Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 14 010
Apply for RFA DK 14 010
- The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "(Re)Building a Kidney Cells to Organ (UH2/UH3)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847 Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 2, 2014 and posted on Sep 2, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 14, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Special district governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education 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 Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) For profit organizations other than small businesses Independent school districts Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Small businesses Private institutions of higher education City or township governments State 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) 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 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The "(Re)Building a Kidney: Cells to Organ (UH2/UH3)" funding opportunity (RFA-DK-14-010) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) initiative designed to accelerate research aimed at rebuilding kidney function by creating or regenerating nephrons, the kidney's core functional units. The program is set up as a consortium, meaning funded teams would not work in isolation; instead, they would be part of a coordinated research network intended to share knowledge, develop complementary tools and resources, and collectively push the field toward practical strategies for kidney repair and replacement. The overarching scientific goal is to expand the methods and foundational understanding needed either to regenerate functional nephrons inside the body (in vivo) by enhancing the kidney's own repair mechanisms, or to generate nephrons outside the body (in vitro) with an eye toward future kidney transplantation applications.
The FOA uses a two-stage cooperative agreement mechanism (UH2/UH3), which is built around clearly defined milestones and close coordination with NIH program staff. In the first stage, the UH2 phase supports early, milestone-driven work meant to prove feasibility and establish key capabilities. Projects in this phase are expected to generate actionable evidence that can guide strategies for stimulating endogenous regenerative repair and for producing the specific cell types required to build functional nephrons. Rather than funding open-ended exploratory work, the UH2 phase emphasizes measurable progress points that demonstrate whether the approach is likely to succeed and whether it is ready to move into more advanced development.
Transition from UH2 to the second stage is not automatic. Only projects that meet their predefined scientific milestones can move forward, and that transition occurs after an NIH administrative review. The second stage, the UH3 phase, continues to be milestone-driven but is intended to support the next step: innovative exploratory and developmental research that builds directly on what was initiated and validated in UH2. In practical terms, UH3 supports the scaling, refinement, integration, and more sophisticated testing of approaches that have already shown promise, pushing them closer to meaningful demonstrations of nephron generation or regeneration in relevant settings.
Because this is a consortium-based program, the FOA anticipates that projects may be integrated where it makes sense, so that teams can build on one another's progress and avoid duplicating effort. This reflects the idea that rebuilding kidney structure and function is a multi-disciplinary challenge, often requiring expertise in areas like developmental biology, stem cell biology, tissue engineering, biomaterials, gene regulation, imaging, and functional physiology. The cooperative agreement format also typically implies more interaction than a standard research grant, with NIH playing an active coordinating role to help align the network toward shared benchmarks and deliverables.
Administratively, this opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant program using the Cooperative Agreement funding instrument type, with a health-focused activity category (CFDA 93.847, Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research). It does not require cost sharing or matching funds. The FOA was posted on September 2, 2014, with an original and current closing date of January 14, 2015, and an archive date of February 14, 2015, meaning it was a time-limited competition rather than an ongoing open call.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations. Eligible applicants listed include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), state and local governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities, and tribal governments and organizations. The FOA explicitly includes a wide range of 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 Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based and community-based organizations where appropriate. Importantly, non-U.S. entities are also eligible: foreign organizations and foreign institutions may apply, foreign components are allowed under NIH policy, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations can participate, reflecting an openness to international expertise in kidney regeneration and bioengineering.
For applicants, the most defining feature of this FOA is its milestone-based, phased structure and its consortium expectations. Competitive proposals would need to lay out a clear plan that fits the "cells to organ" mission, specify rigorous and realistic milestones for the UH2 feasibility stage, and describe how successful completion would enable a meaningful UH3 development stage. They would also need to be designed with collaboration in mind, since the program expects funded projects to contribute to shared resources and to align with network-wide goals related to nephron regeneration or in vitro nephron generation for eventual transplant-oriented applications.
FAQs: (Re)Building a Kidney: Cells to Organ (UH2/UH3) (RFA-DK-14-010)
What is the purpose of the "(Re)Building a Kidney: Cells to Organ (UH2/UH3)" funding opportunity?
This NIH/NIDDK initiative is designed to accelerate research aimed at rebuilding kidney function by creating or regenerating nephrons, which are the kidney's core functional units. The overall focus is on expanding methods and foundational understanding needed to either regenerate functional nephrons inside the body (in vivo) or generate nephrons outside the body (in vitro) with future transplantation applications in mind.
What does "cells to organ" mean in the context of this FOA?
Based on the description provided, "cells to organ" refers to research that moves toward practical strategies to rebuild kidney structure and function by producing the cell types and functional units (nephrons) required for kidney repair or replacement, either by stimulating endogenous repair (in vivo) or by generating nephron structures outside the body (in vitro).
Which NIH institute is running this opportunity?
The opportunity is an NIH program led by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
What is the FOA number and title?
