Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 18 013
The Human Islet Research Network - Consortium on Modeling Autoimmune Interactions (HIRN-CMAI) funding opportunity (RFA-DK-18-013) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant announcement that supports research aimed at improving how scientists measure, model, and understand the human biology underlying type 1 diabetes (T1D). It uses a cooperative agreement mechanism (U01), which means projects are funded as a partnership between awardees and NIH program staff, with more active federal involvement than a typical research project grant. The FOA is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," so the work is intended to remain in the pre-clinical or mechanistic research space rather than testing interventions in human clinical trial settings.
The program sits within the broader Human Islet Research Network (HIRN) and specifically funds participation in the Consortium on Modeling Autoimmune Interactions (CMAI). The central goal of CMAI is to develop and strengthen robust experimental systems and research models that can capture key autoimmune interactions relevant to T1D in a human-biologically meaningful way. In practical terms, this means building, refining, and validating models that help researchers dissect the disease process, understand how immune cells interact with pancreatic islet cells, and generate reliable platforms for pre-clinical discovery. A major emphasis is on "measure and model" capabilities, suggesting that applicants are expected to bring approaches that improve the fidelity, reproducibility, and interpretability of experimental systems used to study T1D mechanisms.
Projects supported under this FOA are expected to explore and validate research models that can push forward several linked objectives: enabling pre-clinical scientific discovery, allowing mechanistic dissection of disease processes, and creating credible testing grounds for potential interventions for T1D before they ever move toward human clinical trials. The focus on validation is important because the program is not just seeking interesting model concepts, but model systems that can be demonstrated to perform reliably and provide actionable biological insight. Because this is a consortium-oriented initiative, applicants should generally expect that funded work will be designed to fit within a collaborative network structure, with shared goals, coordination, and potential cross-project standardization that makes the larger CMAI effort more than the sum of individual awards.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized under the health-related activity area (CFDA 93.847) and was created on December 17, 2018, with an original closing date of February 26, 2019. The listed award ceiling is $600,000, indicating the maximum anticipated annual direct cost level per award under the FOA (as presented in the source summary). The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided data, but the FOA is framed to support both new and renewal applications, which signals continuity of an existing consortium while still bringing in new capabilities and teams.
Eligibility is broad and includes many common applicant types such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), as well as independent school districts and public housing/Indian housing authorities. It also includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations. Beyond that baseline, the FOA highlights additional eligible applicants that reflect NIH efforts to include diverse institutions and communities, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). Taken together, the eligibility language signals that NIH was open to a wide range of research performers and institutional settings, so long as they could contribute meaningfully to the consortiums goals in modeling and understanding autoimmune interactions in T1D.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as targeted consortium funding to strengthen the toolset and model systems used to study human type 1 diabetes biology, particularly the autoimmune processes that drive disease onset and progression. The intent is to accelerate credible, human-relevant pre-clinical research by supporting teams that can build and rigorously validate models capable of revealing mechanism and enabling pre-clinical testing, all within a coordinated network environment rather than isolated single-lab efforts.Apply for RFA DK 18 013
- The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Human Islet Research Network - Consortium on Modeling Autoimmune Interactions (HIRN-CMAI) (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 2018-12-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-02-26. (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 $600,000.00 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): HIRN-CMAI (RFA-DK-18-013)
What is the HIRN-CMAI funding opportunity (RFA-DK-18-013)?
RFA-DK-18-013 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity supporting research that improves how scientists measure, model, and understand human biology underlying type 1 diabetes (T1D). It specifically funds participation in the Human Islet Research Network (HIRN) Consortium on Modeling Autoimmune Interactions (CMAI).
Which NIH grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses a U01 cooperative agreement mechanism. That means funded projects operate as a partnership between awardees and NIH program staff, with more active federal involvement than a typical NIH research project grant.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. The FOA is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," indicating the supported work is intended to remain in a pre-clinical or mechanistic research space rather than testing interventions in human clinical trial settings.
What is the purpose of the Consortium on Modeling Autoimmune Interactions (CMAI)?
The CMAI aims to develop and strengthen robust experimental systems and research models that capture key autoimmune interactions relevant to T1D in a human-biologically meaningful way. This includes building, refining, and validating models that help researchers understand how immune cells interact with pancreatic islet cells and how autoimmune processes drive T1D.
What types of research are encouraged by this funding opportunity?
Projects are expected to focus on developing, improving, and validating experimental systems and models to better measure and model autoimmune interactions in T1D. The emphasis is on improving fidelity, reproducibility, and interpretability of the experimental systems used to study T1D mechanisms.
What does "measure and model" mean in the context of this program?
"Measure and model" refers to strengthening the tools and approaches used to quantify and represent biological processes relevant to T1D, with an emphasis on creating systems that are reliable, reproducible, and interpretable for mechanistic discovery.
Why is model validation emphasized in this FOA?
The program is not only seeking new model concepts; it is seeking model systems that can be demonstrated to perform reliably and provide actionable biological insight. Validation is highlighted to ensure models are credible platforms for pre-clinical discovery and mechanistic studies.
How does this FOA support progress toward T1D interventions if clinical trials are not allowed?
The FOA supports creation of credible pre-clinical testing grounds for potential interventions by enabling rigorous mechanistic research and validated models. These platforms can help generate evidence and understanding before any potential intervention moves toward human clinical trials.
Is this a standalone grant or part of a larger network?
It is part of a broader network. The opportunity sits within the Human Islet Research Network (HIRN) and specifically funds participation in the CMAI consortium, which is designed to function as a coordinated, collaborative effort rather than isolated single-lab projects.
What should applicants expect about collaboration and coordination?
Because this is a consortium-oriented initiative, funded work is expected to fit within a collaborative network structure, with shared goals, coordination, and potentially cross-project standardization to support the overall CMAI mission.
What is the CFDA number and activity area for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under the health-related activity area with CFDA number 93.847.
When was this funding opportunity created, and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on December 17, 2018, with an original closing date of February 26, 2019.
What is the award ceiling for this FOA?
The listed award ceiling is $600,000, described in the source summary as the maximum anticipated annual direct cost level per award under the FOA.
How many awards will NIH make under this FOA?
The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided information.
Does this FOA accept both new and renewal applications?
Yes. The FOA is framed to support both new and renewal applications, signaling continuity of an existing consortium while also bringing in new capabilities and teams.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), as well as independent school districts and public housing/Indian housing authorities.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included among eligible applicants.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically included in the eligibility list?
Yes. The FOA highlights additional eligible applicants including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), reflecting NIH efforts to include diverse institutions and communities.
Can faith-based or community-based organizations apply?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are specifically listed among the additional eligible applicant types.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included among the highlighted eligible applicants.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility language includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
What kinds of biological interactions are central to the program's research focus?
The central focus is on autoimmune interactions relevant to T1D, particularly how immune cells interact with pancreatic islet cells, and how those interactions contribute to disease onset and progression.
What is the overall intent of the HIRN-CMAI program?
The overall intent is to accelerate credible, human-relevant pre-clinical research in T1D by supporting teams that can build and rigorously validate models capable of revealing mechanism and enabling pre-clinical testing, within a coordinated consortium environment.
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