Regional Consortia for High Resolution Cryoelectron Microscopy (U24) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Regional Consortia for High Resolution Cryoelectron Microscopy (U24) opportunity?

This NIH/NIGMS funding opportunity (RFA GM 17-001) supports the creation and operation of regional consortia that expand access to top-tier, high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) data collection. The emphasis is on increasing shared availability of state-of-the-art data-collection capacity and the practical services needed to generate high-quality cryoEM datasets.

What is the primary goal of this FOA?

The goal is to make high-resolution cryoEM data collection more broadly available to laboratories that already depend on cryoEM but may lack sufficient local capacity or the most advanced data-collection hardware. The program is focused on capacity sharing and operational support rather than funding independent research projects.

Is this grant intended to fund standalone research projects?

No. This program is not designed to fund standalone research projects. It is designed to strengthen shared access to advanced cryoEM instrumentation and to support the operational and service components needed for high-quality data collection and early-stage processing.

What kind of group is expected to apply under this opportunity?

The FOA supports regional consortia composed of a host institution plus several participating institutions. The consortium model is meant for cryoEM-focused groups that plan to conduct their own cryoEM work but need reliable access to high-end data collection capacity.

What is the role of the host institution?

The host institution is expected to operate a modern, high-performing cryoEM setup and have a demonstrated track record of producing high-resolution data. The host site provides a portion of its facility availability to regional consortium users and supports the operational infrastructure required for those users to collect high-quality datasets.

What are participating institutions expected to contribute or do?

Participating institutions are regional cryoEM laboratories (including established groups and early-stage investigator groups) whose work depends on cryoEM and who will use the host site to meet data collection needs. The model assumes these participating labs have genuine cryoEM expertise and will be active scientific users who collect their own data and then continue downstream analysis after initial processing.

How many institutions should be included in a consortium?

Consortia are expected to include at least 3 to 5 institutions (a host institution plus participating institutions).

What does the FOA mean by using "surplus capacity" at the host facility?

The consortium is intended to leverage available (surplus) data-collection time and capacity at a strong host facility. The award supports the infrastructure and service components needed to operate the facility and to allocate a defined portion of its availability to regional users.

What types of costs can this award support at the host site?

Funding can contribute to fixed costs of maintaining the host cryoEM site in proportion to the resources committed to outside consortium users. It also supports the operational and service elements required to enable regional access to high-quality data collection.

Can the award support the practical access needs of participating labs?

Yes. The FOA indicates the award can support practical access needs for participating labs, including logistics and service support that enable outside users to come to the host site and collect data.

Does the host institution need to already have a direct electron detector?

No. The FOA notes that the host institution does not necessarily need to already have a direct electron detector. Funds from this opportunity can be used to help acquire direct detection equipment, which is described as critical for high-resolution cryoEM data collection.

What activities are within the supported scope of work?

The supported scope is intentionally narrow and operational: it funds access to cryoEM data collection and the initial stages of processing raw images. In practical terms, this enables users to go from sample loading through acquisition and early processing steps.

What activities are explicitly not supported by this FOA?

The FOA explicitly does not fund research activities beyond the access-and-initial-processing boundary. That includes downstream biological interpretation, method development outside early processing, or unrelated experimental work.

Is the host site expected to operate as a general fee-for-service cryoEM center?

No. The FOA draws a clear distinction from a traditional service center model. It is not intended to create a setup where the host lab performs cryoEM analysis as a service for non-specialist collaborators. The consortium approach emphasizes coordinated sharing among peer cryoEM laboratories.

Who is expected to do the cryoEM work and analysis?

The model assumes participating labs are cryoEM specialists and active scientific users. They are expected to collect their own data at the host site and then carry forward the analysis themselves after the initial processing stages supported under the program.

What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?

The award mechanism is a U24 cooperative agreement, which means NIH anticipates substantial programmatic involvement and coordination rather than a fully hands-off grant structure.

How is the award budget determined?

Budgets depend on how many regional users are involved and what their data collection demands are. The posted information lists an award ceiling of $350,000.

What is the maximum award amount mentioned in the posted information?

The posted information lists an award ceiling of $350,000.

When was this opportunity posted and what is the closing date listed?

The opportunity was posted on January 29, 2016. The original and current closing date shown is April 6, 2016.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes government entities, higher education institutions (public and private), nonprofits (including and excluding 501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The key requirement is the ability to form and operate an effective regional cryoEM access consortium.

What is the overall purpose of this FOA in plain terms?

In plain terms, this FOA is capacity-sharing support for high-resolution cryoEM. It helps a strong host facility sustain and expand the ability to provide data-collection time and core operational services to regional cryoEM labs, including support for modern direct detection-enabled workflows, without turning the host into a general-purpose analysis service provider.