Single Source for the Continuation of the Data Management and Coordinating Center (DMCC) for Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) (U2C Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA TR 24 021

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA TR 24 021

This funding opportunity (RFA-TR-24-021) is a discretionary NIH cooperative agreement intended to support the continued operation of the Data Management and Coordinating Center (DMCC) for the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN). It is explicitly non-competitive and designed to result in a single award, with the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) stating its intent to make a sole-source award to Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC). The mechanism is a U2C cooperative agreement and the notice specifies that clinical trials are not allowed under this particular award.

The RDCRN itself is a national, collaborative research network focused on improving the diagnosis, management, and treatment of a wide range of rare diseases. Its model emphasizes multi-site coordination, strong collaboration across institutions and stakeholders, and patient-centric translational and clinical research. A key theme of the network is accelerating early and timely identification of individuals with rare diseases and ensuring the infrastructure and coordination needed for clinical trial readiness across rare disease areas, even though this specific DMCC award is not for running clinical trials.

Within that broader network, the DMCC serves as the operational backbone that enables multiple Rare Diseases Clinical Research Consortia (RDCRCs) to function efficiently and consistently. The DMCC role is described as supporting both consortium-specific needs and cross-network activities that help advance rare disease research overall. The opportunity highlights four main avenues of DMCC support: (1) administrative support to keep the network organized and compliant, (2) data management support to handle the complex, multi-site data needs typical of rare disease research, (3) clinical research support and patient engagement to facilitate study operations and meaningful participation by patients and communities, and (4) broad dissemination of information so that findings, resources, and network outputs are shared widely and can be used by researchers, clinicians, and patient groups. Importantly, the RDCRCs themselves will continue conducting their research under a separate notice of funding opportunity, meaning this award is centered on coordination and enabling infrastructure rather than directly funding the consortia research projects.

Eligibility is tightly constrained because of the single-source intent. While the listing includes eligible applicant categories such as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, the narrative makes clear that NCATS plans to fund only one specific recipient (CCHMC). Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. However, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which generally means limited, well-justified foreign involvement can be included as part of an otherwise eligible U.S.-based project when consistent with NIH policy and the award’s scope.

Administratively, the opportunity was created on 2024-04-05 and lists an original closing date of 2024-07-22. It is categorized under health and references CFDA numbers 93.350 and 93.853. The posting does not provide an award ceiling or an expected number of awards in the provided excerpt, but the description makes the expected outcome clear: one cooperative agreement award supporting continued DMCC operations for the RDCRN.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Single Source for the Continuation of the Data Management and Coordinating Center (DMCC) for Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) (U2C 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): 93.350, 93.853.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-22. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for RFA TR 24 021

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