Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 12 001
Apply for RFA DK 12 001
- The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Human Islet Distribution Coordinating Center (UC4)" 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 Mar 7, 2012 and posted on Mar 7, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 16, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $15,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- 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) 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 Small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) City or township governments Special district governments Independent school districts State governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Public and State controlled institutions of higher education County governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions 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) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Human Islet Distribution Coordinating Center (UC4) funding opportunity (RFA-DK-12-001) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement aimed at continuing the Integrated Islet Distribution Program (IIDP). The program exists to make human cadaveric islets available to the research community, recognizing that access to high-quality human islets is a limiting resource for many areas of diabetes and metabolic disease research. By supporting a single national coordinating center, NIH is essentially funding the infrastructure that connects donor-derived islets, specialized isolation laboratories, and qualified investigators who need these materials to study human islet biology and develop or evaluate potential diabetes therapies.
The award is structured to support one Coordinating Center that will oversee the end-to-end distribution pipeline rather than directly producing islets itself. The center is expected to subcontract with qualified human islet isolation facilities that can procure pancreata, isolate islets, and prepare them for shipment. In practical terms, the Coordinating Center functions like the program's operational hub: it manages the network of isolation sites, coordinates logistics and communication, and ensures that islets are allocated and delivered to approved researchers in an orderly, transparent way. Because this is a cooperative agreement, NIH anticipates substantial programmatic involvement, meaning the Coordinating Center will work closely with NIH staff on priorities, performance expectations, and ongoing oversight.
A major responsibility described in the announcement is running an eligibility and application process for investigators who want to receive islets. The Coordinating Center must establish and manage the procedures that determine who is permitted to request and receive islets, maintain a roster (approved-user list) of qualified investigators, and keep those records current. Alongside eligibility management, the center must implement a notification system that alerts approved investigators when human islets become available. Since donor organs and islet preparations are time-sensitive and variable in availability, this type of notification and coordination system is central to minimizing waste and ensuring that islets reach labs that can use them immediately.
The FOA also emphasizes financial sustainability through partial cost recovery. Rather than making the program entirely free to recipients, the Coordinating Center is expected to operate a fee-based system in which investigators receiving islets pay certain charges that help offset program costs. This is not described as cost sharing or matching on the applicant side (the FOA states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement), but it does require the center to design and administer a fair, workable mechanism for collecting fees, accounting for them, and applying them to support ongoing distribution operations.
Quality monitoring and continuous improvement are another core expectation. The Coordinating Center must develop a system to track the quality of the islets being distributed and use those data to improve standardization across isolation facilities and over time. That includes monitoring preparation characteristics and performance indicators relevant to research use, and then feeding that information back into program operations so that investigators receive a more consistent and well-characterized research resource. NIH frames this as a broader service to the biomedical community: not just distributing islets, but improving the reliability and comparability of human islet-based experiments nationally by fostering better standardization.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary opportunity with a cooperative agreement funding instrument (UC4). The activity category is listed under health (CFDA 93.847, Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research). NIH anticipated a single award, with an estimated total funding level of about $15,000,000 and an award ceiling of $2,000,000. The opportunity was posted March 7, 2012, with a closing date of May 16, 2012, and an archive date of June 16, 2012. Although this specific FOA is archived, the summary captures what NIH was seeking: one organization capable of operating a national coordinating center, managing subcontracted isolation capacity, and running the operational, financial, and quality systems needed to distribute human islets efficiently and responsibly.
Eligibility was broad and included many organization types across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry. Eligible applicants included public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), small businesses and other for-profit organizations (with limitations noted in the full text), state, county, city/township, and special district governments, as well as public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Additional eligible categories specifically noted include federally recognized and other tribal governments and organizations, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. The common thread is that the applicant must be able to credibly operate a national-scale coordinating and quality oversight function and manage a subcontract network of islet isolation facilities.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as NIH investing in shared research infrastructure for diabetes research. Instead of funding a single scientific project, it funds the coordination, access controls, communication, logistics, cost recovery, and quality systems required to reliably supply researchers with human islets. By doing so, NIH aims to accelerate discoveries in human islet biology and diabetes treatment development, while also improving consistency and quality across the islets distributed to labs nationwide.
FAQs: Human Islet Distribution Coordinating Center (UC4) - RFA-DK-12-001
What is RFA-DK-12-001 funding?
