Notice of Intent to Publish Funding Opportunity Announcements for the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (IDDRC) (PM1 Clinical Trial Optional)

Notice Number: NOT-HD-18-030

Key Dates

Release Date: December 20, 2018
Estimated Publication Date of Funding Opportunity Announcement: June 03, 2019
First Estimated Application Due Date: January 15, 2020
Earliest Estimated Award Date: July 01, 2020
Earliest Estimated Start Date: July 01, 2020



Related Announcements
None

Issued by
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Purpose

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) intends to publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to re-issue Requests for Applications (RFAs) for the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (IDDRC). This re-competition will differ from prior competitions in that the IDDRC grants will no longer be awarded using a Cooperative Agreement mechanism. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will utilize the PM1 (Program Project or Center with Complex Structure, Clinical Trial Optional) activity code. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

This Notice is announcing that there will be NO competition in Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19). The planned FY20 competition will serve as a combined competition for centers that would normally be competing in FY19 and FY20. The FOA is expected to be published in early Fall 2019 with an expected application due date in early 2020. The goal will be to make awards in Summer 2020.

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop responsive applications.

Research Initiative Details

The goals of the IDDRC program include the promotion of collaborative, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research programs that will not only provide core facilities and support for research in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), but will also advance the development of therapeutics and interventions for these conditions. The priorities of the IDD Branch at NICHD are broad and include research on the etiology, pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis and evaluation, prevention, and treatment or amelioration of IDD. This program will seek applications from institutions that meet the qualifications for a multi-disciplinary program of IDD research that will include: 1) Cores that facilitate interdisciplinary and translational research in IDD and its dissemination, and that support IDD-related projects funded by other sources; and 2) at least one specific research project related to one of several focus themes identified as an area of research need in IDD. Funds for the majority of research projects using these core facilities come from independent sources including Federal, State, and private organizations. The last FOA for this program was RFA-HD-16-013. In addition to the required elements of an Administrative and a Clinical Translational Core, each center should propose 1-4 additional Cores and a specific Research Project. A new requirement of the Administrative Core will be to incorporate a dissemination and implementation plan into the proposal to ensure timely and appropriate information about research discoveries to a diverse audience of other scientists, educators, policy makers, the government, and the public, including those with IDD conditions and their families. Data sharing is an expectation of any successful application. In addition, recipients of IDDRC awards will become part of a national program in IDD research and will be expected to participate in activities that span across the individual IDDRCs, including monthly leadership calls, shared and coordinated activities and projects when appropriate, and an annual meeting of the IDDRC Directors and NICHD program staff.

Applications must include at least one specific Research Project that has not been previously funded and addresses one or more of the focus themes identified as an area of research need. The project can address a broad array of IDD, including new, recently characterized, or under-researched areas such as comorbid mental health conditions in IDD. The focus areas are as follows, in no order of priority:

  • Comprehensive omics Approaches
  • Development of Biomarkers or Assessment Measures in More than one IDD Condition
  • Outcome Measures or Biomarkers for Interventions or Treatments
  • Multi-modal Treatment Approaches
  • Preventing and Mitigating the Impact of Exposures that Can Cause IDD
  • Interventions and Management of Co-morbid Mental Health Conditions
  • Innovative Technologies to Improve Assessments, Interventions, and Outcomes for Those with IDD

Funding Information

Estimated Total Funding TBD
Expected Number of Awards TBD
Estimated Award Ceiling $1.3 M total costs/center/year
Primary CFDA Numbers 93.865

Anticipated Eligible Organizations

Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education
Private Institution of Higher Education
Nonprofit with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education)
Nonprofit without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education)
Small Business
For-Profit Organization (Other than Small Business)
State Government
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized)
County governments
City or township governments
Special district governments
Independent school districts
Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization (Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
U.S. Territory or Possession
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized)
Regional Organization
Applications are not being solicited at this time.

 

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Melissa Parisi, MD, PhD
Eunice Kennedy ShriverNational Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
301-435-6880
parisima@mail.nih.gov