Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 15 010
Apply for RFA NS 15 010
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The NINDS Human Biomarkers Biospecimen and Data Repository (U24)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 8, 2015 and posted on Apr 8, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 9, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education County governments Special district governments City or township governments Independent school districts Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) State governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Small businesses.
- 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 not allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NINDS Human Biomarkers Biospecimen and Data Repository (U24) funding opportunity (RFA-NS-15-010) was a National Institutes of Health cooperative agreement designed to stand up a centralized, high-quality human biospecimen and associated data repository specifically to accelerate biomarkers research in neurological disorders. The core idea is to create an organized, trusted resource that can receive, process, store, and distribute human specimens and the data that make those specimens useful for biomarker discovery and validation, while also supporting consistent procedures that reduce variability and improve reproducibility across studies. Because this is a U24 cooperative agreement, the awardee would not simply receive funds and operate independently; instead, the work would be carried out in close coordination with NINDS, reflecting an expectation of active NIH program involvement in oversight, priorities, and performance expectations.
NINDS emphasized that strong, multidisciplinary teams were expected, bringing together practical expertise in neuroscience and neurological disease research, biomarker science, biospecimen handling and biobanking operations, and modern data management. The announcement also signals a clear expectation that applicants understand real-world biomarker and biorepository pitfalls, including batch effects and other sources of technical variation that can create misleading results. In practice, that means applicants needed to demonstrate the ability to develop and enforce standardized protocols, implement analyte quality control and assurance measures, and continuously monitor specimen and assay-related variables so that downstream biomarker studies can rely on the integrity of both samples and metadata.
A competitive application, according to the announcement, had to lay out three major components in detail. First, the Administrative Structure: this is essentially the governance and operating model, including leadership, staffing, decision-making processes, oversight, coordination with NINDS, and mechanisms for managing partnerships and external users. Second, the Research and Resource Plan: this typically covers how the repository will function day to day as a resource, including specimen lifecycle management (collection coordination where applicable, accessioning, processing, tracking, storage conditions, chain-of-custody, distribution), quality management, protocol development, and the scientific approach to ensuring that repository operations actually meet biomarker research needs. Third, Data Management and Web-Based Activities: this indicates the repository was expected to handle not just physical samples but also the informatics backbone, including databases, secure data ingestion and curation, linkage between specimens and clinical/phenotypic data, user-facing web access tools, and policies and technical controls for data sharing, privacy, and appropriate use.
From a funding and program structure standpoint, the opportunity was categorized as discretionary and aligned to the health activity category, with a single expected award and an estimated total funding level of $1.5 million. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement. The posting date and creation date were April 8, 2015, with an original and current closing date of June 9, 2015, and an archive date of July 10, 2015. The CFDA listing provided in the notice was 93.853, associated with extramural research programs in the neurosciences and neurological disorders.
Eligibility was broad across many U.S.-based organization types, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and various government entities (state, county, city/township, special district, and certain housing authorities). The eligibility language also explicitly included multiple institution types such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and other community- and faith-based organizations, as well as eligible federal agencies and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, the announcement was explicit that non-U.S. entities and foreign institutions were not eligible to apply, and foreign components were not allowed under NIH definitions, meaning the project was intended to be led and carried out within eligible U.S. organizational structures.
Operationally, the opportunity points toward a repository that functions as national-scale infrastructure for neurological biomarker work: a place where biospecimens and accompanying data are handled under consistent, high-standard procedures; where technical confounders like batch effects are actively managed; and where web-based systems make it feasible for qualified researchers to find, request, and use resources efficiently. The announcement also provides a link to the full RFA text on the NIH grants site and directs technical access questions to the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contact.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NINDS Human Biomarkers Biospecimen and Data Repository (U24) opportunity?
This funding opportunity (RFA-NS-15-010) was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement intended to establish a centralized, high-quality repository of human biospecimens and associated data to accelerate biomarker research in neurological disorders.
What is the main goal of this repository?
The goal is to create an organized, trusted national-scale resource that can receive, process, store, and distribute human specimens along with the data needed for biomarker discovery and validation, while promoting consistent procedures that reduce variability and improve reproducibility across studies.
