The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intends to publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications for the Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease Research program. The overarching goal of this program is to establish a network of specialized Centers that work collaboratively as well as independently to define the causes of and discover improved treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD). A more immediate goal for each Center is to rapidly advance synergistic, interdisciplinary research programs while serving as national leaders in PD research. Udall Centers also serve as local resources by providing research career enhancement activities for Center investigators and periodic outreach to the PD patient/advocacy community

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 Summer 2020 with an expected application due date in Autumn 2020.

This FOA will utilize the P50 activity code. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

Ressearch Initiative Details

This Notice encourages investigators with expertise and insights into this area of Parkinson's Disease (PD) to begin to consider applying for this new FOA.

Among the areas of research encouraged in this initiative are interdisciplinary research collaborations examining the mechanisms that underlie the effects of PD, as well as research designed to improve the translation of existing knowledge of strategies for the prevention and treatment of PD.

Applicants to the Udall Centers program will identify and address an overall research theme that defines a critical challenge in PD research. The Center theme, proposed research projects, and associated cores will inform the etiology, pathogenesis or treatment of PD; investigations on related synucleinopathies may be included if such directly address the identified PD research challenge. Programmatic requirements of this FOA include: three or more Research Projects, including a dedicated Udall Catalyst project led by a junior investigator; an Administrative Core; at least one integrated Research Core that is essential to and accelerates the progress of two or more Research Projects; a mission statement for career enhancement of Center investigators, and a plan for periodic outreach to the local patient/advocacy community, including specific outreach events to convey Center research advances.

The NINDS Udall Centers program prioritizes innovative and integrative research with significant potential for discovery. Considerable synergy must be evident among Center research projects and cores, such that the Center structure is required for successful completion of the aims. The Udall Center Director (PD/PI) must be a leader in scientific research with visionary leadership skills and proven expertise in the stewardship of large-scale research programs; participating investigators must lead independent research programs, with the exception of the Udall Catalyst project investigator. Applicant institutions must provide solid evidence of commitment to the proposed Udall Center.

Only new applications will be accepted in response to this FOA. The project period will be five years.

Funding decisions will focus on those applications most likely to make significant contributions to PD research, as well as those with greatest potential to collaborate effectively across the Udall Centers program.

Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education
U.S. Territory or Possession
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized)
Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization (Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
Independent school districts
County governments
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized)
State Government
For-Profit Organization (Other than Small Business)
Small Business
Nonprofit with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education)
Private Institution of Higher Education
Regional Organization
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entity (Foreign Organization)
Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government