Nathan Shock Centers Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AG 20 021

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 20 021

The Nathan Shock Centers Coordinating Center (NSC3) funding opportunity (RFA-AG-20-021) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiative, led through the National Institute on Aging (NIA), to create and run a central coordinating hub for the network of Nathan Shock Centers (NSCs). It uses a U24 cooperative agreement mechanism, which generally means the awardee is expected to work closely with NIH program staff and the NSC network in an ongoing, collaborative way rather than operating entirely independently. The FOA is focused on research infrastructure and coordination in the aging field, and it is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," so proposals must avoid proposing or embedding clinical trials as part of the supported activities.

The core purpose of the NSC3 is to strengthen the overall impact and cohesion of the Nathan Shock Centers as a national resource for aging research. The coordinating center is expected to raise the visibility of the NSCs both nationally and internationally, meaning it should actively promote what the centers offer, highlight scientific and technical capabilities, and help outside researchers understand how to access NSC resources. A major emphasis is improving collaboration and coordination across the separate NSCs so the network functions more like an integrated system rather than a set of standalone centers. This includes helping centers share best practices, align approaches where it makes sense, and reduce duplication so resources and expertise can be leveraged across the network.

Training is another central component. The NSC3 is expected to enhance NSC training activities, which typically means organizing, standardizing, or expanding training opportunities connected to the centers. That can include coordinating workshops, webinars, short courses, or other skill-building efforts that help investigators, trainees, and staff effectively use NSC cores and services. The coordinating center is also expected to facilitate the sharing of resources, which often implies developing practical systems for resource discovery and access (for example, shared listings or catalogs of available services, protocols, technologies, data-related tools, or other materials). Just as important, the NSC3 must serve as a structured interface between NIA and the NSCs, working with both to develop strategies and plans for continued network development, future directions, and improvements over time.

Applicants are expected to understand the activities and role of the Nathan Shock Centers, but they do not need to be housed within or formally part of an active NSC to apply. Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other organizations that meet NIH eligibility rules. The FOA also explicitly notes categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, foreign participation is restricted: non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and sits in the health area under CFDA 93.866. The FOA lists an award ceiling of $350,000. The original closing date shown is October 22, 2019, and the creation date is June 28, 2019, which indicates this particular posting reflects a past application cycle; anyone interested in pursuing something similar would typically look for a current reissue, renewal, or successor FOA from NIA/NIH.

In practical terms, a competitive NSC3 application would be expected to lay out a clear coordination plan, communication and dissemination strategies to boost visibility, mechanisms to foster cross-center collaboration, a concrete approach to training support, and workable systems for resource sharing. Because it is a cooperative agreement, the proposal would also need to show how the applicant will coordinate effectively with NIA and with the NSCs, including governance, feedback loops, and planning processes that support continuous improvement of the network.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Nathan Shock Centers Coordinating Center (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): 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-06-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-10-22. (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 $350,000.00 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 AG 20 021

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