Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HL 17 006
Apply for RFA HL 17 006
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Sickle Cell Disease in Sub Saharan Africa Collaborative Consortium (U24)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.839 Blood Diseases and Resources Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 1, 2015 and posted on Sep 1, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 26, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) in sub Saharan Africa are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations in sub Saharan Africa are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Sickle Cell Disease in Sub Saharan Africa Collaborative Consortium (U24)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA HL 17 006) was a discretionary cooperative agreement designed to jump-start a coordinated, multi-country platform for sickle cell disease (SCD) work across sub-Saharan Africa. Rather than funding a single stand-alone research project, the core goal was to build shared infrastructure and an organizing framework that could support a larger, future SCD in SSA Research Network. In practical terms, NIH was looking for a well-structured consortium that could align multiple sites around common approaches, shared resources, and consistent practices, so that future studies could be launched more quickly and produce results that are comparable across countries and settings.
The required structure for the consortium centered on a Consortium Hub and at least two Collaborating Sites. The Hub would be the applicant institution leading coordination, planning, and overall management. The Collaborating Sites had to be located in sub-Saharan African countries different from the country of the Hub, ensuring the effort was truly multi-national rather than limited to a single national program. The Hub-and-sites design signals that NIH expected applicants to show not only scientific vision, but also strong operational capacity: governance, communications, data and resource sharing, and the ability to support multiple institutions working together under a shared set of goals.
A key emphasis of the announcement was the creation of an SCD resource that could be shared across the consortium to strengthen future research. While the short summary does not enumerate every possible component, the intent is clear: build consortium-wide capabilities that make later research easier, faster, and higher quality. That kind of resource in a U24 context often includes agreed-upon standards and procedures (for example, harmonized clinical definitions and outcome measures), systems for collecting and managing data in consistent formats, approaches to quality assurance across sites, and administrative and collaborative mechanisms that allow the participating institutions to function as a single coordinated network when future funding opportunities arise. The consortium concept also implies deliberate planning for sustainability and scalability, meaning the infrastructure should be built with the expectation that it will serve as the foundation for additional studies and partners later on.
The award mechanism was a Cooperative Agreement (U24), which typically means NIH anticipated substantial involvement beyond routine grant oversight. In cooperative agreements, the funding agency often plays a more active role in shaping milestones, facilitating coordination, and ensuring that the project stays aligned with program goals. This is consistent with an infrastructure-building effort where interoperability, sharing, and network readiness are central outcomes, and where NIH may want to help ensure that the consortium evolves into a viable platform for larger future research activities.
Only one award was expected under this opportunity (ExpectedAwards: 1), making it a highly competitive, flagship-style award meant to produce a single coordinating consortium rather than multiple independent consortia. The program fell under CFDA 93.839 (Blood Diseases and Resources Research). There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, which reduces financial barriers for eligible institutions and signals that scientific and operational readiness, rather than institutional ability to contribute matching funds, was the focus.
Eligibility was notable because it explicitly welcomed non-U.S. entities in sub-Saharan Africa. Eligible applicants included foreign organizations and foreign institutions located in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations that are based in sub-Saharan Africa. Foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, were allowed. In other words, NIH structured eligibility to encourage leadership and direct participation from institutions within the region most affected by SCD, reflecting the reality that local clinical settings, patient populations, and health systems are central to building durable SCD research capacity in SSA.
Timeline details indicate the opportunity was posted and created on September 1, 2015, with an original and current closing date of February 26, 2016, and an archive date of March 28, 2016. Since it is archived, it is no longer open for applications, but it remains useful as a reference point for how NIH has approached SCD capacity-building and network development in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly through consortium-based, shared-infrastructure models.
For applicants at the time, the most important takeaway would have been that NIH was not simply funding isolated research aims; it was funding the groundwork for a future regional research network. That implies expectations around governance and collaboration plans, cross-site coordination, clear strategies for developing shared resources, and demonstrable ability to operate across multiple countries. The announcement also provided an NIH guide link for the full details and included contact guidance through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster for access or technical linking issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this NIH funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Sickle Cell Disease in Sub Saharan Africa Collaborative Consortium (U24)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA HL 17 006.
What type of award mechanism was used?
