Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 21 022
This funding opportunity, RFA-DK-21-022, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement (U01) from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to renew and continue the work of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium (IBDGC). The consortium has been operating since 2002 with the central aim of finding inherited genetic variation that increases risk for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including major forms like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Working alongside the broader International IBD Genetics Consortium, the IBDGC has already helped identify more than 250 genomic regions (susceptibility loci) linked to IBD. The key gap the program is trying to close now is that most of these loci still have not been pinned down to the exact causal DNA changes, the specific genes they affect (effector genes), or the biological mechanisms that connect genetic differences to IBD onset, severity, complications, and treatment response.
The opportunity focuses on supporting Genetic Research Centers (GRCs), which function as hands-on, patient-facing and lab-capable sites within the consortium. These centers are expected to enroll and study IBD patients as well as relatives and healthy controls, collect and analyze biological samples, and carry out laboratory and mechanistic research that links genetic findings to real biological function. In practice, that means taking signals discovered through genetic studies and doing the deeper follow-up work needed to understand what they do: identifying causal variants, determining how they change gene or protein activity, mapping the pathways involved, and connecting those pathways to IBD phenotypes and outcomes. A major emphasis is placed on improving understanding of IBD genetics in populations that have been under-represented in prior genomic studies, reflecting a push toward broader inclusion so results are more accurate and useful across diverse groups.
Because this is a cooperative agreement (U01), it is not structured like a typical independent investigator-initiated grant where the awardee sets most directions on their own. Instead, it is designed around coordinated, multi-site teamwork with shared goals and governance. Program Directors/Principal Investigators leading the funded GRCs become voting members of the IBDGC Steering Committee, the body responsible for operational decisions across the consortium. Those decisions are binding for consortium members, which signals that awardees must be prepared to follow common protocols, share data and samples as required, collaborate on joint projects, and align local activities with consortium-wide priorities and timelines.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized under the Health funding activity area (CFDA 93.847) and uses the discretionary funding mechanism. The original closing date listed for applications was 2021-12-21, and the opportunity record shows an award ceiling of $375,000. While the notice references expected awards, the provided source excerpt does not include a specific number, so interested applicants typically need to confirm anticipated award counts and budget structures in the full FOA text and related NIH notices.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that can support clinical recruitment, population-based enrollment, and mechanistic laboratory research. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible groups such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. (foreign) entities and regional organizations. Taken together, this eligibility language supports the FOA's priority of expanding participation and representation, especially for research centered on populations that have not historically been well captured in IBD genetic datasets.
Overall, the program is aimed at moving from discovery to understanding and ultimately to clinical benefit: refining the genetic architecture of IBD and its sub-phenotypes, identifying the actual causal variants and target genes behind known signals, explaining the mechanisms through which genetics influences disease biology, and building a foundation for better prediction of disease course and improved treatment strategies. The GRCs are the operational backbone for achieving that goal, combining recruitment and biospecimen collection with the mechanistic follow-up needed to turn genetic associations into actionable biological and clinical insight.Apply for RFA DK 21 022
- The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDDK Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium (IBDGC) Genetic Research Centers (GRCs) (U01 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 2021-09-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-12-21. (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 $375,000.00 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)
What is the funding opportunity RFA-DK-21-022?
RFA-DK-21-022 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity issued by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). It supports a cooperative agreement (U01) to renew and continue the work of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium (IBDGC).
What type of grant mechanism is this, and what does U01 mean here?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement (U01) mechanism. In a cooperative agreement, the project is designed around coordinated, multi-site teamwork with shared governance and expectations (such as common protocols and consortium-wide decision-making), rather than operating like a fully independent investigator-initiated award.
Which NIH Institute is sponsoring this opportunity?
The opportunity is sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), within NIH.
What consortium is being supported, and what is its history?
The opportunity supports the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium (IBDGC), which has been operating since 2002. Its central aim has been identifying inherited genetic variation that increases the risk for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Which diseases and conditions are the focus of this consortium work?
The work focuses on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including major forms such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
What has the IBDGC already accomplished in IBD genetics?
Working alongside the broader International IBD Genetics Consortium, the IBDGC has helped identify more than 250 genomic regions (susceptibility loci) linked to IBD.
