Limited Competition for the Continuation of the Chronic Kidney Disease Biomarkers Consortium (CKD BioCon) Data Coordinating Center (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA DK 19 501

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 19 501

This funding opportunity (RFA-DK-19-501) is a limited-competition NIH cooperative agreement (U01; clinical trial not allowed) to continue the Data Coordinating Center (DCC) for the Chronic Kidney Disease Biomarkers Consortium (CKD BioCon). CKD BioCon was originally launched in 2009 to accelerate the discovery, validation, and eventual qualification of biomarkers for chronic kidney disease by leveraging existing biospecimens from well-characterized CKD patient cohorts that also have longitudinal follow-up data. A second phase of the consortium was funded in 2014, and the network expanded again in 2015 with the addition of two more centers. At the time of this announcement, the consortium is made up of eight Participating Clinical Centers (PCCs) and is running multiple active research protocols, creating an ongoing need for centralized coordination, consistent data practices, and shared analytic support.

The core purpose of the award is to support a DCC that can keep the consortium functioning as a unified, high-performing research enterprise over the next two years. The DCC is expected to strengthen CKD biomarker research by providing day-to-day logistical and operational coordination across one or more PCCs, along with specialized expertise and statistical support for consortium projects. A major part of the DCC role is governance and project management: overseeing how new study ideas are proposed, reviewed, approved, and tracked, and then supporting the actual conduct of those approved studies so that timelines, milestones, and quality expectations are met consistently across sites. In addition, the DCC is responsible for coordinating the movement and stewardship of consortium data and biospecimens, including supervising transfers among consortium members and supporting repository-related activities both within the consortium and in connection with the NIDDK repository. In practice, this means maintaining orderly, well-documented data flows; ensuring that specimens and datasets are handled in ways that preserve integrity and traceability; and helping the consortium meet expectations for standardized curation, access, and long-term usability of shared resources.

Structurally, this is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement from NIH program staff in the oversight and direction of the project compared to a standard research grant. The focus is not on launching new clinical trials (explicitly not allowed under this announcement), but on enabling and coordinating consortium science, analytics, and resource sharing. The activity category is listed under health (CFDA 93.847), reflecting NIDDKs mission area and the biomedical emphasis on kidney disease biomarkers.

Eligibility is limited. The eligible applicant type listed is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and the announcement emphasizes restrictions around non-U.S. applicants. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) cannot apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning a U.S.-based applicant may include certain foreign collaborations or elements if they meet NIH definitions and requirements, but the applicant organization itself must be eligible under the rules above. The competition is described as limited, which usually means only certain invited or otherwise qualifying organizations (often existing consortium participants or incumbents) are expected to apply, though the specific eligibility details and any restrictions beyond the summary would be spelled out in the full funding announcement.

Key administrative details include an original application closing date of May 15, 2019, an award ceiling of $500,000, and publication/creation of the announcement on March 8, 2019. The overall takeaway is that NIH is funding continued central coordination for an established, multi-center CKD biomarker consortium, with the DCC serving as the operational hub for study oversight, statistical and technical support, and controlled sharing and repository management of data and biospecimens.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition for the Continuation of the Chronic Kidney Disease Biomarkers Consortium (CKD BioCon) Data Coordinating Center (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): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-03-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-05-15. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for RFA DK 19 501

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