Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 20 031
The NINDS Human Biospecimen and Data Repository (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) funding opportunity (RFA-NS-20-031) is an NIH cooperative agreement designed to establish and operate a centralized Human Biospecimen and Data Repository focused on biomarker research in neurological disorders. The core purpose is to build a high-quality, well-managed resource that can collect, process, store, and distribute human biospecimens along with the associated clinical and research data needed to accelerate biomarker discovery, verification, and validation across neurology. Because the mechanism is a U24 cooperative agreement, the awardee should expect substantial NIH involvement and coordination, with an emphasis on delivering a shared national resource rather than running independent investigator-driven projects. Clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement.
Applications are expected to come from collaborative, multidisciplinary teams that can demonstrate strong, practical expertise across several domains at once: neuroscience and neurological disease context, biomarker science, biospecimen handling and operations, and modern data management. NINDS explicitly signals that successful applicants should already understand common biomarker and repository pitfalls and be prepared to address them with rigor, including evaluation and mitigation of batch effects, development and enforcement of standardized protocols, and implementation of analyte quality control measures. In other words, the repository is not just a freezer and a database; it is meant to be an end-to-end quality system that makes biospecimens and data reliably comparable across time, sites, assays, and studies.
A competitive application must lay out a clear, detailed plan organized around three major components. First is the Administrative Structure, which typically would describe governance, leadership roles, decision-making processes, oversight, compliance, and how the team will coordinate with NINDS and external stakeholders. Second is the Research and Resource Plan, which in this context is less about hypothesis-driven experiments and more about the operational and scientific framework for building, maintaining, and improving the repository resource: biospecimen acquisition strategies, standard operating procedures for collection and processing, chain-of-custody, storage conditions, QC/QA workflows, accessioning, inventory management, and distribution policies that ensure biospecimens remain fit-for-purpose for biomarker analyses. Third is Data Management and Web-Based Activities, which emphasizes the informatics backbone: how data will be captured, curated, standardized, linked to specimens, protected, shared, and made discoverable through web-based tools that support researchers while meeting privacy, security, and regulatory expectations.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities, such as state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible; however, foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning limited foreign involvement may be permissible when justified and structured in accordance with NIH policy.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity falls under the Health funding activity category and CFDA number 93.853, and it is offered by the National Institutes of Health through NINDS. The original closing date listed was October 20, 2020, with an anticipated number of awards of one, underscoring that NINDS intended to fund a single, centralized repository effort rather than multiple competing centers. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided summary, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full announcement and NIH budget guidance to determine appropriate budget levels for the scope of work proposed.
Overall, this opportunity is aimed at creating a durable, high-trust infrastructure for neurological biomarker research: a repository that is scientifically informed, operationally mature, and informatics-driven, with strong quality systems and clear governance so that investigators can access consistent biospecimens and usable data for downstream biomarker studies.Apply for RFA NS 20 031
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The NINDS Human Biospecimen and Data Repository (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): 93.853.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-07-28.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-10-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NINDS Human Biospecimen and Data Repository funding opportunity (RFA-NS-20-031)?
RFA-NS-20-031 is an NIH/NINDS cooperative agreement (U24) funding opportunity to establish and operate a centralized Human Biospecimen and Data Repository focused on biomarker research in neurological disorders. The goal is to create a shared national resource that collects, processes, stores, and distributes human biospecimens along with associated clinical and research data to accelerate biomarker discovery, verification, and validation in neurology.
What is the main purpose of the repository being supported?
The repository is intended to be an end-to-end quality system, not simply sample storage plus a database. It is meant to provide high-quality, well-managed biospecimens and linked data that are reliably comparable across time, sites, assays, and studies so researchers can use them for biomarker work in neurological disorders.
Is this funding for independent investigator-driven research projects?
No. The emphasis is on delivering and operating a shared, centralized national resource. While scientific expertise is essential, the application is expected to focus on operational, governance, quality, and informatics frameworks rather than hypothesis-driven experiments.
What does it mean that the mechanism is a U24 cooperative agreement?
A U24 cooperative agreement indicates substantial NIH involvement and coordination. Awardees should expect to work closely with NINDS and align the repository operations with NIH priorities and stakeholder needs, consistent with building a shared national resource.
Are clinical trials allowed under this announcement?
No. This opportunity is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed."
What kinds of teams are expected to apply?
Applications are expected from collaborative, multidisciplinary teams with practical expertise in multiple areas at once, including neuroscience/neurological disease context, biomarker science, biospecimen handling and repository operations, and modern data management and informatics.
What quality and rigor expectations does NINDS highlight for the repository?
NINDS signals that successful applicants should understand and address common biomarker and repository pitfalls with rigor. The description highlights evaluation and mitigation of batch effects, development and enforcement of standardized protocols, and implementation of analyte quality control measures so specimens and data remain fit-for-purpose for biomarker analyses.
What are the main required components of a competitive application?
The application is expected to be organized around three major components: (1) Administrative Structure, (2) Research and Resource Plan, and (3) Data Management and Web-Based Activities.
What should be covered under the Administrative Structure component?
This section typically addresses governance and leadership, decision-making processes, oversight and compliance, and how the team will coordinate with NINDS and external stakeholders.
What should be covered under the Research and Resource Plan component?
This component focuses on the operational and scientific framework for building and maintaining the repository resource. The summary specifically points to biospecimen acquisition strategies; standard operating procedures for collection and processing; chain-of-custody; storage conditions; QC/QA workflows; accessioning; inventory management; and distribution policies to keep biospecimens fit-for-purpose for biomarker research.
What should be covered under the Data Management and Web-Based Activities component?
This component emphasizes the informatics backbone, including how data will be captured, curated, standardized, and linked to specimens; how data will be protected; and how it will be shared and made discoverable through web-based tools while meeting privacy, security, and regulatory expectations.
What types of biospecimens and data are intended to be included?
The opportunity is described as supporting human biospecimens and the associated clinical and research data needed for neurological biomarker discovery, verification, and validation. The specific biospecimen types are not enumerated in the provided summary.
Is the repository intended to support biomarker discovery only, or also later stages?
It is intended to accelerate biomarker discovery, verification, and validation, suggesting support across multiple stages of biomarker development.
How many awards did NINDS anticipate making under this opportunity?
The anticipated number of awards is one, indicating NINDS intended to fund a single centralized repository effort rather than multiple competing centers.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Examples listed include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.
Are any additional applicant categories specifically highlighted as eligible?
Yes. The announcement highlights additional eligible categories including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are foreign institutions eligible to apply?
No. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component as part of its application?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. However, the summary notes that foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed, meaning limited foreign involvement may be permissible when justified and structured in accordance with NIH policy.
Which NIH institute is sponsoring this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
What is the funding activity category and CFDA number?
The funding activity category is Health, and the CFDA number listed is 93.853.
What was the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed in the provided summary is October 20, 2020.
Is there an award ceiling specified in the provided summary?
No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided summary. The summary suggests applicants would typically consult the full announcement and NIH budget guidance to determine appropriate budget levels for the proposed scope of work.
What is the overall outcome NINDS is aiming for with this award?
NINDS is aiming to create durable, high-trust infrastructure for neurological biomarker research: a scientifically informed, operationally mature, informatics-driven repository with strong quality systems and clear governance so investigators can access consistent biospecimens and usable data for downstream biomarker studies.
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