Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 18 250
This limited competition funding opportunity, RFA-MH-18-250, supports the continuation of the National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium (NNTC) Clinical Sites through a U24 cooperative agreement mechanism. The NNTC is positioned as a national research resource designed to accelerate NeuroAIDS science by supplying well-characterized clinical data and high-quality biological specimens to qualified investigators. The overarching scientific focus is on understanding and ultimately enabling strategies related to HIV-1 persistence and potential cure in the central nervous system (CNS), as well as clarifying the neuropathogenesis of HIV-1 related dysfunction in both the CNS and peripheral nervous system (PNS), particularly in the modern context of antiretroviral therapy (ART).
The core purpose of the NNTC Clinical Sites is to maintain and operate the clinical and specimen-collection infrastructure that makes the consortium valuable to the broader research community. These sites work with late-stage HIV-1 infected participants who have expressed willingness to participate in organ donation. Within that cohort, the clinical sites collect detailed neuromedical and neuropsychiatric information, with an emphasis on consistent clinical assessment and longitudinal follow-up where possible. This includes assembling the kinds of standardized, richly annotated clinical datasets that allow researchers to link neurological and psychiatric findings to underlying disease processes and treatment history, and to interpret tissue-based findings in a clinically meaningful way.
Operationally, the FOA emphasizes two major responsibilities for the clinical sites. First, sites are expected to recruit participants into the late-stage NNTC cohort, perform clinical assessments, and conduct follow-up activities in a way that supports the consortiums long-term scientific utility. Second, sites must handle the collection, maintenance, and distribution of specimen resources. In practice, this means implementing rigorous procedures for biospecimen acquisition, processing, storage, quality control, and the fulfillment of requests from the external NeuroAIDS research community, ensuring that materials are usable and accompanied by the appropriate clinical context.
A key feature of the NNTC model described in this announcement is the structured partnership with the NNTC Data Coordinating Center (DCC). All data produced through the clinical sites activities are transferred to the DCC, which serves as the centralized hub for data management and coordination. The clinical sites are expected to work cooperatively with the DCC so that both clinical information and specimen resources can be efficiently provided to investigators. The announcement also notes that the DCC is competed under a separate, companion limited competition FOA (RFA-MH-18-251), signaling that the clinical sites and the coordinating center are distinct but interdependent components of the overall consortium.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary HHS/NIH opportunity using a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates substantial federal involvement in oversight, coordination, and programmatic direction compared with a standard grant. Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, reflecting the limited competition nature of the program. The announcement lists an award ceiling of $775,000 and anticipates up to four awards. It was created on April 19, 2017, with an original application closing date of July 26, 2017, and it is associated with CFDA numbers 93.242 and 93.853.
In plain terms, this FOA is about keeping the NNTC clinical site network running and productive: enrolling and following the specific participant cohort, capturing high-value neurological and psychiatric data, managing and sharing tissue and other biospecimens, and feeding standardized data to the central coordinating center so outside researchers can use these resources to study how HIV affects the nervous system under ART and how HIV might be eliminated or controlled within the CNS.Apply for RFA MH 18 250
- The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium (NNTC) Clinical Sites (U24)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242, 93.853.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 19, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 26, 2017. (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 $775,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity RFA-MH-18-250?
RFA-MH-18-250 is a limited competition funding opportunity to support the continuation of the National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium (NNTC) Clinical Sites through a U24 cooperative agreement mechanism. It is designed to keep the clinical site network operating as a national research resource for NeuroAIDS science.
What is the main goal of the NNTC supported by this FOA?
The NNTC is positioned as a national research resource intended to accelerate NeuroAIDS research by supplying qualified investigators with well-characterized clinical data and high-quality biological specimens.
What scientific focus does this opportunity emphasize?
The overarching scientific focus is on understanding HIV-1 persistence and potential cure strategies in the central nervous system (CNS), and clarifying the neuropathogenesis of HIV-1 related dysfunction in both the CNS and peripheral nervous system (PNS), particularly in the modern context of antiretroviral therapy (ART).