RFA-DK-12-001 is an NIH cooperative agreement (UC4) funding opportunity to support a single Human Islet Distribution Coordinating Center. The goal is to continue the Integrated Islet Distribution Program (IIDP), which makes human cadaveric islets available to qualified researchers for diabetes and metabolic disease studies.
What is the purpose of the Integrated Islet Distribution Program (IIDP)?
The IIDP exists to expand and organize access to high-quality human cadaveric islets, which are a limited resource for many areas of diabetes and metabolic disease research. NIH is funding infrastructure so investigators can obtain islets in a consistent, timely, and transparent way.
Is this opportunity funding a research project or research infrastructure?
This opportunity is primarily for shared research infrastructure. It funds the coordination, access controls, communication, logistics, cost recovery, and quality monitoring systems needed to distribute human islets reliably, rather than funding a single hypothesis-driven research project.
What does the Coordinating Center do?
The Coordinating Center operates as the national hub for the islet distribution pipeline. It oversees distribution operations end-to-end, manages communication and logistics, coordinates allocation and delivery to approved investigators, and maintains systems for investigator eligibility, notifications, fee collection, and quality monitoring.
Does the Coordinating Center produce or isolate human islets itself?
No. The announcement describes the Coordinating Center as overseeing distribution rather than directly producing islets. The center is expected to subcontract with qualified human islet isolation facilities that procure pancreata, isolate islets, and prepare them for shipment.
How are human islets sourced and prepared under this program?
Human islets are derived from donor pancreata (human cadaveric islets). Qualified isolation facilities, subcontracted by the Coordinating Center, handle procurement, islet isolation, and preparation for shipping to approved investigators.
Why does NIH want a single national coordinating center?
NIH is aiming to support one national center to provide centralized coordination, standard procedures, transparent allocation, consistent communication, and unified quality monitoring across multiple isolation sites and investigator recipients.
What makes this a cooperative agreement (UC4) rather than a standard grant?
Because this is a cooperative agreement, NIH expects substantial programmatic involvement. That means the Coordinating Center will work closely with NIH staff on priorities, performance expectations, and ongoing oversight throughout the award.
How does an investigator become eligible to receive islets?
The Coordinating Center must establish and manage an eligibility and application process for investigators who want to receive islets. The center determines who is permitted to request and receive islets and maintains an approved-user list (roster) of qualified investigators.
What is the approved-user list?
It is a roster maintained by the Coordinating Center that identifies investigators who have been reviewed and approved to request and receive human islets through the program. The center is responsible for keeping these records current.
How are investigators notified when islets are available?
The Coordinating Center must implement a notification system that alerts approved investigators when human islets become available. This is important because donor organs and islet preparations are time-sensitive and availability varies.
How does the program minimize waste given that islets are time-sensitive?
The FOA highlights the need for active coordination and a notification system so approved investigators can be alerted quickly when islets become available, helping ensure preparations are allocated and shipped to labs that can use them immediately.
Will investigators have to pay to receive islets?
Yes. The Coordinating Center is expected to operate a fee-based system where investigators receiving islets pay certain charges to help offset program costs. This is described as partial cost recovery to support ongoing operations.
Is cost sharing or matching required for applicants to this FOA?
No. The FOA states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The fee-based system described is for partial cost recovery from investigators receiving islets, not an applicant cost-sharing obligation.
What financial administration is the Coordinating Center expected to handle?
The Coordinating Center must design and administer a fair, workable mechanism for collecting fees from investigators, accounting for those fees, and applying them to support program distribution operations.
How is islet quality monitored under this program?
The Coordinating Center must develop a system to track the quality of distributed islets and use those data to improve standardization across isolation facilities and over time. This includes monitoring preparation characteristics and performance indicators relevant to research use.
How does quality monitoring improve research nationally?
By tracking quality and feeding results back into program operations, the program aims to improve consistency and characterization of islets distributed across the country. NIH frames this as improving the reliability and comparability of human islet-based experiments nationwide.
Which NIH area and CFDA listing is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under health and associated with CFDA 93.847, Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research.
How many awards did NIH anticipate making?
NIH anticipated a single award to support one national Coordinating Center.
What were the estimated funding levels for this FOA?
The summary describes an estimated total funding level of about $15,000,000, with an award ceiling of $2,000,000.
What are the key dates for this funding opportunity?
The opportunity was posted on March 7, 2012, with a closing date of May 16, 2012, and an archive date of June 16, 2012.
