely usable tools, resources, and infrastructure, the program aims to extend benefits beyond the funded center itself and support progress across the wider muscular dystrophy research community.
Is workforce development or training part of the program?
Yes. A major goal is workforce development. MDCRCs are expected to provide a strong environment for training and career development for new investigators and trainees focused on muscular dystrophy research.
What does the FOA say about mentorship and team science?
The FOA indicates the center structure should enable mentorship, exposure to cross-disciplinary methods, and opportunities to participate in team science spanning laboratory research, translational development, and clinical studies.
Is public outreach or education required?
Yes. The FOA states that community outreach and education are part of the center role. Center investigators are expected to engage in efforts that increase awareness and help the public understand the importance and implications of the research.
Who is the intended audience for outreach and education activities?
The FOA frames outreach as connecting research to the broader muscular dystrophy community, including patients, families, advocates, and other stakeholders, and communicating beyond academic settings.
What type of funding is this categorized as?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the cooperative agreement funding instrument.
What is the listed activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed under health, income security, and social services.
Which CFDA program numbers are associated with this FOA?
The related CFDA program numbers listed are 93.837 (Cardiovascular Diseases Research), 93.846 (Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research), 93.853 (Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders), and 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to provide a formal financial match to receive an award.
When was the FOA posted?
The FOA was posted on July 27, 2012.
What were the closing date and archive date?
The original and current closing date listed is November 19, 2012, and the archive date is December 20, 2012.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and governments. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and multiple levels of government (including state, county, city/township, special districts, and independent school districts). Additional eligible entities listed include public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities and Native American tribal governments and organizations.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically included as eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes 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 U.S. territories or possessions, among others.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly lists faith-based or community-based organizations among eligible applicants.
Can non-U.S. (foreign) institutions apply?
No. The FOA excludes non-U.S. (foreign) institutions from applying.
Can non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations apply?
No. The FOA states that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are excluded from applying.
Does the FOA allow any project activities to occur outside the United States?
The FOA allows "foreign components" as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This indicates that certain elements of a project may occur outside the U.S. under NIH rules, even though the applicant organization itself must be eligible and U.S.-based.
Where can applicants find the full funding opportunity announcement?
The FOA points to the NIH grants page at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AR-13-012.html.
Who can be contacted for technical issues accessing or linking to the FOA?
The announcement provides the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact for technical access or linking issues: FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
What is the program name used for the centers supported under this FOA?
The centers supported under this FOA are referred to as Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers (MDCRCs).
What is the overall approach the FOA is trying to encourage?
The FOA encourages a coordinated, multidisciplinary, center-based approach that integrates basic, translational, and clinical research, shares resources and infrastructure, develops broadly useful tools, builds workforce capacity, and engages the community through outreach and education.
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