Human Islet Research Enhancement Center for the Human Islet Research Network (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA DK 23 008

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 23 008

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), released this discretionary funding opportunity (RFA-DK-23-008) to establish a Human Islet Research Enhancement Center to support the Human Islet Research Network (HIRN). The award mechanism is a U24 cooperative agreement, which typically means the funded Center will work in close partnership with NIH program staff and will be expected to operate as a shared resource for the broader network rather than as a standalone research project. Clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement, so the focus is on enabling and accelerating research efforts through infrastructure, coordination, and shared capabilities rather than testing interventions in humans.

At its core, the opportunity is meant to strengthen and connect the existing NIDDK-funded HIRN community by providing the practical backbone needed for large, multi-site scientific collaboration. The Center is expected to supply infrastructure that supports research coordination across participating groups, promotes collaboration among investigators, and helps disseminate advances and outputs produced by HIRN. In practice, this kind of center often functions as the hub for network operations: it can support cross-team communication, organize working groups, standardize certain practices, facilitate sharing of resources and data, and help ensure that discoveries and methods developed within the network are communicated efficiently to both scientific audiences and other relevant stakeholders. The funding activity category is listed under Food and Nutrition, Health, and the CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 93.847.

The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. 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; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category definition); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. This emphasis signals an interest in broad participation and, potentially, in building infrastructure that serves a diverse research community.

There are important limits related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) and non-domestic (non-U.S.) foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S.-based applicant may still include certain foreign collaborations or elements if they meet NIH policy requirements and are justified within the project’s scope.

The opportunity was created on June 6, 2023, with an original application closing date of October 18, 2023. The listed award ceiling is $1,200,000, indicating the maximum level of funding anticipated per award under the announcement. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided data. Overall, this FOA is best understood as a network-enabling infrastructure award designed to make HIRN-funded science more coordinated, collaborative, and visible, while staying squarely on the side of support functions and research advancement tools rather than conducting clinical trials.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Human Islet Research Enhancement Center for the Human Islet Research Network (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-06-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-10-18. (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 $1,200,000.00 in funding.
• 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.

Apply for RFA DK 23 008

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