Cardiovascular Repository Type 1 Diabetes (CARE-T1D) Consortium (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). | RFA DK 23 021

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 23 021

The Cardiovascular Repository Type 1 Diabetes (CaRe-T1D) Consortium funding opportunity (RFA DK 23 021) is an NIH cooperative agreement (U01; clinical trial not allowed) designed to speed up discovery and mechanistic research on why cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains such a major cause of illness and death in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The opportunity is grounded in the problem that CVD in T1D does not simply mirror CVD seen in type 2 diabetes (T2D), and that people with T1D continue to face elevated cardiovascular risk even when standard risk factors like hyperglycemia, hypertension, and high cholesterol are treated. The overall aim is to improve the scientific understanding of T1D-specific pathways that drive cardiovascular damage, which in the long run could point to better prevention, diagnostics, and therapies.

This NOFO represents the second phase of the CaRe-T1D initiative. In the first phase, NIH launched and began building a dedicated biorepository of human cardiovascular-relevant tissues. In this second phase, NIH is expanding from a repository-only effort into a broader, collaborative scientific consortium by bringing in multiple investigative teams. The existing biorepository will function as the Coordinating Center (CC), meaning it will serve as the central hub supporting the consortium, organizing access to biospecimens and related data, and enabling coordinated, multi-team research activities.

A defining feature of CaRe-T1D is the availability of well-characterized human tissues that are difficult to obtain through typical research channels. The repository is currently collecting hearts, kidneys, carotid arteries, peripheral arteries, and blood from deceased organ donors across three key groups: donors with T1D, donors with T2D, and donors without diabetes. This design supports both T1D-focused studies and comparative studies that can tease apart what is unique to T1D versus what is shared across diabetes types or general cardiovascular pathology. Investigative teams are expected to leverage these biospecimens and associated resources for individual projects as well as collaborative work that builds a more complete picture of T1D-related cardiovascular disease mechanisms.

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means NIH expects substantial programmatic involvement during the project period compared to a standard research grant. The focus is on discovery and mechanistic research rather than conducting clinical trials, consistent with the "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" designation. The application closing date listed is April 11, 2024, and the award ceiling is $600,000. The NOFO is administered by the National Institutes of Health and is associated with multiple CFDA listings, including 93.233 and several 93.83x series numbers, reflecting NIH institute and program alignments relevant to diabetes and cardiovascular research.

Eligibility is intentionally broad to encourage participation from diverse institution types and research settings. Eligible applicants include many government entities (state, county, city/township, special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, tribal governments (federally recognized) and 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), small businesses, and other categories. The NOFO also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, US territories or possessions, and even non-US (foreign) organizations, underscoring an intent to draw in specialized expertise wherever it exists.

In practical terms, the opportunity is seeking research teams with complementary strengths that can make strong use of rare human donor tissues to answer hard questions about CVD in T1D: what molecular and cellular pathways are involved, how vascular beds and organs may be affected differently, and what distinguishes T1D-driven cardiovascular injury from patterns seen in T2D or in people without diabetes. The consortium model is meant to create a shared, coordinated environment where multiple projects can collectively accelerate progress, rather than isolated studies working without common infrastructure or standardized access to biospecimens.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cardiovascular Repository Type 1 Diabetes (CARE-T1D) Consortium (U01 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): 93.233, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-11. (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 $600,000.00 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 DK 23 021

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