What are the NNTC Clinical Sites expected to do?
The Clinical Sites are expected to maintain and operate the clinical and specimen-collection infrastructure that enables the consortium to serve the broader research community. This includes recruiting participants, conducting clinical assessments and follow-up, and collecting, maintaining, and distributing specimens with appropriate clinical context.
Who are the participant populations described in this FOA?
The FOA describes work with late-stage HIV-1 infected participants who have expressed willingness to participate in organ donation.
What kinds of clinical information are collected by the Clinical Sites?
Clinical Sites collect detailed neuromedical and neuropsychiatric information, emphasizing consistent clinical assessment and longitudinal follow-up where possible. The intent is to build standardized, richly annotated clinical datasets that link neurological and psychiatric findings to disease processes and treatment history.
Why is longitudinal follow-up mentioned as important?
Longitudinal follow-up (where possible) supports the creation of clinically meaningful datasets over time, strengthening the ability to interpret tissue-based findings alongside evolving clinical status and treatment history.
What are the two major responsibilities emphasized for Clinical Sites?
The FOA emphasizes two major responsibilities: (1) recruit late-stage participants into the NNTC cohort, perform clinical assessments, and conduct follow-up activities that support long-term scientific utility; and (2) handle the collection, maintenance, and distribution of specimen resources.
What does specimen resource management include under this FOA?
Specimen responsibilities include implementing rigorous procedures for biospecimen acquisition, processing, storage, quality control, and fulfilling requests from the external NeuroAIDS research community, ensuring specimens are usable and accompanied by appropriate clinical context.
How are biospecimens and data intended to be used?
The consortium resources are intended to be shared with qualified investigators so they can study how HIV affects the nervous system under ART, investigate HIV-1 persistence in the CNS, and pursue research relevant to potential cure or control strategies.
What is the role of the NNTC Data Coordinating Center (DCC)?
The DCC acts as the centralized hub for data management and coordination. All data produced through Clinical Site activities are transferred to the DCC for centralized handling and coordination.
How are Clinical Sites expected to work with the DCC?
Clinical Sites are expected to work cooperatively with the DCC so that clinical information and specimen resources can be efficiently provided to investigators.
Is the DCC funded under the same announcement?
No. The DCC is competed under a separate, companion limited competition FOA (RFA-MH-18-251). The Clinical Sites and the DCC are distinct but interdependent components of the overall consortium.
What kind of award mechanism is used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity uses a U24 cooperative agreement mechanism. A cooperative agreement generally indicates substantial federal involvement in oversight, coordination, and programmatic direction compared with a standard grant.
Which federal agencies are associated with this opportunity?
This is a discretionary HHS/NIH funding opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply according to the provided information?
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, reflecting the limited competition nature of the program.
How many awards are anticipated?
The announcement anticipates up to four awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The announcement lists an award ceiling of $775,000.
What is the purpose of this opportunity in plain terms?
In plain terms, the FOA is about keeping the NNTC clinical site network running and productive: enrolling and following the specific participant cohort, capturing high-value neurological and psychiatric data, managing and sharing tissue and other biospecimens, and transferring standardized data to the central coordinating center so outside researchers can use these resources.
When was this funding opportunity created and when did it originally close?
The opportunity was created on April 19, 2017, and the original application closing date was July 26, 2017.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.242 and 93.853.
Why does the FOA emphasize standardized clinical datasets?
Standardized, richly annotated clinical datasets allow researchers to connect neurological and psychiatric findings to underlying disease processes and treatment history, and to interpret tissue-based findings in a clinically meaningful way.
What is meant by the NNTC being a "national research resource"?
Based on the provided description, it means the consortium is organized to supply the wider NeuroAIDS research community with high-quality specimens and well-characterized clinical data, rather than serving only a single local research project.
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