Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Morris K. Udall Discovery Centers without Walls (DCWoW) for Parkinson's Disease Research (RM1 - Clinical Trial Optional)

Key Dates

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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intends to promote team science research to discover the causes of Parkinson's Disease by publishing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for Morris K. Udall Discovery Centers without Walls (DCWoW) for Parkinson's Disease Research.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive movement disorder that affects the lives of at least half a million people across the United States (US), as well as having significant impact on the relatives and friends who care for them. The average onset of characteristic motor symptoms, which are initially subtle and increasingly impact purposeful movement, most often occurs in the sixth decade of life; onset at much younger ages is also possible. Persons with PD also experience a broad range of non-motor symptoms including autonomic dysfunction (e.g. constipation, urinary incontinence, orthostatic hypotension, sexual dysfunction), sleep disturbances, pain, changes in mood, and cognitive dysfunction potentially leading to dementia. Available pharmacological and surgical treatments provide limited relief from some motor symptoms but fail to address non-motor symptoms or attenuate the ultimate progression of the disease. A clear cause and definitive cure have remained elusive despite important biomedical research advances, such as the identification of environmental and genetic risk factors. As our population ages, the number of persons with PD is projected to increase significantly; a 2022 technical brief by the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that global burden, including disability and mortality due to PD, are increasing at a more rapid rate compared with other neurological diseases.

The NINDS is the primary Federal funder for PD research in the US, providing support for investigator-initiated projects as well as dedicated programs including the NINDS Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence for PD Research, the NINDS PD Biomarkers Program (PDBP) and the public-private Accelerating Medicines Partnership for PD (AMP PD). In recognition of the impact of PD on our society, and to advance NINDS-supported research into the causes of PD, this initiative expands the NINDS Udall Centers program to promote biomedical discovery through an innovative, integrated team science approach.

This Notice encourages investigators with expertise, insights, and innovative approaches in the area of Parkinson's disease and related synucleinopathies to begin to consider applying for this new NOFO.

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. 

The NOFO is expected to be published in autumn 2024 with an expected application due date in early spring 2025.

This NOFO will utilize the RM1 activity code. Details of the planned NOFO are provided below.

This NINDS Morris K. Udall Discovery Center Without Walls (DCWoW) initiative is designed to support innovation and discovery in Parkinson's Disease (PD) research using an interdisciplinary team science approach. Applicant teams will define and justify a central research challenge focusing on the etiology of PD. Proposed research will be presented as a single, integrated project to address the selected challenge. Studies may include broader consideration of synucleinopathies aligned with the overall goal to inform PD etiology, including Lewy body dementias (LBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Focused pursuit of the proposed research strategy will be described by one set of Specific Aims. This initiative supports team science via participation of three to six Multiple Principal Investigators (MPIs). Each proposed Aim will require substantial contribution from at least two Principal Investigators (PIs) to succeed, and each PI is encouraged to contribute to more than one Aim. Applications will detail a coordinated research strategy, including defined timelines and measurable criteria for success. DCWoW applications will present a unified research plan of significance, scope and impact to justify resources requested. Proposed DCWoW efforts will address potential for innovation and discovery of the chosen PD challenge; the form of innovation (conceptual, technical, methodological, analytical) will be defined and justified. Each RM1 team may submit the combination of basic and/or clinical research approaches that address the defined goal. The Udall DCWoW will not support individual projects or cores. 

Reflective of the Udall DCWoW focus on discovery, interdisciplinary applicant teams are encouraged to leverage a broad range of expertise within and beyond PD research. Examples of the latter may include but are not limited to biomedical research expertise in cancer, infectious disease, immunology, gastroenterology, environmental health as well as expertise in scientific disciplines including structural biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, physical and computational sciences. Udall DCWoW focus on innovation may include formation of new collaborations among participating PIs. 

Applications will be structured to accomplish proposed Aims and produce defined outcomes within the five-year project period. Factoring in risk inherent to discovery projects, significant outcomes are expected within this time frame. This NINDS initiative is designed to foster a level of innovation and interdisciplinary team science not possible via other NIH grant mechanisms. 

Funding Information

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)
Small Business
For-Profit Organization (Other than Small Business)
State Government
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized)
County 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
Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government

Applications are not being solicited at this time. 

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Beth-Anne Sieber, PhD
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
[email protected]