Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AR 15 002
Apply for RFA AR 15 002
- The National Institutes of Health in the health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Senator 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 Aug 28, 2014 and posted on Aug 28, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 28, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $45,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Special district governments 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 For profit organizations other than small businesses Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Small businesses State governments County governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities City or township governments Independent school districts.
- 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:
The Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers (U54) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AR-15-002) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement competition designed to support a small number of highly collaborative, multidisciplinary research centers focused on muscular dystrophy. The overall aim is to strengthen and accelerate progress across the muscular dystrophy field by building center-based programs that connect basic science, translational research, and clinical investigation under one coordinated structure. Because this is a U54 cooperative agreement, awardees are expected to work closely with NIH staff in a more collaborative, partnership-oriented arrangement than a typical grant, and the centers are positioned not just to run individual projects but to operate as shared hubs for the broader research community.
A central feature of the program is the expectation that each funded center will function as a cooperative research center rather than a collection of unrelated studies. These centers are meant to promote team science, share tools and expertise, and develop or provide resources that are useful beyond a single institution. In practical terms, this can include shared cores, specialized services, data or biospecimen resources, and other infrastructure that helps multiple investigators push forward on high-priority muscular dystrophy questions. The FOA explicitly emphasizes collaborative basic, translational, and clinical research, signaling that applications are expected to show a clear pathway from discovery to patient-relevant impact, even when projects begin at the fundamental biology stage.
The FOA also places strong weight on workforce development and training. Each center is expected to provide an environment that actively supports the training of new scientists who intend to build careers in muscular dystrophy research. This emphasis reflects NIHs intent to grow and sustain the pipeline of investigators in the field, not only by funding experiments but by supporting mentorship, cross-disciplinary exposure, and opportunities for trainees and early-stage investigators to work in a center setting where clinical and laboratory perspectives can be integrated.
In addition to research and training, the centers are expected to engage in meaningful community outreach. Investigators are specifically expected to participate in efforts that increase public awareness and help convey the importance and implications of the centers research activities to patient and advocacy communities. This is a notable requirement because it frames communication and engagement as part of the core mission, rather than an optional add-on. The intent is to ensure that advances and directions in research are understandable to affected communities, and that the centers maintain a connection to patient priorities and real-world concerns.
On funding scope, the announcement anticipated approximately three awards, with an estimated total funding level of about $45,000,000 and an award ceiling listed at $1,000,000 (as provided in the source summary). There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted and created on August 28, 2014, with an original and current closing date of November 28, 2014, and an archive date of December 29, 2014, indicating the competition was time-limited and is now archived.
Eligibility is broad and includes many common applicant categories across government, higher education, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city or township), as well as special district governments and independent school districts. The FOA also identifies additional eligible applicant types such as historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander serving institutions (AANAPISIs), tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible federal agencies. While foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) may be allowed, non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible.
From a program administration standpoint, the announcement is associated with multiple CFDA numbers reflecting NIH involvement across relevant scientific areas, including cardiovascular diseases research (93.837), arthritis/musculoskeletal and skin diseases research (93.846), neurosciences and neurological disorders (93.853), and child health and human development extramural research (93.865). This mix signals the cross-cutting nature of muscular dystrophy research and the likelihood that the funded centers would span muscle biology, neuromuscular disease mechanisms, clinical management, and related systemic complications.
For applicants or interested parties seeking the full details, the full FOA was hosted through the NIH grants website at the link provided in the source (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AR-15-002.html). The contact information included in the summary directs technical access or linking problems to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
FAQs: Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers (U54) - RFA-AR-15-002
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers (U54) program (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AR-15-002). It is an NIH cooperative agreement competition intended to fund a small number of highly collaborative, multidisciplinary research centers focused on muscular dystrophy.
What does "U54 cooperative agreement" mean in practice?
A U54 is a cooperative agreement, which means funded centers are expected to work closely with NIH staff in a more collaborative, partnership-oriented arrangement than a typical grant. The centers are positioned to operate as coordinated hubs rather than only supporting individual, independent projects.
What is the overall goal of the Wellstone U54 centers?
The goal is to strengthen and accelerate progress across the muscular dystrophy field by building center-based programs that connect basic science, translational research, and clinical investigation under one coordinated structure.
How is this different from funding separate muscular dystrophy research projects?
The FOA emphasizes that each funded center should function as a cooperative research center rather than a collection of unrelated studies. The expectation is team science, shared tools and expertise, and resources that benefit the broader muscular dystrophy research community beyond a single institution.
What kinds of research are expected to be included?
The FOA emphasizes collaborative basic, translational, and clinical research. Applications are expected to show a clear pathway from discovery to patient-relevant impact, even if some projects start at fundamental biology.
What does the FOA say about shared resources or infrastructure?
Centers are expected to develop or provide resources useful beyond one institution. Examples described include shared cores, specialized services, and data or biospecimen resources, along with other infrastructure that helps multiple investigators address high-priority muscular dystrophy questions.
Is training and workforce development required?
Yes. The FOA places strong weight on workforce development and training. Each center is expected to provide an environment that supports training new scientists who plan to build careers in muscular dystrophy research, including mentorship, cross-disciplinary exposure, and opportunities for trainees and early-stage investigators in an integrated center setting.
Is community outreach part of the required scope?
Yes. Centers are expected to engage in meaningful community outreach, including efforts to increase public awareness and to communicate the importance and implications of the centers research activities to patient and advocacy communities. The FOA frames this as part of the core mission rather than an optional activity.
How many awards were anticipated under this announcement?
The announcement anticipated approximately three awards.
What was the estimated total funding level?
The estimated total funding level described in the summary is about $45,000,000.
Was there an award ceiling listed?
Yes. The source summary lists an award ceiling of $1,000,000.
Is there any cost-sharing or matching requirement?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was posted and created on August 28, 2014. The original and current closing date was November 28, 2014. The archive date was December 29, 2014, indicating the competition was time-limited and is now archived.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. Based on the provided dates and the archive status (archive date December 29, 2014), this FOA is archived and the competition is closed.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included many applicant categories across higher education, nonprofit, for-profit, and government sectors. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city or township), as well as special district governments and independent school districts.
Were any specific institution types explicitly included?
Yes. The FOA also identified additional eligible applicant types such as historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander serving institutions (AANAPISIs), tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible federal agencies.
Could foreign organizations apply?
No. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) were not eligible to apply.
Are foreign components allowed if the applicant is a U.S. organization?
Foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) may be allowed, but non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, based on the summary provided.
Which NIH-related program areas were associated with this announcement?
The announcement is associated with multiple CFDA numbers reflecting NIH involvement across relevant scientific areas: cardiovascular diseases research (93.837), arthritis/musculoskeletal and skin diseases research (93.846), neurosciences and neurological disorders (93.853), and child health and human development extramural research (93.865).
What does the mix of CFDA numbers suggest about the program?
It suggests muscular dystrophy research is cross-cutting and may span muscle biology, neuromuscular disease mechanisms, clinical investigation and management, and related systemic complications that involve multiple scientific and medical domains.
Where could applicants find the full FOA details?
The full FOA was hosted on the NIH grants website at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AR-15-002.html
Who should be contacted for technical access or linking problems related to the FOA?
For technical access or linking problems, the summary directs users to contact the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
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