Kidney Precision Medicine Project Central Hub (U2C) | RFA DK 16 028

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Kidney Precision Medicine Project Central Hub (U2C) - RFA-DK-16-028

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the Kidney Precision Medicine Project (KPMP) Central Hub (U2C) cooperative agreement under RFA-DK-16-028. It is an NIH funding mechanism intended to establish and operate the coordinating centerpiece (the "Central Hub") for the broader KPMP consortium.

2) What is the main purpose of the KPMP Central Hub?

The Central Hub is meant to function as a single, well-supported hub that brings together KPMP inputs (participant clinical information, biopsy-derived data, and associated samples), turns those inputs into standardized and analyzable resources, and makes the resulting information usable through analysis and visualization tools across the entire program.

3) Is this a standalone research grant?

No. Based on the description provided, this mechanism is not positioned as a standalone research grant. It supports a central, program-wide function that enables multiple collaborating sites to operate as one integrated network.

4) What does "U2C" mean in this context?

The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement instrument (U2C). As described, cooperative agreements generally involve substantial NIH program involvement in execution and coordination of funded activities.

5) What types of coordination activities is the Central Hub expected to provide?

The Central Hub is expected to provide end-to-end coordination for aggregating, analyzing, and visualizing KPMP data and samples. It is also expected to provide scientific coordination support, operational infrastructure, and administrative management for the consortium as the organizing backbone that keeps protocols aligned, timelines coordinated, and outputs consistent across institutions.

6) What data and materials will the Central Hub bring together?

The Hub is expected to bring together participant clinical information, biopsy-derived data, and associated samples generated across the KPMP network, then harmonize and standardize these resources to make them analyzable and usable program-wide.

7) Which KPMP sites feed information into the Central Hub?

The description identifies two major contributing site types: KPMP Recruitment Sites (where participants are enrolled and biopsies are obtained) and KPMP Tissue Interrogation Sites (where advanced molecular and cellular analyses are performed on kidney tissue).

8) What informatics or infrastructure responsibilities are mentioned for the Central Hub?

The Central Hub is expected to build and maintain the informatics and data infrastructure needed to collect, harmonize, store, and share information coming from Recruitment Sites and Tissue Interrogation Sites.

9) What kinds of tools is the Central Hub expected to provide?

The opportunity describes analysis and visualization tools as part of making standardized information usable. The Hub is framed as the place where diverse evidence streams are assembled into coherent, interpretable outputs for the project as a whole.

10) What is the scientific focus of the broader project supported by this Hub?

The scientific framing centers on obtaining and evaluating kidney biopsies from people with acute kidney injury (AKI) or chronic kidney disease (CKD), and using those tissues and linked participant data to build a kidney tissue atlas.

11) What is meant by a "kidney tissue atlas" here?

As described, the atlas concept implies a high-resolution map of kidney cell types and states, molecular signatures, and structural features tied to disease context, integrating tissue-level findings with participant-level clinical information.

12) What outcomes is KPMP trying to achieve by integrating biopsy and clinical data?

The project aims to define more precise disease subgroups (categories reflecting underlying biology rather than broad clinical labels) and to identify key cells, pathways, and potential therapeutic targets that could guide future treatment development.

13) How does the Central Hub contribute to those scientific goals?

The Central Hub is positioned as the organizing and integration point where participant clinical data and biopsy-derived molecular/cellular analyses are assembled into standardized resources and turned into coherent, interpretable outputs using analysis and visualization approaches.

14) Who administers this funding opportunity?

It is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

15) What is the program category and CFDA number listed?

The opportunity is listed under the Health category with CFDA 93.847.

16) What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?

The posting indicates an award ceiling of $1,700,000.

17) What were the key dates listed in the posting?

The creation date is listed as 2016-08-17, and the original closing date is listed as 2016-12-06.

18) What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad across public and private sectors. It includes (as listed): 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 that are not federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities.

19) Are any additional eligible applicant categories explicitly highlighted?

Yes. The announcement explicitly highlights additional eligible categories including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized ones, regional organizations, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and U.S. territories or possessions.

20) Can a non-U.S. (foreign) institution apply as the applicant organization?

No. The opportunity states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply.

21) Are non-domestic components of U.S. organizations eligible?

No. The posting states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.

22) Are any foreign activities allowed at all?

Yes, the description indicates that "foreign components" (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed. This typically means a U.S. applicant may include certain justified foreign activities or collaborations under NIH rules, even though a foreign institution cannot be the applicant organization.

23) What does it mean that this is a discretionary funding opportunity?

The posting lists the FOA as a discretionary funding opportunity. (No further definition is provided in the text beyond that label.)

24) What role does NIH involvement play under this mechanism?

Because this is a cooperative agreement, the description indicates substantial NIH program involvement in the execution and coordination of the funded activities.

25) How does the Central Hub relate to the broader KPMP consortium structure?

The Hub is described as the coordinating centerpiece and organizing backbone for the broader KPMP, connecting Recruitment Sites and Tissue Interrogation Sites so multiple institutions can function as one integrated network with aligned protocols, coordinated timelines, and consistent outputs.