Resources for Technology Dissemination (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA EB 18 002

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the purpose of the NIH funding opportunity "Resources for Technology Dissemination (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)"?

The purpose is to support practical dissemination of already working, validated imaging and bioengineering technologies so they can be adopted by end users across the broader research community. The emphasis is on taking a proven prototype and turning it into a usable, reliable, well-supported resource that other researchers can consistently adopt for high-quality research.

What kinds of technologies are in scope for this program?

Technologies in scope include imaging and bioengineering tools such as devices, software, methods, chemical agents, and related tools, as long as they are novel, reliable, and already exist as functioning prototypes with evidence that they work reliably. The proposed work should focus on refining, packaging, and supporting dissemination rather than inventing something new from scratch.

Does the technology need to be fully invented already, or can this funding support early-stage R&D?

The technology is expected to already exist as a functioning prototype with validation or evidence of reliable performance. This program is not aimed at early-stage invention or high-risk research and development. Any technical work should be incremental, practical, and focused on dissemination readiness (for example, hardening, packaging, quality control, and usability improvements).

What does NIH mean by "dissemination" in this FOA?

Dissemination here means moving a working technology out of an individual lab and into the hands of real end users in the research community. That typically involves making the tool reproducible, easier to adopt, properly documented, supported with training, and distributed in a way that enables consistent use by multiple external users.

Why does this FOA emphasize non-commercial dissemination?

This opportunity is intended for high-impact technologies that are not expected to be disseminated through normal commercial routes. If the natural next step would typically be a startup, licensing deal, or industry partnership, that is not the primary path this program is trying to fund. Instead, the award supports lab-to-user distribution where the applicant takes responsibility for making the technology usable beyond the originating lab without relying on commercialization or industry scaling.

What types of activities are supported under this dissemination-focused award?

Supported activities include dissemination-enabling work such as establishing quality control processes for consistent units or releases, scaling up production so the tool can be provided to multiple users (without becoming a commercial operation), developing documentation and training materials, offering user training or onboarding, and making targeted technical improvements that stay within the scope of the existing prototype.

Are technical improvements allowed, and if so, what kind?

Yes. Technical improvements are expected to be incremental and practical, focused on making an existing prototype easier to distribute and use reliably. The FOA emphasizes applying proven techniques or leveraging existing resources rather than undertaking high-risk R&D that resembles developing a new technology from scratch.

Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?

No. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this funding opportunity (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).

What types of projects are explicitly called out as non-responsive?

Non-responsive projects include those involving clinical trials, those focused on commercialization, those relying on academic-industry partnerships as the dissemination vehicle, and those that primarily provide services using existing equipment rather than disseminating the tool itself as a resource.

What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?

The funding mechanism is a U24 cooperative agreement. This generally indicates substantial NIH involvement during the project, with coordination and oversight typical of resource and infrastructure-style awards.

What does a U24 cooperative agreement imply for project management?

It implies NIH expects to be substantially involved, with coordination and oversight consistent with resource-like efforts. The FOA positions the award as supporting dissemination as an infrastructure/resource activity rather than a purely investigator-directed research project.

What is the award ceiling listed for this FOA?

The source information lists an award ceiling of $250,000.

How many awards are expected?

The expected number of awards was not specified in the provided information snippet.

What are the key dates provided for this opportunity?

The posting (creation) date is December 26, 2018, and the original closing date shown is February 27, 2019.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) and CFDA listing?

The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-EB-18-002 and the CFDA listing is 93.286.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes foreign (non-U.S.) organizations among eligible applicants.

Are tribal governments and U.S. territories mentioned as eligible?

Yes. The FOA highlights eligibility for Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, and it also mentions U.S. territories or possessions, as well as regional organizations.

Are specific institution types (like HBCUs or Hispanic-serving institutions) included?

Yes. The FOA highlights additional eligible groups including 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).

What would a competitive project plan look like under this FOA?

A competitive plan would describe how a validated imaging or bioengineering tool will be operationalized and distributed to multiple research users. That includes clear quality standards, reproducible build or release processes, documentation and training, a reasonable non-commercial distribution model, and a support approach that helps users successfully implement the technology. The overall focus is reliability, usability, and reach.

Is it acceptable to propose a project that mainly offers a service to researchers?

No. The FOA indicates that simply providing services using existing equipment is non-responsive if the project does not disseminate the tool itself as a resource for others to adopt.

Is commercialization an allowable dissemination route under this program?

No. Projects focused on commercialization or using academic-industry partnerships as the main dissemination vehicle are described as not fitting the program.

What is the overall end goal NIH is trying to achieve with this FOA?

The end goal is to turn a proven, reliable prototype into a broadly usable research resource by hardening and packaging it for dissemination, distributing it to users, and providing the training and support needed for consistent adoption across the research community.