Which NIH institute is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
What does it mean that this is a U24 cooperative agreement?
A U24 is a cooperative agreement, meaning the awardee would not operate fully independently. The work would be carried out in close coordination with NINDS, with active NIH program involvement in oversight, priorities, and performance expectations.
How many awards were expected under this announcement?
The announcement indicated a single expected award.
What was the estimated total funding level for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding level was $1.5 million.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What types of activities was the repository expected to support?
The repository was expected to support end-to-end biospecimen and data resource activities, including handling physical specimens and maintaining an informatics backbone for specimen-associated data, with web-based tools to enable qualified researchers to find, request, and use resources efficiently.
Why did the announcement emphasize standardized protocols and reproducibility?
NINDS highlighted common pitfalls in biomarker and biorepository work, including batch effects and other sources of technical variation that can produce misleading results. Applicants were expected to demonstrate the ability to implement standardized protocols, quality control/assurance measures, and ongoing monitoring of specimen and assay-related variables so downstream biomarker studies can rely on the integrity of samples and metadata.
What kinds of expertise were expected on the project team?
The announcement emphasized strong, multidisciplinary teams with practical expertise in neuroscience and neurological disease research, biomarker science, biospecimen handling and biobanking operations, and modern data management.
What were the major components a competitive application needed to describe?
The announcement called for three major components to be laid out in detail: (1) an Administrative Structure, (2) a Research and Resource Plan, and (3) Data Management and Web-Based Activities.
What is included in the Administrative Structure component?
The Administrative Structure focused on governance and operations, including leadership, staffing, decision-making processes, oversight, coordination with NINDS, and mechanisms for managing partnerships and external users.
What is included in the Research and Resource Plan component?
This component covered how the repository would function as a day-to-day resource. It included specimen lifecycle management (such as accessioning, processing, tracking, storage conditions, chain-of-custody, and distribution), quality management, protocol development, and the scientific approach to ensuring operations meet biomarker research needs.
What is included in the Data Management and Web-Based Activities component?
This component covered the informatics backbone, including databases, secure data ingestion and curation, linking specimens to clinical/phenotypic data, user-facing web access tools, and policies and technical controls related to data sharing, privacy, and appropriate use.
Was the repository expected to manage both biospecimens and data?
Yes. The announcement made it clear the repository would handle physical specimens and also the associated data needed to make the specimens useful for biomarker research, supported by modern data management and web-based systems.
What aspects of specimen handling were specifically mentioned?
The announcement referenced specimen lifecycle elements such as receiving/collection coordination where applicable, accessioning, processing, tracking, storage conditions, chain-of-custody, and distribution.
What is the health activity or program category for this opportunity?
The opportunity was categorized as discretionary and aligned to the health activity category.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA listing provided was 93.853, associated with extramural research programs in the neurosciences and neurological disorders.
When was the opportunity posted and created?
The posting date and creation date were both April 8, 2015.
What was the closing date for applications?
The original and current closing date listed was June 9, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was July 10, 2015.
Which organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad across many U.S.-based organization types, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and various government entities (state, county, city/township, special district, and certain housing authorities).
Did the eligibility language include minority-serving or special-designation institutions?
Yes. The eligibility language explicitly included institution types such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and other community- and faith-based organizations.
Were U.S. territories or possessions included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The eligibility description included U.S. territories or possessions.
Were federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility language included eligible federal agencies.
Are non-U.S. entities or foreign institutions eligible to apply?
No. The announcement explicitly stated that non-U.S. entities and foreign institutions were not eligible to apply.
Are foreign components allowed under this opportunity?
No. The announcement specified that foreign components were not allowed under NIH definitions, indicating the project was intended to be led and carried out within eligible U.S. organizational structures.
Where could applicants find the full RFA details?
The announcement indicated that the full RFA text was available on the NIH grants website.
Where were technical access questions directed?
The announcement directed technical access questions to the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contact.
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Previous opportunity: The NINDS Human Cell and Data Repository (U24)
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