Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 21 013
The NIH funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Genome Sequencing Center for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (RFA-RM-21-013) supports renewal of one or more Genome Sequencing Centers that serve the Kids First Pediatric Research Program. The core aim is to rapidly produce high-quality, research-grade genomic and functional genomics datasets at scale from human specimens tied to two major pediatric disease areas: childhood cancers and structural birth defects. The sequencing centers funded through this announcement are expected to generate consistent, robust data outputs that can be broadly shared and reused by the research community, accelerating discovery across many studies rather than serving a single project.
This FOA emphasizes comprehensive data generation across multiple assay types. It calls for production of whole-genome sequencing and variant data, RNA sequencing, and long-read sequencing, alongside genome-wide methylation profiling and chromatin accessibility data. In practical terms, that means awardees are expected to deliver not only DNA-level variant calls and sequence reads, but also layers of regulatory and expression information that help explain how variants may affect gene activity and cellular behavior. By including epigenomic assays such as methylation and chromatin accessibility, the program is positioned to support deeper mechanistic work, such as identifying regulatory disruptions, tumor-specific epigenetic patterns, or developmental pathways implicated in congenital anomalies.
A central structural feature of the program is the separation between data generation and data harmonization/public distribution. While the Genome Sequencing Center(s) produce the primary data, all outputs generated under this FOA will be re-processed and harmonized by the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Data Resource Center (Kids First DRC). The DRC is responsible for standardizing datasets so they can be compared across projects, ensuring consistent processing pipelines, quality control, metadata alignment, and integration across different contributing studies. The DRC also maintains a public-facing, cloud-based platform that allows researchers to search, access, aggregate, analyze, and share annotated datasets spanning genomic sequences, genomic variants, epigenomic and transcriptomic profiles, and associated phenotypic data. The overall design is meant to reduce fragmentation in pediatric genomics, making it easier for scientists to combine cohorts, replicate findings, and pursue cross-cutting questions that span cancer and birth defects.
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U24), meaning NIH expects substantial programmatic involvement compared with a standard research grant. Cooperative agreements typically involve close coordination with NIH staff, shared expectations around deliverables and timelines, and active participation in program-wide governance, standards, and reporting. The FOA explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," signaling that proposed activities should focus on data generation and resource-building rather than testing clinical interventions or conducting clinical trial research as defined by NIH.
Eligibility is limited. The FOA is described as a limited competition and lists eligible applicants as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. It also clearly restricts foreign involvement: non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) cannot apply; non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible; and foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed. These restrictions mean the sequencing work and supported activities must be carried out within allowable U.S.-based organizational structures.
In terms of basic administrative details, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, with a health focus under CFDA 93.310. The announcement was created on August 17, 2021, and the original closing date was October 29, 2021. The listed award ceiling is $7,200,000. While the notice references expected awards, the provided source text does not include a specific number, but the intent is to support renewal of Genome Sequencing Center capacity for the Kids First program.
Overall, this FOA is aimed at sustaining national-scale sequencing and functional genomics capacity dedicated to pediatric cancer and structural birth defects, with an emphasis on speed, quality, consistency, and broad data sharing. The sequencing centers are not meant to operate as isolated service cores; they are part of an integrated pipeline where the Kids First DRC standardizes and disseminates the resulting data through a cloud-based platform, enabling the wider pediatric research community to perform large-scale analyses and collaborative studies using harmonized multi-omic and phenotype-linked datasets.Apply for RFA RM 21 013
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Genome Sequencing Center for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.310.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-08-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-10-29. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $7,200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and identifier of this NIH funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Limited Competition: Genome Sequencing Center for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is identified as RFA-RM-21-013.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The FOA supports the renewal of one or more Genome Sequencing Centers that serve the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program. The goal is rapid, large-scale production of high-quality, research-grade genomic and functional genomics datasets from human specimens so the broader research community can reuse the data across many studies.
Which pediatric disease areas are the focus of the data being generated?
Data generation is tied to two major pediatric disease areas: childhood cancers and structural birth defects.
What type of award mechanism is used?
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U24), which generally means NIH expects substantial programmatic involvement, coordination, and shared expectations around deliverables, timelines, standards, governance participation, and reporting.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. The FOA is designated "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," indicating the proposed activities should focus on data generation and resource-building rather than conducting clinical trials as defined by NIH.
What kinds of datasets and assay types are expected from the Genome Sequencing Center(s)?
