Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 19 033
The Exploratory Centers for Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology (P20, Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-DK-19-033) is a National Institutes of Health program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services through NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases). Its central purpose is to create or strengthen exploratory research centers focused on benign genitourinary diseases and disorders by deliberately building interdisciplinary teams that can take on innovative questions using integrative approaches. The emphasis is on forming new collaborations and generating early-stage evidence that can open up entirely new research directions or support larger, future studies.
A defining feature of this FOA is its focus on high-risk, high-reward science. Applicants are expected to propose an innovative Research Project that draws on complementary expertise across disciplines rather than staying within traditional urology-only lanes. The program specifically encourages studies involving human subjects or human tissues, and it also supports small pilot and feasibility clinical studies. Because the announcement is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," applicants may include a clinical trial when it fits the goals of the project, but a clinical trial is not required. The overall intent is to enable exploratory work that might be too preliminary for larger mechanisms, while still being directly relevant to benign urologic conditions.
Team composition requirements are explicit. Each proposed Research Project must include (1) researchers who are new to investigating benign genitourinary diseases or disorders, along with (2) clinical urology expertise. In practice, that means the application should show a genuine integration of new perspectives (for example, investigators from engineering, data science, immunology, neuroscience, microbiology, behavioral science, epidemiology, or other fields not traditionally centered in benign urology) with clinicians who can anchor the work in real-world urologic problems and patient needs. Additional expertise can be added as needed, and the FOA is clearly designed to make those added perspectives a strength rather than an afterthought.
Beyond the single scientific Research Project, each Exploratory Center must include an Administrative Core paired with an Educational Enrichment Program. The Administrative Core is meant to provide leadership, coordination, and management for the center, ensuring the project runs efficiently and that interdisciplinary collaboration is actually operationalized rather than simply described. The Educational Enrichment Program is a required capacity-building component that supports NIDDK's broader goal of expanding the field and growing the pipeline of urologic researchers, particularly in benign urology. While the FOA summary does not spell out every allowable activity in that enrichment program, the intent is to provide structured opportunities such as seminars, workshops, mentorship, or other development activities that strengthen the community of investigators and encourage cross-disciplinary engagement.
This P20 program is also positioned as part of a larger ecosystem of NIDDK-supported urology research infrastructure. The Exploratory Centers are expected to work in partnership with the George M. O'Brien Urology Cooperative Research Centers Program (U54) and with the Multidisciplinary K12 Urologic Research Career Development Programs (KURe and UroEpi). That relationship signals that applicants should think beyond a standalone project and consider how their center will connect into existing collaborative networks and training pipelines, potentially leveraging shared expertise, methods, and career development pathways to accelerate progress in benign urology research.
In terms of basic award information, the opportunity falls under the grant funding instrument type and the "Food and Nutrition, Health" activity category, with CFDA number 93.847. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, and the announcement anticipated making about three awards. Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic entities such as state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; tribal governments and tribal organizations; and certain housing authorities, among others, with the FOA noting that additional eligibility details may exist in the full text. The FOA was created on November 12, 2019, and the original closing date was March 31, 2020.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a targeted, relatively modestly funded mechanism meant to spark new interdisciplinary collaborations in benign urology, bring new investigators into the field, and produce pilot-level findings (including optional early clinical work) that can mature into larger, more definitive research programs. The required Administrative Core and Educational Enrichment Program reinforce that the goal is not just a single study, but an exploratory center structure that actively builds people, partnerships, and future capacity in benign urologic research.Apply for RFA DK 19 033
- The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploratory Centers for Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology (P20 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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 Nov 12, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 31, 2020. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Exploratory Centers for Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology (P20) opportunity?
It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity announcement (FOA) titled "Exploratory Centers for Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology (P20, Clinical Trial Optional)" with FOA number RFA-DK-19-033. It is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
What is the main goal of this FOA?
The central purpose is to create or strengthen exploratory research centers focused on benign genitourinary diseases and disorders by deliberately building interdisciplinary teams. The intent is to pursue innovative, integrative approaches and generate early-stage evidence that can launch new research directions or support larger future studies.
What kinds of science does this program emphasize?
This FOA emphasizes high-risk, high-reward science. Applications are expected to propose innovative work that would benefit from combining complementary expertise across disciplines rather than remaining within traditional urology-only approaches.
