Notice Number: NOT-HD-13-013

Key Dates
Release Date: September 26, 2013
Estimated Publication Date of Announcement: Fall 2013
First Estimated Application Due Date: Winter 2013
Earliest Estimated Award Date: Summer 2014
Earliest Estimated Start Date: Summer 2014

Related Announcements
None

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

Purpose

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intend to promote an ongoing initiative by publishing a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications for Centers for Collaborative Research in Fragile X (U54).

The NIH expects to make Center awards in response to this upcoming FOA, contingent upon the scientific merit of the applications and availability of funds.

The Fragile X Syndrome Research Centers were originally developed in response to the Children's Health Act of 2000 (H. R. 4365) Section 452E which called for the funding of three Centers.  Over the past ten years, the funded Centers have produced numerous findings that have propelled the field of Fragile X research forward at a rapid pace. This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. 

The FOA is expected to be published in Fall 2013 with an expected application due date of December 2013/January 2014.

This FOA will utilize the U54 activity code. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

Research Initiative Details

For the purposes of this FOA, three areas of targeted research have been identified as being of specific interest:

• Advancing the understanding of the pathophysiology of FMR1-Related Conditions
• Facilitating the development of treatments for FMR1-Related Conditions
• Advancing the knowledge of clinical phenotypes for FMR1-Related Conditions

Applicants for each Center of Collaborative Research in Fragile X must identify one of the broad areas of research.

Each program will consist of 1) an administrative core and 2) three scientific projects.  Other shared resources such as cores will be accepted if appropriate. 

Each of the scientific projects should:

• Be relevant to the overall research focus of the center.
• Address one or more of the research gaps or needs listed identified in the FOA.
• Be fully integrated with the other scientific projects within the Center.
• Must have goals and aims that will be completed and will significantly benefit the field within the five-year period of the award.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOT BEING SOLICITED AT THIS TIME.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Tiina K. Urv, PhD
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301-402-7015
Email: [email protected]  

Lisa Gilotty, PhD
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone:  301-443-3825
Email: [email protected]