This opportunity used a Cooperative Agreement (U24) mechanism.
What does it mean that this was a cooperative agreement (U24)?
A U24 cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial NIH involvement beyond routine grant oversight. In this case, that aligns with the goal of building shared infrastructure and coordinating multiple institutions so the consortium stays aligned with program goals and network-readiness outcomes.
What was the main purpose of this opportunity?
The primary purpose was to jump-start a coordinated, multi-country platform for sickle cell disease (SCD) work across sub-Saharan Africa by building shared infrastructure and an organizing framework that could support a larger future SCD in SSA Research Network.
Was NIH trying to fund a single stand-alone research project?
No. The opportunity emphasized creating a consortium and shared infrastructure rather than funding one independent, stand-alone research project.
What kind of outcomes was NIH aiming for by funding this consortium?
The intent was to create consortium-wide capabilities that would make future SCD studies easier to launch, faster to execute, and more comparable across countries and settings through common approaches, shared resources, and consistent practices.
What structure was required for the consortium?
The required structure centered on a Consortium Hub and at least two Collaborating Sites.
What is the role of the Consortium Hub?
The Hub would be the applicant institution responsible for leading coordination, planning, and overall management of the consortium.
What are the requirements for Collaborating Sites?
There had to be at least two Collaborating Sites, and they had to be located in sub-Saharan African countries that are different from the country of the Hub.
Why did Collaborating Sites need to be in different countries than the Hub?
This design ensured the effort was truly multi-national and not limited to a single national program, reflecting the goal of a coordinated multi-country platform across sub-Saharan Africa.
What kinds of operational capabilities was NIH expecting from applicants?
The Hub-and-sites model signaled expectations for strong operational capacity, including governance, communications, data and resource sharing, and the ability to manage multiple institutions working together under shared goals.
What is meant by creating an "SCD resource" to be shared across the consortium?
The announcement emphasized building a resource that strengthens future research across the consortium. While not every component is listed, the intent includes consortium-wide capabilities such as shared standards, consistent data practices, and mechanisms that help participating institutions function as a coordinated network.
What are examples of shared infrastructure implied by this opportunity?
The description points to infrastructure such as harmonized standards and procedures (for example, aligned clinical definitions and outcome measures), systems for collecting and managing data in consistent formats, approaches to quality assurance across sites, and administrative/collaborative mechanisms for coordinated network operation.
Did the opportunity emphasize sustainability and scalability?
Yes. The consortium concept implies planning for sustainability and scalability so the infrastructure can serve as a foundation for additional studies and partners in the future.
How many awards was NIH expecting to make?
Only one award was expected (ExpectedAwards: 1).
What does it imply that only one award was expected?
It suggests a highly competitive, flagship-style award intended to produce a single coordinating consortium rather than multiple independent consortia.
What CFDA program was associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity fell under CFDA 93.839 (Blood Diseases and Resources Research).
Was there a cost sharing or matching requirement?
No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility explicitly welcomed non-U.S. entities in sub-Saharan Africa. Eligible applicants included foreign organizations and foreign institutions located in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations that are based in sub-Saharan Africa. Foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) were allowed.
Why is the eligibility focus on sub-Saharan Africa notable?
It reflects an intent to encourage leadership and direct participation from institutions within the region most affected by SCD, acknowledging that local clinical settings, patient populations, and health systems are central to durable SCD research capacity in SSA.
When was this funding opportunity posted and created?
It was posted and created on September 1, 2015.
What was the closing date for applications?
The original and current closing date listed was February 26, 2016.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was March 28, 2016.
Is this funding opportunity still open for applications?
No. It is archived and is no longer open for applications.
Why might this archived opportunity still be useful?
It can be used as a reference point for how NIH has approached SCD capacity-building and network development in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly through consortium-based, shared-infrastructure models.
What would have been the key takeaway for applicants at the time?
The main takeaway is that NIH was funding the groundwork for a future regional research network, implying expectations around governance and collaboration plans, cross-site coordination, strategies for developing shared resources, and the ability to operate across multiple countries.
Where were applicants directed for full details?
The announcement referenced an NIH guide link for the full details.
Who was listed for contact guidance related to access or technical linking issues?
Contact guidance was provided through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster for access or technical linking issues.
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