The FOA is titled "(Re)Building a Kidney: Cells to Organ (UH2/UH3)" and is identified as RFA-DK-14-010.
What type of funding mechanism does this FOA use?
This FOA uses a two-stage cooperative agreement mechanism: UH2/UH3. It is milestone-driven and includes close coordination with NIH program staff, which is typical of cooperative agreements.
How does the two-stage UH2/UH3 structure work?
The program is organized into two phases. The UH2 phase supports early, feasibility-focused work with clearly defined milestones. If the project meets those predefined milestones, it may transition to the UH3 phase after an NIH administrative review. The UH3 phase supports the next step of development, continuing the milestone-driven approach while scaling, refining, integrating, and testing what was validated in UH2.
What is the main focus of the UH2 phase?
The UH2 phase supports early, milestone-driven work intended to prove feasibility and establish key capabilities. Projects are expected to generate actionable evidence that informs strategies for stimulating endogenous kidney repair and for producing the specific cell types needed to build functional nephrons.
Is the UH2 phase intended for open-ended exploratory research?
No. The UH2 phase is described as emphasizing measurable progress points rather than open-ended exploratory work. The goal is to demonstrate whether an approach is likely to succeed and is ready for more advanced development.
Does a project automatically advance from UH2 to UH3?
No. Transition from UH2 to UH3 is not automatic. Only projects that meet their predefined scientific milestones can move forward, and the transition occurs after an NIH administrative review.
What kinds of activities are supported in the UH3 phase?
The UH3 phase supports innovative exploratory and developmental research that builds directly on UH2 results. It is intended for scaling, refinement, integration, and more sophisticated testing of approaches that have already shown promise, moving them closer to meaningful demonstrations of nephron generation or regeneration in relevant settings.
What does it mean that this is a consortium-based program?
A consortium-based program means funded teams are expected to be part of a coordinated research network rather than working in isolation. The network is intended to share knowledge, develop complementary tools and resources, and collectively push the field toward practical strategies for kidney repair and replacement.
How does the consortium model affect project expectations?
Projects are expected to be designed with collaboration in mind and to contribute to shared resources while aligning with network-wide goals. The FOA also anticipates that projects may be integrated where it makes sense to build on one another's progress and avoid duplicating effort.
What role does NIH play under a cooperative agreement like UH2/UH3?
The cooperative agreement format implies more interaction than a standard research grant, with NIH playing an active coordinating role to help align the consortium toward shared benchmarks and deliverables.
What is the overarching scientific goal of the program?
The overarching goal is to expand the methods and foundational understanding needed to regenerate functional nephrons in vivo by enhancing the kidney's own repair mechanisms, or to generate nephrons in vitro with an eye toward future kidney transplantation applications.
What research areas or expertise does this FOA anticipate will be needed?
The FOA frames rebuilding kidney structure and function as a multidisciplinary challenge and notes that expertise may include developmental biology, stem cell biology, tissue engineering, biomaterials, gene regulation, imaging, and functional physiology.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds.
What is the activity category and CFDA listing provided?
The activity category is health-focused, and the listing provided is CFDA 93.847, Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research.
What is the funding instrument type?
It is a discretionary grant program using the Cooperative Agreement funding instrument type.
When was the FOA posted and when did it close?
The FOA was posted on September 2, 2014. The original and current closing date was January 14, 2015. The archive date was February 14, 2015, indicating it was a time-limited competition.
Is this an ongoing open call?
No. Based on the closing and archive dates provided, it was a time-limited competition rather than an ongoing open call.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); state and local governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities; and tribal governments and organizations.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically included in eligibility?
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 Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations allowed to apply?
Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations are included where appropriate, per the eligibility language provided.
Can foreign organizations apply?
Yes. The FOA states that foreign organizations and foreign institutions may apply.
Are foreign components allowed on applications from U.S. organizations?
Yes. Foreign components are allowed under NIH policy, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations can participate, reflecting openness to international expertise relevant to kidney regeneration and bioengineering.
What kinds of project plans are implied to be competitive under this FOA?
Competitive proposals would need to present a clear plan aligned with the "cells to organ" mission, specify rigorous and realistic milestones for the UH2 feasibility stage, describe how UH2 success enables a meaningful UH3 development stage, and be designed for collaboration and contribution to consortium goals and shared resources.
What are the two main scientific pathways the FOA is trying to advance?
The FOA emphasizes two pathways: (1) regenerating nephrons in vivo by enhancing the kidney's own repair mechanisms, and (2) generating nephrons in vitro to support future transplant-oriented applications.
Why are milestones so central to this FOA?
The phased UH2/UH3 structure is built around clearly defined milestones to ensure measurable progress. Milestones determine whether feasibility is demonstrated in UH2 and whether a project is ready to move into UH3 after NIH administrative review.
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Previous opportunity: (Re)Building a Kidney Coordinating Center (U01)
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