Is this FOA currently active?
No. This specific FOA is archived. The description provided reflects what NIH was seeking under RFA-DK-12-001 during its open period.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included many organization types across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry, including public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status); small businesses and other for-profit organizations (with limitations noted in the full text); and various government entities.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. Eligibility specifically included federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal governments and organizations.
Are minority-serving institutions included in eligibility?
Yes. The eligibility list specifically included Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are faith-based, community-based, or regional organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list specifically noted faith-based or community-based organizations and regional organizations.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions were listed among eligible applicants.
What capability does an applicant need to be competitive for this opportunity?
The common thread described is the ability to credibly operate a national-scale coordinating and quality oversight function and manage a subcontract network of islet isolation facilities, including logistics, investigator eligibility processes, notifications, cost recovery administration, and quality monitoring.
What is the main impact NIH is trying to achieve with this award?
NIH is investing in shared infrastructure to accelerate discoveries in human islet biology and diabetes therapy development by ensuring researchers can access human islets efficiently and responsibly, while improving standardization and quality across distributed islets nationwide.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Food and Nutrition Health
Next opportunity: Lower Deer Creek Falls Fish Passage Assessment Phase 1
Previous opportunity: YouthBuild Grants
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA DK 12 001
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA DK 12 001) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Secondary Analyses in Obesity, Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R21) Apply for PA 12 125 Funding Number: PA 12 125 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Pilot and Feasibility Clinical Research Grants in Diabetes, and Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases (R21) Apply for PA 12 157 Funding Number: PA 12 157 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Translational Research to Improve Obesity and Diabetes Outcomes (R18) Apply for PAR 12 172 Funding Number: PAR 12 172 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Planning Grants for Translational Research to Improve Obesity and Diabetes Outcomes (R34) Apply for PAR 12 173 Funding Number: PAR 12 173 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Promoting Organ and Tissue Donation Among Diverse Populations (R01) Apply for RFA DK 12 006 Funding Number: RFA DK 12 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Limited Competition for the Continuation of the Halt Polycystic Kidney Disease Trials Data Coordinating Center (DCC) (U01) Apply for RFA DK 12 505 Funding Number: RFA DK 12 505 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition for the Continuation of Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) Consortium (U01) Apply for RFA DK 12 502 Funding Number: RFA DK 12 502 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Renal Function and Chronic Kidney Disease in Aging (R01) Apply for PA 12 211 Funding Number: PA 12 211 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| George M. OBrien Kidney Research Core Centers (P30) Apply for RFA DK 12 008 Funding Number: RFA DK 12 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Research Enhancement for NIDDK Hematology Grantees (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 12 242 Funding Number: PA 12 242 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| New Technologies for the Study of Lymphatics in the Digestive and Urinary Systems (R43/R44) Apply for PA 12 258 Funding Number: PA 12 258 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Lymphatics in Health and Disease in the Digestive, Urinary, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Systems (R01) Apply for PAR 12 259 Funding Number: PAR 12 259 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Lymphatics in Health and Disease in the Digestive, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Systems (R21) Apply for PAR 12 260 Funding Number: PAR 12 260 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: $125,000 |
| Ancillary Studies to Major Ongoing Clinical Research Studies to Advance Areas of Scientific Interest within the Mission of the NIDDK (R01) Apply for PAR 12 265 Funding Number: PAR 12 265 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition for the Continuation of the Assessment, Serial Evaluation and Subsequent Sequelae of Acute Kidney Injury (ASSESS AKI) Study (U01) Apply for RFA DK 12 509 Funding Number: RFA DK 12 509 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Pilot Studies of Candidate Therapies for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) (U01) Apply for RFA DK 12 016 Funding Number: RFA DK 12 016 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Expansion of Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network (LURN) (U01) Apply for RFA DK 12 017 Funding Number: RFA DK 12 017 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition for the Continuation of the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study (U01) Apply for RFA DK 12 508 Funding Number: RFA DK 12 508 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Advancing Clinical Research in Primary Glomerular Diseases (UM1) Apply for RFA DK 12 014 Funding Number: RFA DK 12 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Novel Interventions to Reduce Morbidity and Mortality of Hemodialysis Patients Safety and Other Early Phase Studies (U01) Apply for RFA DK 12 010 Funding Number: RFA DK 12 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA DK 12 001", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.