Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 16 019
Apply for RFA NS 16 019
- The HHS-NIH11 in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Vessel Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID) Biomarkers Consortium: Coordinating Center (U24)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.853, 93.866,.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 26, 2016 and posted on Feb 26, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 10, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Small Vessel Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID) Biomarkers Consortium: Coordinating Center (U24)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-NS-16-019) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to stand up the central hub for a new research consortium focused on biomarkers for small vessel vascular disease contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia. In practical terms, the FOA is not primarily funding a single lab to do one standalone study. Instead, it is funding the infrastructure and leadership needed to organize multiple related biomarker development projects under one coordinated program so that results, methods, and data are comparable, sharable, and more likely to translate into broadly useful tools for research and clinical studies.
This Coordinating Center is meant to work in tandem with a companion funding announcement, "Small Vessel VCID Biomarkers Development Projects" (RFA-NS-16-020). Together, these two FOAs establish the Small Vessel VCID Biomarkers Consortium: one side funds individual biomarker development projects, while this U24 award funds the central coordinating operation that keeps the consortium aligned and functioning as a unified effort. The Coordinating Center is expected to connect those development projects, support consistent operations across them, and ensure that data and outputs are managed in a way that allows cross-project learning and integration.
The Coordinating Center is structured around two required components. First is an Administrative Core, which is responsible for the day-to-day organization and overall project management of consortium activities. This includes coordinating communications, scheduling and supporting meetings, maintaining shared documentation, tracking progress, and generally providing the administrative drive needed to keep multiple sites and project teams moving toward common goals. The Administrative Core is essentially the operational backbone that enables the consortium to function efficiently, solve problems quickly, and maintain momentum across participating projects.
Second is a Data Core, which carries the central responsibility for coordinating data handling across the consortium. The FOA specifies that the Data Core will coordinate, receive, collect, and share data coming from the Small Vessel VCID Biomarker Development projects. A key point is that this includes de-identified clinical data, meaning the Coordinating Center must have the capability and processes to manage human data responsibly while enabling broad scientific utility. The emphasis on collecting and sharing suggests an expectation of standardized data practices, harmonization where possible, and an infrastructure that supports efficient submission, quality control, curation, and dissemination to approved users or across consortium teams.
A notable requirement in the application is a Milestone Plan with timelines. This is not presented as a minor administrative attachment; it is central to how applications will be judged and how the award will be managed after selection. The milestones and timeline are used during peer review to evaluate whether the applicant has a credible, structured approach to building and running the Coordinating Center. They are also used after award to evaluate progress for non-competing continuation years, meaning continued funding is tied to meeting the agreed-upon milestones and maintaining adequate performance as the consortium evolves.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U24), which typically indicates substantial NIH programmatic involvement compared to a standard grant. The Opportunity Category is listed as discretionary, and the Funding Activity Category is health. The agency is HHS-NIH (listed as HHS-NIH11), and the relevant CFDA numbers are 93.853 and 93.866. The award ceiling is $750,000, and the opportunity anticipated a single award (Expected Awards: 1), reflecting that only one Coordinating Center was planned to serve the entire consortium rather than multiple competing centers.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that could credibly run a national-level coordinating and data operation. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those particular categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The listing also includes an "Others" category with a note to consult the FOA text for clarification, which is common when NIH wants flexibility to include additional applicant types under certain circumstances.
Key dates show that the FOA was created and posted on February 26, 2016, with an original and current closing date of May 10, 2016. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted investment in consortium-level infrastructure for biomarker development in small vessel VCID, with a strong emphasis on coordinated administration, centralized data handling (including de-identified clinical data), and milestone-driven accountability that affects both the initial review and the ability to secure funding in subsequent years.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the purpose of this grant opportunity?
This opportunity funds a single Coordinating Center to serve as the central hub for the Small Vessel Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID) Biomarkers Consortium. The emphasis is on consortium-wide infrastructure and leadership so multiple biomarker development projects can operate as a unified program with comparable methods, sharable data, and integrated outputs.
What is the official title and funding opportunity number?
The opportunity is titled "Small Vessel Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID) Biomarkers Consortium: Coordinating Center (U24)" and the Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-NS-16-019.
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is HHS-NIH (listed as HHS-NIH11), under the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What kind of award mechanism is this?
This is a cooperative agreement (U24). A U24 mechanism typically involves substantial NIH programmatic involvement compared to a standard research project grant, reflecting the coordinated, multi-project nature of the work.
Is this grant meant to fund a single research study or lab project?
No. The focus is not on funding one standalone study. It funds the infrastructure, coordination, and centralized operations needed to organize and align multiple related biomarker development projects into one integrated consortium.
How does this Coordinating Center relate to other funding announcements?
This Coordinating Center (RFA-NS-16-019) is designed to work in tandem with a companion funding announcement, "Small Vessel VCID Biomarkers Development Projects" (RFA-NS-16-020). Together, they establish the Small Vessel VCID Biomarkers Consortium: one FOA supports the individual biomarker development projects, and this U24 supports the central coordinating operation.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity anticipated a single award (Expected Awards: 1), meaning one Coordinating Center was planned to serve the entire consortium.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $750,000.
What are the main required components of the Coordinating Center?
The Coordinating Center is structured around two required components: (1) an Administrative Core and (2) a Data Core.
What does the Administrative Core do?
The Administrative Core is responsible for day-to-day organization and overall project management of consortium activities. This includes coordinating communications, scheduling and supporting meetings, maintaining shared documentation, tracking progress, and providing the operational support needed to keep multiple sites and project teams aligned and moving toward common goals.
What does the Data Core do?
The Data Core coordinates consortium data handling. It is expected to coordinate, receive, collect, and share data generated by the Small Vessel VCID Biomarker Development projects, including de-identified clinical data. The description implies the need for centralized processes that support data submission, organization, and cross-project sharing so consortium outputs can be compared and integrated.
Does the Coordinating Center handle human clinical data?
Yes. The FOA indicates the Data Core will manage de-identified clinical data coming from the development projects, which means the Coordinating Center must be able to receive, manage, and share human data responsibly while still enabling scientific use across the consortium.
What is the Milestone Plan and why is it important?
A Milestone Plan with timelines is a central application requirement. It is used during peer review to judge whether the applicant has a credible, structured plan to build and run the Coordinating Center. After award, milestones are also used to evaluate progress for non-competing continuation years, meaning continued funding is tied to performance against agreed-upon milestones.
How will progress be evaluated after an award is made?
Progress is evaluated in part against the Milestone Plan and timelines. The FOA notes that milestone performance is used to assess progress for non-competing continuation years, linking continued funding to meeting milestones and maintaining adequate performance.
What is the opportunity category and activity category?
The Opportunity Category is listed as discretionary, and the Funding Activity Category is health.
What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA numbers listed are 93.853 and 93.866.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those particular nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The listing also includes an "Others" category with a note to consult the FOA text for clarification.
Are for-profit entities allowed to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and it separately includes small businesses as eligible applicants.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included in the eligibility list.
What is the timeline for this funding opportunity?
The FOA was created and posted on February 26, 2016. The original closing date and the current closing date are both listed as May 10, 2016.
What makes this opportunity different from typical research grants?
It is designed to build and run a consortium-level coordinating and data infrastructure rather than fund a single hypothesis-driven study. It also uses a cooperative agreement mechanism (U24), expects centralized data coordination (including de-identified clinical data), and places strong weight on milestone-driven planning and accountability.
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