Service Network Hub for Cryoelectron Tomography (U24 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA RM 19 010

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 19 010

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released this funding opportunity, RFA-RM-19-010, to create a single, national "hub" service center for cryoelectron tomography (cryoET) under a U24 cooperative agreement mechanism. CryoET is a rapidly advancing imaging approach that can visualize large molecular assemblies and their organization inside cells in a near-native state, which makes it especially valuable for understanding how cellular machines are built and how they behave in real biological contexts. The overall aim of the Common Fund initiative is to broaden and accelerate community access to cryoET by building a coordinated service network that can reliably prepare samples, collect high-quality datasets, and help researchers learn the methods well enough to use them effectively.

This particular FOA funds the network's central hub. The hub is designed to be the main data-collection engine for the entire program, meaning it is expected to perform high-resolution cryoET data acquisition not only for its own direct users in the research community, but also on behalf of the broader network. In practical terms, the hub would operate advanced cryoET instrumentation, establish standardized data-collection workflows, and generate consistent, high-quality tomographic datasets across many different research projects. A key feature is that it does not stand alone: it is meant to coordinate closely with four companion service centers funded through a separate related announcement (RFA-RM-19-009). Those companion centers are described as specializing in specimen preparation, while the hub concentrates on data collection for all user laboratories served by the network.

The services envisioned across the two linked announcements include cryoET specimen preparation support, access for external users to advanced cryoET instruments, collection of high-resolution cryoET data, and cross-training activities so that scientists can build practical skills in cryoET methods. As the central hub, this awardee would be expected to function as the connective tissue of the network by supporting both outside user laboratories and the specimen-preparation centers, helping align procedures, scheduling, quality control, and community-facing operations. Because this is a cooperative agreement (U24), the project would typically involve substantial programmatic involvement from NIH compared to a standard research grant, reflecting the infrastructure-like nature of the award and the emphasis on coordinated national service delivery.

The opportunity is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," which signals that the funded activities must not propose or conduct clinical trials as defined by NIH. The focus is on technology-enabled service, data acquisition, training, and network operations that advance cryoET as a broadly usable biomedical research capability rather than a clinical intervention study.

Eligibility is broad within the United States and includes many types of domestic organizations: state, county, city, and special district governments; public and independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other eligible entities. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it places clear limits on foreign involvement: non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as NIH defines them in grants policy) are not permitted.

Administratively, the sponsoring agency is NIH, the assistance listing (CFDA) number is 93.310, and the original closing date for applications was November 12, 2019. The notice does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided text, but it does indicate that this FOA is intended to support one center serving as the network's central hub, complementing four additional service centers funded through the companion FOA.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Service Network Hub for Cryoelectron Tomography (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 2019-06-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-11-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA RM 19 010

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