Notice Number: NOT-HD-19-030

Key Dates

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 Development (NICHD) intends to re-issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement to solicit applications for the re-competition of the National Centers for Translational Research in Reproduction and Infertility (NCTRI). This re-competition will differ from the previous competition (RFA HD-19-017) in the following ways:

1. To align directly with NICHD’s Strategic Plan, applications that address the etiology of infertility disease pathogenesis using ‘omic (e.g., genomic, epigenomic, proteomic, metabolomic) technologies will be strongly encouraged. Particular emphasis will be on applications that go beyond correlative studies to address possible causality and contributions to the etiology of infertility and of diseases and disorders that impact fertility. Applications that are appropriate to the scientific mission areas of the Fertility and Infertility Branch will be accepted; however, meritorious applications using ‘omics approaches will receive priority in making funding decisions

2. Applications that address gynecological diseases, e.g., endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, fibroids, etc. will not be considered responsive to this FOA, except when the intent is to study disease-associated infertility.

3. At least two (and not three) research projects are required.

4. The application budget can be no more than $1.0 million/year direct costs.

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

The FOA is expected to be published in November 2019 with an expected application due date in April 2020.

This FOA will utilize the P50 activity code.

Research Initiative Details

The NCTRI program is a research-based translational centers program designed to promote multidisciplinary interactions between basic and clinical scientists so that breakthroughs in our fundamental understanding of key reproductive processes are translated into clinical practice, and that questions arising in the clinic may be expeditiously addressed in the laboratory. The ultimate goal is to improve human reproductive health through accelerated bidirectional transfer of knowledge between the laboratory and clinic with the centers forming a national network.

At least one of the projects in a center must be entirely or predominantly clinical; all basic science components must link with the clinical components. Consistent with the NIH definition, clinical research must be conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin such as tissues and specimens) for which an investigator directly interacts with human subjects. Programs must propose support for at least two research subprojects and an administrative core, as well as an annual commitment of funds for pilot projects. Applications must also propose an outreach/education core in order to increase awareness and convey the importance and implications of their research activities to the general public. The application budget can be no more than $1.0 million/year direct costs.

Funding Information

Estimated Total Funding The NICHD intends to commit $3.2 million in FY2021.
Expected Number of Awards Two
Estimated Award Ceiling A budget for direct costs of no more than $1.0 million/year may be requested.
Primary CFDA Numbers 93.865

Anticipated Eligible Organizations

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Stuart B. Moss, PhD
NICHD
301-435-6979
Mossstua@mail.nih.gov