Is a clinical trial required?
No. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning a clinical trial may be included if it fits the goals of the project, but it is not required.
Are human subjects or human tissues encouraged?
Yes. The program specifically encourages studies involving human subjects or human tissues, and it also supports small pilot and feasibility clinical studies.
What is meant by an "exploratory center" in this program?
Based on the FOA summary, an exploratory center is not only a single scientific project. It is a center structure designed to support interdisciplinary collaboration, coordination, and capacity-building through required components (including an Administrative Core and an Educational Enrichment Program), while producing pilot-level findings relevant to benign urologic conditions.
What scientific components are required in an application?
The FOA describes a single scientific Research Project as a core feature of the center, and it also requires an Administrative Core and an Educational Enrichment Program.
What team composition is required for the Research Project?
Each proposed Research Project must include (1) researchers who are new to investigating benign genitourinary diseases or disorders and (2) clinical urology expertise. The application should show genuine integration of these perspectives.
Who counts as "researchers new to investigating benign genitourinary diseases or disorders"?
The FOA indicates the project must include investigators who are new to benign genitourinary research. In practice, the summary suggests bringing in expertise from disciplines not traditionally centered in benign urology, such as engineering, data science, immunology, neuroscience, microbiology, behavioral science, or epidemiology.
Why does the FOA require clinical urology expertise?
Clinical urology expertise is required to anchor the interdisciplinary work in real-world urologic problems and patient needs, ensuring the project remains directly relevant to benign urologic conditions.
Can the team include additional disciplines beyond the required roles?
Yes. The FOA explicitly supports adding additional expertise as needed and is designed so that added perspectives strengthen the application rather than being treated as an afterthought.
What is the purpose of the Administrative Core?
The Administrative Core provides leadership, coordination, and management for the center. Its role is to help the project run efficiently and to ensure that interdisciplinary collaboration is operational in day-to-day practice, not just described in narrative form.
What is the Educational Enrichment Program and is it required?
It is a required capacity-building component paired with the Administrative Core. It supports NIDDK's goal of expanding the field and growing the pipeline of urologic researchers, particularly in benign urology.
What activities might be included in the Educational Enrichment Program?
While the FOA summary does not list every allowable activity, it describes the intent as providing structured opportunities such as seminars, workshops, mentorship, or other investigator development activities that strengthen the research community and encourage cross-disciplinary engagement.
How is this P20 program expected to connect to other NIDDK urology efforts?
The Exploratory Centers are expected to work in partnership with the George M. O'Brien Urology Cooperative Research Centers Program (U54) and with the Multidisciplinary K12 Urologic Research Career Development Programs (KURe and UroEpi). This signals that applicants should consider how their center will connect into existing collaborative networks and training pipelines.
What does it mean to work "in partnership" with U54 and K12 programs?
From the FOA summary, it implies the center should be positioned within the broader NIDDK-supported ecosystem, potentially leveraging shared expertise, methods, collaborative networks, and career development pathways to accelerate progress in benign urology research.
What is the funding instrument type and activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity uses a grant funding instrument type and is listed under the "Food and Nutrition, Health" activity category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this FOA?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 93.847.
What is the award ceiling?
The listed award ceiling is $200,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The announcement anticipated making about three awards.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broad and includes many types of domestic entities, including state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; tribal governments and tribal organizations; and certain housing authorities. The FOA also notes that additional eligibility details may exist in the full text.
Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes small businesses.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA summary states that for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are eligible.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA summary includes tribal governments and tribal organizations among eligible applicants.
When was the FOA created and when did it close?
The FOA was created on November 12, 2019, and the original closing date was March 31, 2020.
What types of research outcomes is this FOA trying to generate?
The FOA is aimed at generating early-stage, pilot-level evidence that can open new research directions or provide a foundation for larger, future studies, while remaining directly relevant to benign urologic conditions.
What makes an application a strong fit for this FOA based on the summary?
A strong fit would align with the FOA's emphasis on innovative, high-risk/high-reward interdisciplinary science; include new investigators entering benign genitourinary research alongside clinical urology expertise; incorporate (when appropriate) human subjects or human tissue work and/or small pilot clinical studies; and demonstrate a functional center structure through the required Administrative Core and Educational Enrichment Program, with awareness of how the center connects to related NIDDK programs (U54 and K12).
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