Atopic Dermatitis Research Network -Clinical Research Centers (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA AI 19 015

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 19 015

The Atopic Dermatitis Research Network - Clinical Research Centers (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-AI-19-015) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) program from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) designed to build and support a coordinated set of clinical research centers focused on atopic dermatitis (commonly known as eczema). The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U01), which typically means awardees do not operate in isolation: they work in close partnership with NIH and with other funded sites as part of a structured network. The central idea is to create a group of Clinical Research Centers (ADRN-CRCs) that can reliably run network-wide clinical studies while also developing their own complementary, site-led clinical research programs that advance the broader scientific priorities of the Atopic Dermatitis Research Network (ADRN).

In practical terms, each ADRN-CRC is expected to do two things at once. First, it must be ready to participate in and help execute ADRN-wide clinical research projects that are organized and led by the ADRN Leadership Center (ADRN-LC). This implies shared protocols, harmonized procedures, and coordinated timelines across multiple sites so that studies can enroll participants efficiently and generate results that are comparable across locations. Second, each funded center is also expected to pursue an independent clinical research agenda aligned with the network goals, which helps ensure the network is not limited to only centrally designed projects and can still benefit from local expertise, specialized patient populations, and innovative approaches that emerge from individual institutions. The FOA emphasizes that achieving ADRN objectives depends on close collaboration between the ADRN-CRCs and the ADRN-LC, reinforcing the expectation that awardees will operate as active team members rather than standalone grantees.

The activity area is health research (CFDA 93.855), and the FOA is marked "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose clinical trials if appropriate, but they are not required to do so. Because this is a clinical research network, applicants should generally expect that strong clinical operations, patient recruitment capability, and the infrastructure to conduct human subjects research (including data and safety oversight appropriate to the study type) would be central to a competitive application, even when the proposed work is not a traditional interventional trial.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental units. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in that category); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are clear limits related to non-U.S. participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, "foreign components" are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which typically means a U.S. applicant can include certain discrete elements of the research conducted outside the U.S. when justified and structured in compliance with NIH policy, even though a foreign institution cannot be the primary applicant.

Key administrative details included in the source information are that the original application closing date was July 8, 2019, and the opportunity was created on March 18, 2019. The listed award ceiling is $300,000. The funding instrument is discretionary and uses the cooperative agreement model, reflecting the networked structure and the expectation of ongoing coordination with the ADRN Leadership Center and, by extension, NIH program staff.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Atopic Dermatitis Research Network -Clinical Research Centers (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-03-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-07-08. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
• 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 AI 19 015

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