Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 19 019
This National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity, titled "Centers Without Walls for Collaborative Research in the Epilepsies: Functional Evaluation of Human Genetic Variants (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-NS-19-019; CFDA 93.853), supports large, highly collaborative research centers designed to work across institutional and disciplinary boundaries. The main goal is to speed up progress in understanding what epilepsy-related genetic variants actually do in biological systems, moving beyond the initial discovery of variants in patients to careful functional studies that clarify how those variants affect cells, brain circuits, and whole organisms. The program emphasizes team science and coordinated work plans, using the U54 cooperative agreement mechanism, which generally means NIH expects substantial ongoing involvement and coordination with awardees compared to a standard research grant.
Scientifically, the focus is on determining the functional, pharmacological, neuronal network, and whole-animal consequences of human genetic variants found in people with different forms of epilepsy. In practical terms, projects supported under this FOA are expected to connect genetics to mechanism: for example, evaluating how specific variants alter protein function, how they change neuronal excitability or synaptic signaling, how they disrupt network-level activity that can contribute to seizures, and how these changes manifest in animal models. Alongside mechanistic work, the FOA also highlights development of strategies to establish diagnostic criteria tied to genetic findings and to identify potential targets for intervention. That can include work aimed at improving the interpretation of variants (such as distinguishing pathogenic from benign effects), refining genotype-phenotype correlations, and prioritizing actionable pathways or molecular targets that could guide future therapeutic development, even though the FOA itself is not for conducting clinical trials.
The "Centers Without Walls" concept signals an expectation that applicants will form multidisciplinary, multi-investigator groups that function like a center even if they are distributed across different departments or institutions. The intent is to build a coordinated effort where complementary expertise (for example, human genetics, electrophysiology, molecular pharmacology, systems neuroscience, computational analysis, and animal modeling) is integrated into a unified research program rather than a set of loosely connected individual projects. This structure is meant to accelerate throughput and impact, so that newly discovered epilepsy variants can be rapidly evaluated in robust experimental pipelines and translated into clearer diagnostic and biological insights.
In terms of eligibility, the opportunity is broadly open to many types of U.S.-based applicants, including state, county, city, township, and 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; tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly notes 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, regional organizations, eligible agencies of the federal government, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply directly, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant organization can include certain qualified international collaborations or subcomponents when justified within NIH policy.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding program within the health category, using the cooperative agreement funding instrument (U54). The award ceiling listed is $1,500,000, indicating the maximum funding level per award under the terms described in the source data. The original closing date shown is August 27, 2019, and the creation date is May 13, 2019. The announcement also specifies "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," which means applications should be structured around preclinical, translational, or other non-trial research activities rather than prospective studies in human participants that meet NIH’s definition of a clinical trial. Overall, the FOA is aimed at building coordinated center-like teams that can rapidly convert human epilepsy genetics discoveries into experimentally validated functional understanding and clearer paths toward diagnosis and future intervention strategies.Apply for RFA NS 19 019
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Centers Without Walls for Collaborative Research in the Epilepsies: Functional Evaluation of Human Genetic Variants (U54 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 2019-05-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-08-27. (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 $1,500,000.00 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the title of this NIH funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Centers Without Walls for Collaborative Research in the Epilepsies: Functional Evaluation of Human Genetic Variants (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)."
2. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-NS-19-019.
3. What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.853.
4. What is the main purpose of this program?
The main purpose is to speed progress in understanding what epilepsy-related human genetic variants do in biological systems. It is designed to move beyond identifying variants in patients and into rigorous functional studies that clarify how those variants affect cells, brain circuits, neuronal networks, and whole organisms.
5. What does "Centers Without Walls" mean in this FOA?
"Centers Without Walls" signals that NIH expects multidisciplinary, multi-investigator teams to operate like a coordinated research center even if investigators are distributed across different departments or institutions. The emphasis is on integrated team science rather than loosely connected projects.
6. What kind of research is this program trying to support?
The FOA supports collaborative research to determine the functional, pharmacological, neuronal network, and whole-animal consequences of human genetic variants found in people with different forms of epilepsy. The expectation is that projects connect genetics to biological mechanism.
7. What are examples of scientific questions or outcomes that fit the FOA's scope?
Examples described in the opportunity include evaluating how variants alter protein function, how variants change neuronal excitability or synaptic signaling, how network-level activity becomes disrupted in ways that may contribute to seizures, and how these effects manifest in animal models.
8. Does the FOA support work related to diagnosis or interpretation of variants?
Yes. The FOA highlights developing strategies to establish diagnostic criteria tied to genetic findings and improving interpretation of variants, such as distinguishing pathogenic from benign effects, refining genotype-phenotype correlations, and prioritizing actionable pathways or molecular targets.
9. Is this FOA intended to support clinical trials?
No. The announcement states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applications should not propose prospective studies in human participants that meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial. The work should be structured around preclinical, translational, or other non-trial research activities.
10. What funding mechanism is used for awards under this opportunity?
The FOA uses a U54 cooperative agreement mechanism.
11. What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement (U54)?
As described in the opportunity summary, a U54 cooperative agreement generally implies substantial ongoing NIH involvement and coordination with awardees compared with a standard research grant. The program emphasizes coordinated work plans and team science.
12. What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed is $1,500,000, described as the maximum funding level per award under the terms shown in the source data.
13. What is the program category and is it discretionary?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary funding program in the health category.
14. When was this opportunity created and what was the closing date shown?
The creation date shown is May 13, 2019, and the original closing date shown is August 27, 2019.
15. Who is eligible to apply (in general terms)?
Eligibility is broadly open to many U.S.-based applicant types, including various governmental entities, institutions of higher education (public and private), nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses.
16. Are U.S. state, local, and special district governments eligible?
Yes. The FOA lists eligibility for state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments.
17. Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Yes. Both public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible.
18. Are nonprofits eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA lists nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
19. Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.
20. Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed, as well as tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized governments). The FOA also notes eligibility for Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized.
21. Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly notes eligibility for U.S. territories or possessions.
22. Are schools or school districts eligible applicants?
Independent school districts are listed as eligible.
23. Are public housing authorities eligible?
Yes. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities are listed as eligible.
24. Are faith-based, community-based, or regional organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly notes faith-based or community-based organizations and regional organizations among additional eligible applicant categories.
25. Are minority-serving institutions specifically listed as eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly mentions eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
26. Are federal agencies eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA includes eligible agencies of the federal government.
27. Can non-U.S. (foreign) institutions apply directly?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply directly under this opportunity.
28. Can a U.S. organization apply if it has a non-domestic component?
No. The FOA states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
29. Are foreign components allowed in any way?
Yes. The FOA states that foreign components, as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. This means a U.S. applicant organization may include certain qualified international collaborations or subcomponents when justified and consistent with NIH policy.
30. What kinds of expertise does NIH appear to expect teams to integrate?
The opportunity describes integrating complementary expertise such as human genetics, electrophysiology, molecular pharmacology, systems neuroscience, computational analysis, and animal modeling into a unified, coordinated research program.
31. What is the overall intended impact of the program?
The FOA aims to create coordinated, center-like teams that can rapidly evaluate newly discovered epilepsy variants in robust experimental pipelines and translate results into clearer diagnostic and biological insights, while identifying potential targets for future intervention strategies.
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