What scientific gap is this funding opportunity trying to close?
The opportunity targets the gap between genetic association signals and biological understanding. Specifically, most known IBD susceptibility loci have not yet been pinned down to (1) the exact causal DNA changes, (2) the specific genes they affect (effector genes), or (3) the biological mechanisms linking genetic differences to IBD onset, severity, complications, and treatment response.
What are Genetic Research Centers (GRCs) in this program?
Genetic Research Centers (GRCs) are the funded sites within the consortium that combine hands-on patient-facing activities with laboratory and mechanistic capabilities. They function as operational centers for enrolling participants, collecting and analyzing samples, and conducting follow-up research that connects genetic findings to biological function.
What types of participants are GRCs expected to enroll and study?
GRCs are expected to enroll and study IBD patients, as well as relatives and healthy controls.
What kinds of activities are GRCs expected to perform?
Based on the provided description, GRCs are expected to: enroll participants; collect biological samples; analyze samples; and conduct laboratory and mechanistic research that links genetic findings to biological function and IBD-related outcomes.
What does "moving from discovery to understanding" mean in this FOA?
It means going beyond identifying genetic regions associated with IBD and doing the deeper follow-up work needed to understand what those signals do. This includes identifying causal variants, determining how they influence gene or protein activity, mapping implicated pathways, and relating those pathways to IBD phenotypes and outcomes.
What are "causal variants" and "effector genes" in the context of this opportunity?
Within this opportunity, causal variants are the specific DNA changes responsible for an association signal. Effector genes are the genes affected by those causal variants, helping explain how inherited variation can contribute to IBD biology and clinical features.
How does this FOA address diversity and under-represented populations in genetic studies?
A major emphasis is placed on improving understanding of IBD genetics in populations that have been under-represented in prior genomic studies, reflecting a push toward broader inclusion so research results are more accurate and useful across diverse groups.
How is a cooperative agreement different from a typical independent research grant?
In this U01 cooperative agreement, awardees are expected to work within coordinated, multi-site governance rather than setting directions entirely on their own. Awardees must be prepared to follow common protocols, collaborate on joint projects, share data and samples as required, and align site activities with consortium-wide priorities and timelines.
What is the IBDGC Steering Committee and who serves on it?
The IBDGC Steering Committee is the body responsible for operational decisions across the consortium. Program Directors/Principal Investigators leading funded GRCs become voting members of the Steering Committee.
Are Steering Committee decisions optional for consortium members?
No. The provided description states that Steering Committee decisions are binding for consortium members, signaling that funded centers must be prepared to follow consortium decisions and coordinated plans.
What collaboration and sharing expectations are implied by this FOA?
The opportunity indicates that awardees should expect coordinated teamwork, including following common protocols, collaborating on joint projects, sharing data and samples as required, and aligning local activities with consortium-wide priorities and timelines.
What is the funding activity area and CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under the Health funding activity area and lists CFDA 93.847.
What is the application deadline shown in the provided information?
The original closing date listed for applications is 2021-12-21.
What is the award ceiling shown for this opportunity?
The opportunity record shows an award ceiling of $375,000.
Does the provided information specify how many awards are expected?
No. The description notes that while the notice references expected awards, the provided excerpt does not include a specific number. Applicants are advised (in the description) to confirm anticipated award counts and budget structures in the full FOA text and related NIH notices.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights eligibility for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are U.S. territories, possessions, or non-U.S. entities eligible?
Yes. The provided description states that U.S. territories or possessions are eligible, and it also notes that non-U.S. (foreign) entities and regional organizations are included in the eligibility language.
What kinds of capabilities does an applying organization likely need to function as a GRC?
Based on the role described, a GRC is expected to be able to enroll IBD patients (and relatives and healthy controls), collect and analyze biological samples, and conduct laboratory and mechanistic research that connects genetic findings to biological function and clinical phenotypes.
What is the overall goal of this program from a clinical impact standpoint?
The program aims to build a foundation for clinical benefit by refining the genetic architecture of IBD and its sub-phenotypes, identifying causal variants and target genes, explaining mechanisms through which genetics influences disease biology, and supporting better prediction of disease course and improved treatment strategies.
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