Development of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Data Resource Center (U2C) | RFA RM 16 010

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 16 010

The NIH funding opportunity "Development of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Data Resource Center (U2C)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-RM-16-010; CFDA 93.310) supports building a centralized Data Resource Center for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program. It is offered as a cooperative agreement (U2C), meaning the awardee is expected to work closely with NIH and program leadership rather than operating entirely independently. The overall purpose is to create a robust, community-facing infrastructure that makes it easier for researchers to find, access, analyze, and share high-quality pediatric genomic and clinical data, with a specific focus on childhood cancers and structural birth defects.

A core deliverable under this opportunity is a web-based Data Resource Portal. The portal is meant to function as a central hub where genomic sequence data and associated phenotypic (clinical and trait) information from pediatric cohorts can be aggregated, curated, and made discoverable. The portal is designed to speed up research into the genetic causes of these conditions and to help scientists identify shared biological pathways that may cut across different cancers and birth defects. In practice, this implies a system that supports data ingestion, standardized annotation, powerful search and query capabilities, and secure mechanisms for data access and sharing so that both specialized pediatric research communities and the broader scientific community can use the resource effectively.

The opportunity also funds a Data Coordination Center, which is responsible for the behind-the-scenes work needed to make the portal useful and scientifically reliable. This includes coordinating with Kids First investigators and sequencing centers to collect data in consistent ways, harmonize data elements across studies, and ensure that submitted datasets can be compared and analyzed together. Because cohorts often differ in how they record clinical variables, consent language, sequencing platforms, and metadata standards, the coordination and harmonization role is central to creating a resource that enables cross-study discovery rather than just serving as a repository of disconnected datasets.

In addition, the Data Resource Center must include an Administrative and Outreach Core. This component handles program management and governance activities and is expected to work closely with a Steering Committee to keep development aligned with Kids First goals and community needs. It also carries an outward-facing mission: outreach and education for researchers, which typically includes guidance on how to use the portal, training materials, user support, and community engagement activities that encourage adoption and productive use of the resource.

Eligibility for this FOA is broad across U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; 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; and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISISs, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Foreign organizations and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply either. However, foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, which typically means certain elements of the work can involve foreign collaborations or activities when justified and permitted under NIH policy, even though the applicant organization itself must be U.S.-based and eligible.

Administratively, the opportunity was created on July 13, 2016, and the original closing date listed is October 20, 2016. The award ceiling is $2,000,000. While the listing indicates "ExpectedAwards:" without a number provided, the intent is clearly to fund the development and early operation of a national-scale data resource center that can serve as a long-term, indispensable platform for pediatric genomics research tied to Kids First priorities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Data Resource Center (U2C)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.310.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-07-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-10-20. (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 $2,000,000.00 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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