The FOA emphasizes comprehensive, multi-assay data generation. Expected outputs include whole-genome sequencing and variant data, RNA sequencing, long-read sequencing, genome-wide methylation profiling, and chromatin accessibility data.
What does "whole-genome sequencing and variant data" mean in the context of this FOA?
In practical terms, it means the sequencing center(s) are expected to deliver DNA sequence reads and DNA-level variant calls (variant data) that can be used by researchers to study genomic variation relevant to pediatric cancers and structural birth defects.
Why does this FOA include RNA sequencing in addition to DNA sequencing?
RNA sequencing adds gene expression information that helps interpret how genetic variants may influence gene activity. This complements DNA variant data by providing an additional layer of functional context.
Why are long-read sequencing data included?
The FOA calls for long-read sequencing as part of a comprehensive data strategy. Long-read data can support broader genomic characterization alongside other assay types, contributing to robust, reusable research-grade datasets.
What is the role of genome-wide methylation profiling and chromatin accessibility data?
These epigenomic assays provide regulatory information beyond DNA sequence alone. The FOA highlights their value for deeper mechanistic work, such as identifying regulatory disruptions, tumor-specific epigenetic patterns, or developmental pathways implicated in congenital anomalies.
What does "research-grade" mean here?
Based on the FOA description, "research-grade" indicates the data should be high-quality, robust, and produced consistently at scale so it can be broadly shared, reused, and compared across multiple studies.
Is this funding intended to support a single research project?
No. The FOA describes the sequencing center(s) as producing data that can accelerate discovery across many studies. The intention is to generate broadly reusable datasets rather than serving a single project.
How are responsibilities divided between the Genome Sequencing Center(s) and the Kids First Pediatric Data Resource Center (DRC)?
The Genome Sequencing Center(s) generate the primary sequencing and functional genomics data. The Kids First DRC re-processes and harmonizes all outputs for consistency and comparability across projects, and it also supports public distribution through its cloud-based platform.
What does "harmonization" mean in this program?
In this context, harmonization refers to the Kids First DRC standardizing datasets so they can be compared across projects. This includes consistent processing pipelines, quality control, metadata alignment, and integration across contributing studies.
Where will the data be made available to researchers?
The Kids First DRC maintains a public-facing, cloud-based platform that allows researchers to search, access, aggregate, analyze, and share annotated datasets spanning genomic sequences, variants, epigenomic and transcriptomic profiles, and associated phenotypic data.
What is the overarching program design intended to accomplish for the pediatric genomics community?
The program design is meant to reduce fragmentation in pediatric genomics by making it easier to combine cohorts, replicate findings, and pursue cross-cutting questions spanning childhood cancer and structural birth defects using harmonized multi-omic and phenotype-linked datasets.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited. The FOA is a limited competition and lists eligible applicants as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Can foreign institutions apply or participate as non-domestic components?
No. Non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) cannot apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed.
What do the foreign restrictions imply for where the work must be performed?
They imply the sequencing work and supported activities must be carried out within eligible, allowable U.S.-based organizational structures, without foreign components as defined by NIH policy.
What is the funding category and CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding with a health focus, under CFDA 93.310.
When was the announcement created and what was the original closing date?
The announcement was created on August 17, 2021, and the original closing date was October 29, 2021.
What is the listed award ceiling?
The listed award ceiling is $7,200,000.
How many awards are expected?
The provided information notes an intent to support renewal of one or more Genome Sequencing Centers, but it does not specify a precise number of expected awards.
What does "limited competition" mean in this FOA?
Based on the provided description, "limited competition" means eligibility is restricted to specific applicant types (public and state-controlled institutions of higher education) and is not broadly open to all organization categories.
What makes this program different from a typical sequencing service core?
The sequencing center(s) are described as part of an integrated pipeline rather than operating as isolated service cores. They generate data that is then harmonized and disseminated by the Kids First DRC for broad community reuse through a cloud-based platform.
What kinds of data are intended to be reusable by the community?
The FOA describes broadly shareable datasets including genomic sequences, genomic variants, epigenomic profiles (such as methylation and chromatin accessibility), transcriptomic profiles (RNA-seq), and associated phenotypic data.
What is the expected emphasis for funded Genome Sequencing Center(s)?
The emphasis is on speed, quality, consistency, scale, and generating robust data outputs that can be broadly shared and reused to accelerate discovery across pediatric cancer and structural birth defects research.
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