Limited Competition for the Continuation of the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network Tissue and Technology Core (TATC) (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA DK 18 515

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 18 515

This funding opportunity, RFA-DK-18-515, is a limited competition cooperative agreement (U24; clinical trial not allowed) from the National Institutes of Health to continue the work of the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network Tissue and Technology Core (TATC). The MAPP Network is focused on urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS), an umbrella term that includes interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). The larger scientific goal of the MAPP program is to generate clearer, evidence-based insights into the biology and mechanisms of UCPPS, how symptoms and patient characteristics change over time (natural history), how the condition can be subdivided into meaningful clinical phenotypes, and what risk factors may influence onset or persistence. That knowledge is intended to create a stronger foundation for future intervention studies and, ultimately, better clinical management for patients living with chronic pelvic pain.

The specific purpose of this FOA is to support an additional three-year project period for the existing, current MAPP Network TATC. In other words, it is not an open competition for new teams to start a new core; it is designed to extend the ongoing infrastructure and capabilities already embedded in the MAPP Network. Over this extension period, the network will continue collecting longitudinal phenotypic (clinical and symptom) data and biological samples from participants already enrolled in the Trans-MAPP Symptoms Patterns Study. The continued follow-up and ongoing biospecimen collection are meant to preserve and expand the value of the established cohort, enabling the network to carry out highly collaborative, integrated analyses across sites and cores and to identify new patterns or signals that shed light on UCPPS.

The opportunity sits within an established multicenter structure that includes nine Discovery Sites, a Data Coordination Core (DCC), and the Tissue and Technology Core (TATC). The TATC role, as implied by its name and placement in the network, centers on the biospecimen and technology-enabled aspects of the research enterprise, supporting standardized handling and use of biological samples as well as technology platforms and methods that help make cross-site, cross-dataset analyses feasible and comparable. Because this is a cooperative agreement, NIH is expected to have substantial involvement in coordinating or guiding certain aspects of the program in partnership with the awardee, which typically emphasizes teamwork, shared governance, and alignment with network-wide milestones.

Eligibility is restricted. The FOA invites an application from the current MAPP Network TATC, reflecting the “limited competition” design. The listed eligible applicant type includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, but the practical effect of the announcement is that only the existing TATC leadership organization is positioned to apply under this continuation framework. Foreign institutions (non-U.S. entities) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. At the same time, foreign components, as defined under NIH policy, are allowed, meaning certain collaborations or project elements occurring outside the U.S. may be permissible if they meet NIH’s definition and requirements, even though a foreign institution cannot be the applicant organization.

Administratively, the program is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the cooperative agreement funding instrument. The activity area is health-related (listed under Food and Nutrition, Health) and carries CFDA number 93.847. The original closing date for the opportunity was November 14, 2018, and it was created on September 14, 2018. The announcement does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided excerpt, but the structure and intent indicate support for a single continuation award tied to the ongoing MAPP Network core operations rather than multiple new awards.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition for the Continuation of the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network Tissue and Technology Core (TATC) (U24 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 2018-09-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-11-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for RFA DK 18 515

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: