Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AR 13 021
Apply for RFA AR 13 021
- 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): 93.846 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 11, 2013 and posted on Jul 11, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 13, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: City or township governments Private institutions of higher education Small businesses Special district governments State governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Independent school districts Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
- 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 allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers (U54) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AR-13-021) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to re-compete and support a nationally significant Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center (MDCRC). The program is built around the idea that muscular dystrophy research moves faster and becomes more useful to patients when strong teams work together across disciplines, rather than as isolated labs or single-project efforts. Through this U54 center model, NIH aims to strengthen coordinated basic science, translational research that bridges lab discoveries toward therapies, and clinical research that directly involves patients and clinical outcomes. In addition to producing research findings, the center is expected to function as a shared hub for tools, technologies, and research resources that can be used broadly by the muscular dystrophy research community.
A defining feature of this funding mechanism is that it is a cooperative agreement, which generally means NIH expects substantial involvement and partnership with the awardee compared with a standard grant. In practical terms, the funded center is not only responsible for conducting its proposed research and maintaining high-quality shared resources, but also for engaging in coordinated, programmatic activities that align with NIH priorities for muscular dystrophy. The FOA emphasizes collaboration as a core requirement: the center should integrate investigators and projects in a way that creates added value beyond what separate awards would produce, encouraging cross-talk between basic researchers, translational scientists, clinicians, and other stakeholders who can accelerate progress from discovery to impact.
The center is also expected to serve as an important training and career development environment for newer investigators and trainees entering muscular dystrophy research. This includes providing a setting where early-career scientists can gain exposure to multidisciplinary research approaches, access specialized resources, and develop the skills needed to work effectively in team-based science. The FOA frames this training role as a meaningful part of the center mission, not a side activity, reflecting NIH interest in building a durable workforce focused on high-priority muscular dystrophy areas over the long term.
Beyond the research and training components, the announcement underscores a public-facing obligation: center investigators are expected to participate in community outreach and education. The intent is to increase public awareness of muscular dystrophy, explain why the research matters, and communicate the implications of the center's activities in a way that is understandable and useful to non-scientists. This can include engagement with patient communities, advocacy groups, and the general public, helping connect federally supported research to the people most affected and ensuring that the center contributes to broader understanding and visibility of muscular dystrophy science.
From an administrative standpoint, the FOA was posted July 11, 2013, with an original and current closing date of September 13, 2013, and an archive date of October 14, 2013. NIH anticipated making 1 award, with an estimated total funding amount of $1,500,000. The activity falls under health-related categories and is associated with multiple CFDA numbers that reflect NIH participation across relevant institutes and research areas: 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 noted in the opportunity.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations that can support a center-scale effort, such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education where specified), small businesses and other for-profit entities, and a range of government bodies (state, county, city/township, special district, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities). The FOA also explicitly includes a number of institution types often highlighted in federal programs, 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), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies. U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations are also listed. At the same time, the announcement is clear that non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible; however, foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which typically means certain defined international elements may be included if permitted under NIH policy and justified scientifically.
For applicants or readers who need the complete official details, NIH provided a full announcement link (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AR-13-021.html). Technical access issues were directed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV, reflecting the standard NIH process for resolving difficulties reaching the electronic posting rather than scientific or programmatic questions about the center itself.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers (U54) opportunity?
This opportunity is the Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers (U54) program, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement intended to re-compete and support a nationally significant Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center (MDCRC).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-AR-13-021.
What type of NIH funding mechanism is this?
This is a U54 cooperative agreement. The announcement emphasizes that, compared with a standard grant, NIH expects substantial involvement and partnership with the awardee.
What is the main purpose of funding an MDCRC through this U54 model?
The purpose is to speed progress in muscular dystrophy research by supporting strong, multidisciplinary teams working together rather than isolated labs or single-project efforts. The center model is intended to strengthen coordinated basic science, translational research that bridges discoveries toward therapies, and clinical research involving patients and clinical outcomes.
What kinds of research are expected to be included within the center?
The FOA describes an integrated program that includes basic science, translational research (bridging lab discoveries toward therapies), and clinical research that directly involves patients and clinical outcomes.
Is collaboration a requirement under this FOA?
Yes. Collaboration is framed as a core requirement, with the expectation that investigators and projects are integrated in a way that creates added value beyond what separate awards would produce, including cross-talk across basic researchers, translational scientists, clinicians, and other stakeholders.
In addition to research, what other roles is the center expected to play?
Beyond producing research findings, the center is expected to function as a shared hub for tools, technologies, and research resources that can be used broadly by the muscular dystrophy research community.
What does it mean that this FOA uses a cooperative agreement?
In practical terms, it means NIH expects substantial involvement and partnership with the awardee. The funded center is expected not only to conduct the proposed research and maintain shared resources, but also to engage in coordinated, programmatic activities aligned with NIH priorities for muscular dystrophy.
Are training and career development part of the center expectations?
Yes. The center is expected to serve as a training and career development environment for newer investigators and trainees entering muscular dystrophy research. The FOA presents this training role as a meaningful part of the center mission, not a side activity.
What kinds of training benefits are described for early-career researchers and trainees?
The FOA highlights exposure to multidisciplinary research approaches, access to specialized resources, and development of skills needed to work effectively in team-based science.
Does the FOA include outreach or public education expectations?
Yes. The announcement underscores a public-facing obligation for center investigators to participate in community outreach and education to increase public awareness of muscular dystrophy and communicate the implications of the center's activities in a way that is understandable and useful to non-scientists.
Who might the center engage with as part of outreach and education?
The FOA mentions engagement with patient communities, advocacy groups, and the general public.
When was this FOA posted and what were the key dates?
The FOA was posted on July 11, 2013. The original and current closing date was September 13, 2013. The archive date was October 14, 2013.
How many awards did NIH anticipate making under this opportunity?
NIH anticipated making 1 award.
What was the estimated total funding amount for the opportunity?
The estimated total funding amount was $1,500,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is noted in the opportunity.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?
The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers: 93.846 (Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research), 93.853 (Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders), and 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research).
What types of U.S. organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education where specified), small businesses and other for-profit entities, and many types of U.S. government bodies (including state, county, city/township, special district, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities).
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations included in the eligibility list?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes institution types often highlighted in federal programs, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, TCCUs, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, as well as faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies.
Are U.S. territories or regional organizations eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations are listed as eligible.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?
No. The announcement states that non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply.
Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. The FOA states that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Are foreign components allowed at all under this FOA?
Yes. The FOA notes that foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which typically means certain defined international elements may be included if permitted under NIH policy and justified scientifically.
Where can applicants find the complete official announcement?
The full announcement link provided is: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AR-13-021.html.
Who should be contacted for technical problems accessing the FOA posting?
Technical access issues were directed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
Is the webmaster contact intended for scientific or programmatic questions about the center?
No. The contact is described for resolving difficulties reaching the electronic posting, rather than for scientific or programmatic questions about the center.
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