Coordinating Unit for the National Centers for Metabolic Phenotyping in Live Models of Obesity and Diabetes (MPMOD) (U24 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA DK 21 035

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 21 035

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued this funding opportunity, RFA DK 21 035, to create and support a Coordinating Unit (CU) for a national consortium called the National Centers for Metabolic Phenotyping in Live Models of Obesity and Diabetes (MPMOD). The overall idea is that multiple specialized centers, funded under a separate companion announcement (RFA DK-21-027), will deliver advanced metabolic, physiologic, and behavioral phenotyping and consulting services in living mouse models relevant to obesity and diabetes. This U24 cooperative agreement focuses specifically on the coordinating function that helps those centers operate as a unified, accessible, high-quality national resource rather than as disconnected local cores.

In practical terms, the MPMOD Centers are meant to provide complex phenotyping and expert consultation on a fee-for-service basis, with an emphasis on fairness and broad access. Investigators both inside and outside a center's home institution are supposed to be treated with equal priority and offered services at similar cost. The science driving these services is centered on understanding heterogeneity in metabolic disease and clarifying the pathogenesis and downstream metabolic and physiologic consequences of diabetes and obesity, using mouse models as the experimental system. The Coordinating Unit is the infrastructure piece that enables consistent standards, smooth multi-site operations, and a user-facing experience that makes it easier for the broader research community to find, request, and effectively use these phenotyping capabilities.

A major stated goal of the consortium, and therefore a core expectation for the Coordinating Unit, is to expand participation and improve competitiveness for investigators who have historically had fewer opportunities or resources. This includes underrepresented principal investigators and investigators at smaller research institutions that traditionally have not received significant research funding and/or that have historically served underrepresented populations. The coordinating function is intended to help these researchers access high-quality consultation and phenotyping services, generate strong datasets, and be better positioned to compete for research awards.

The award mechanism is a U24 cooperative agreement, meaning NIH expects substantial involvement and partnership in how the program is run, rather than a hands-off grant. The activity categories listed include food and nutrition and health, with CFDA number 93.847. Clinical trials are not allowed under this opportunity, which aligns with the focus on mouse phenotyping services and coordination rather than human interventional studies.

Eligibility is broad across public and private sectors. 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 that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other types of organizations. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as 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), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it clearly excludes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations from applying as applicants. Foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which typically means a U.S.-based applicant can include certain international elements if they meet NIH policy requirements.

Key administrative details in the source information include an original closing date of March 8, 2022, a listed award ceiling of $275,000, and NIH as the sponsoring agency. The central takeaway is that this opportunity funds the coordination backbone for a national, fee-for-service mouse metabolic phenotyping network focused on obesity and diabetes, with explicit expectations around equitable access, cross-institutional service parity, and strengthening the research capacity of underrepresented investigators and institutions.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Coordinating Unit for the National Centers for Metabolic Phenotyping in Live Models of Obesity and Diabetes (MPMOD) (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 2021-11-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-03-08. (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 $275,000.00 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.

Apply for RFA DK 21 035

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